Not sure if there’s a name for this lyrical device, but it makes me giggle every time. The lyrics leads you to believe a certain rhyming word is coming, then swaps it out for another word that doesn’t fit the rhyme scheme, for comic effect.
Examples:
From Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s musical episode, “Once more with Feeling,” in the song, “I’ll Never Tell,” Xander sings to Anya:
“You’re the cutest of the Scoobies
With your lips as red as rubies
And your firm yet supple —” <looks at her chest>
“…Tight embrace!”
From Frozen, in the song, “In Summer”, Olaf the snowman sings:
“Winter’s a good time to stay in and cuddle,
But put me in summer and I’ll be a…” <looks at a puddle>
“…happy snowman!”
In a slight twist, I know of one example, where the singer does use the expected word (or seems to), but then extends the line, breaking the rhyme scheme to reveal a different meaning for the word:
In Stephen Lynch’s song, “If I Were Gay,” he sings:
“If I were gay, I would give you my soul,
and if I were gay, I would give you my [w]hole… being”
(he also uses the standard version of the tactic in the same song:
“If I were gay, we could tear down the walls,
But I’m not gay, so won’t you stop cupping my… hand?” )
(Yes, Stephen Lynch, Buffy, and Disney. I’m eclectic, OK?)
Is there a name for this? What are you favorite examples?
They’re not songs, exactly, but I remember from childhood “rhymes” or “cheers” like
Rah rah ree!
Kick 'em in the knee!
Rah rah rass!
Kick 'em in the other knee!
and
Spring has sprung,
Fall has fell,
Summer is here
And it’s hotter than usual.
The Adam Again song “Strobe” includes the verse Remember when you laughed in my ear three times
I was waiting for more you said “who am I”
Now you’re yelling in the shopping line
Saying here’s two nickels will you give me a quarter
A favorite from my childhood. Waited 40 years for an opportunity to use it on my 8 and 10 year old cousins. The “surprise” lyric almost gave them whiplash.
The ringleader (you) sings the end of the changing fourth line. Everybody sings all the other lines.
(with feeling)
*The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, the little one stops to have some fun,
and they all go marching down.
To the earth.
To get out.
Of the rain.
Boom, boom, boom…
*
Verse two (condensed)
*The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah… the little one stops to tie his shoe…
*
Got it? On to Verse three, wherein TC’s young cousins exploded with surprised and outraged delight:
*The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah (repeat 2x)…
The ants go marching three by three, the little one stops to take a look
and they all (etc. ad nauseum)
*
From the movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, his song with the girl from the Office called “Let’s Duet” was nothing but misdirection.
The only one I can recall right now:
“In my mind you’re blowing me…
… some kisses”
Yeah, I’ve always wondered if it was just me, as that line and the implied ending is just so jarring to me and takes me out of that song. Really makes me cringe.