# Fix a Broken Lyric **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748 "2017-02-01T14:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/1 "2017-02-01T14:31:37Z")
SMDB has had it’s share of threads that point out bad lyrics: [Lyrics with a flaw](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754386) [All-time laziest song lyrics[URL=“http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=565359”]Lyrics that give you pause… In a bad way.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594894) [Worst lyrics in rock/pop music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=542280) etc. Let’s hear your improved versions…e.g. For the Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper”…instead of \* And if you take more of those You will **get an** overdose\* :dubious: My fix: … _You will **surely** overdose_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/2 "2017-02-01T14:35:24Z")
Styx’s “Come Sail Away” I look to the sea reflections in the waves spark my memory Some happy some sad I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had We live happily forever so the story goes But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold But we’ll try best that we can to carry on Shouldn’t it be “We lived happily ever after the story’s told” The expression is “happily ever after”, and “told” rhymes with “gold.” ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/3 "2017-02-01T15:11:28Z")
Hate it when a word is rhymed with itself. A few fixes: But she never lost her head Even when she was giving head But she never lost her head Even when her legs were spread Generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses. Generals gathered in their masses, wearing big Gucci sunglasses. Never opened myself this way Life is ours, we live it our way Never opened myself this way Snickers, Mounds, Almond Joy, PayDay Fixing _Highway Star_ is gonna take a while. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/4 "2017-02-01T18:36:14Z")
Avril Lavigne’s My happy ending: Lets talk this over, It’s not like we’re dead, Was it something I did, Was it something you said Should be “Was it something you did, was it something I said.” He could be feeling guilty about something he did but why would he get mad about something he said? ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/5 "2017-02-01T18:41:54Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Hate it when a word is rhymed with itself. A few fixes: > > But she never lost her head > Even when she was giving head > > But she never lost her head > Even when her legs were spread > > Generals gathered in their masses, > just like witches at black masses. > > Generals gathered in their masses, > wearing big Gucci sunglasses. > > Never opened myself this way > Life is ours, we live it our way > > Never opened myself this way > Snickers, Mounds, Almond Joy, PayDay > > Fixing _Highway Star_ is gonna take a while. Lost and giving head is wordplay. Does not need changing. Generals with their poison gasses, just like witches at black masses. Witches and black masses is evocative and in theme with the song. Never opened myself this way, life is ours we live for today, better aligns with message of song than candy bars. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/6 "2017-02-01T18:50:34Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Lost and giving head is wordplay. Does not need changing. > Generals with their poison gasses, just like witches at black masses. Witches and black masses is evocative and in theme with the song. > Never opened myself this way, life is ours we live for today, better aligns with message of song than candy bars. nm see below ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/7 "2017-02-01T18:53:51Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Lost and giving head is wordplay. Does not need changing. > Generals with their poison gasses, just like witches at black masses. Witches and black masses is evocative and in theme with the song. > Never opened myself this way, life is ours we live for today, better aligns with message of song than candy bars. Agreed on the first. I’d leave the second one alone, too. I think it’s perfect as is. The third I never even noticed was an identity rhyme in the song. Just doesn’t stick out to me. Though the candy bar fix does make me chuckle. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/8 "2017-02-01T18:58:49Z")
America, _A Horse with No Name_: There were plants and birds and rocks and things There was sand and hills and rings change to: There were plants and birds and rocks and oases There was sand and hills and feces mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/9 "2017-02-01T20:36:54Z")
In “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, surely it should be “presents under the tree”, not “presents ooo-oon the tree”. Who puts presents on the tree? Especially when it means you need to stretch a two-letter word out to two syllables? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/10 "2017-02-01T20:55:23Z")
_Gimme Three Steps_ by Lynyrd Skynyrd “Wait a minute mister I didn’t even kiss her” I think it should be “Wait a minute mister I never even kissed her” ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/11 "2017-02-01T21:10:07Z")
From Disturbed’s _Prayer:_ “Living just isn’t hard enough Burn me alive, inside **Living my life’s not hard enough** Take everything away” It’s not so much that it’s broken, but rather, what it sounds like when listening to it. I’ve always parsed it as **“Heaven’s just not hot enough”,** which seems more fitting in context of the song. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/12 "2017-02-02T00:26:06Z")
_Les Miserables,_ “Castle on a Cloud”: There is a room that’s full of toys There are a hundred **boys and girls** Should be “girls and boys”! The Jackson 5, “I’ll Be There” If you should ever find someone new I know he’d better be good to you 'Cuz if he **doesn’t,** I’ll be there Should be “isn’t”. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/13 "2017-02-02T02:48:44Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Hate it when a word is rhymed with itself. A few fixes: > > But she never lost her head > Even when she was giving head > > But she never lost her head > Even when her legs were spread > > Generals gathered in their masses, > just like witches at black masses. > > Generals gathered in their masses, > wearing big Gucci sunglasses. > > Never opened myself this way > Life is ours, we live it our way > > Never opened myself this way > Snickers, Mounds, Almond Joy, PayDay > > Fixing _Highway Star_ is gonna take a while. “Generals sitting on their asses” works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/14 "2017-02-02T04:34:53Z")
Sheryl Crow’s breakout hit, _All I Wanna Do_ Then he lights every match in an oversized pack Letting each one burn down to his thick fingers before blowing and cursing them out um… “before cursing and blowing them out…” because if you’re cursing enough to make a match go out, that’s no language to use in front of a lady. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/15 "2017-02-02T12:49:09Z")
I think we could devote a whole thread to fixing that infamously clunky line from\* Jessie’s Girl\* Ya know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute I wanna tell her that I lover her but the point is probably _moot_ . . .I wanna tell her that I love her from her bonnet to her boot . . .It’s like my heart’s an open treasure chest and she stole all the loot . . . When I see her my heart pounds like an Alaskan Malamute Tell me any one of those would not be better than Mr. Springfield’s lyric 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/16 "2017-02-02T13:16:25Z")
Bobby Goldsboro’s \*Honey \*attempts to rhyme “what the heck” with “hugged my neck”. OK, technically it rhymes, but it is the clunkiest lyric. I don’t think a fix is possible. And, on a slightly different note, Joan Baez’ _Diamonds and Rust_ notoriously uses the term “light year” as a measure of time rather than distance. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/17 "2017-02-02T13:47:54Z")
_Life_ by Des’ree, generally considered the worst song ever. [QUOTE=Original Lyrics] I’m afraid of the dark, 'specially when I’m in a park And there’s no-one else around, Ooh, I get the shivers I don’t want to see a ghost, It’s a sight that I fear most I’d rather have a piece of toast And watch the evening news [/QUOTE] So clearly the song is about her fears and superstitions. Not sure why the chorus is “Life” instead of something about courage, but anyways. Using the same rhyming scheme and rhythm, here are my improvements. [QUOTE=My Lyrics] I’m afraid of the night, All the beasts just out of sight, Spirits reaching for the light, Oh, my sleep is shaken I fear visits from the dead, Sense the chill that fills my head, See them crying tears of red, Their lives left behind [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/18 "2017-02-02T14:12:45Z")
Don McLean’s American Pie is a masterpiece, except for: When the jester sang for the king and queen In a coat he borrowed from James Dean. The “jester” is Dylan, the “king” is Elvis, and the “coat” is the red windbreaker. But the “queen” has never been established, and I think McLean just took it for the rhyme. So to one-up him: When the jester sang for the king and was seen In a coat he borrowed from James Dean. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/19 "2017-02-02T17:29:41Z")
_[There] **isn’t any** mountain high enough, [There] **isn’t any** valley low enough, [There] **isn’t any** river wide enough, To keep me from you…_ ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748/20 "2017-02-02T17:35:08Z")
Journey’s - Don’t Stop Believin’ Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching in the night Streetlight people Living just to find emotion Hiding somewhere in the night I’d change the clunky 2nd ‘night’ to ‘in the light’ or ‘in plain sight’ or something. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-a-broken-lyric/778748.md?page=2)