# Lyrics you insist on singing wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 7, 2022, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352 "2022-01-07T02:07:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/41 "2022-01-07T20:07:48Z")
I rewrite lyrics in my head all the time, probably because of my childhood reading Mad Magazine. As a guy who hates the Yankees, I came up with this one day watching CC Sabathia: Your pinstripes bend like lines of longitude how fat thou art how fat thou art Fellow parishioners probably wondered why the entire family was giggling when the original was sung at mass, with me contributing my own version. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/42 "2022-01-07T21:06:05Z")
There’s a warm wind _blowin’ the stars around_, and I’d really love to see you tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/43 "2022-01-07T21:20:42Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > It’s My scrotum instead of My Sharona. Yep. ‘My sca-rotum!’ Also, ‘My bologna’ and ‘Smith-Corona’. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/44 "2022-01-07T21:25:50Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > It’s actually sung both ways in the stage musical. Annie sings “always a day away” the first time she sings the line, after finding Sandy, because she is alone and still searching for some kind of family. Later in the story as her life is turning around with Warbucks’ help and her sunny optimism grows (specifically in the scene with FDR’s Cabinet), it’s changed to “only a day away.” So you’re actually right either way! > > Source: I played Daddy Warbucks onstage 4 years ago As I recall, it’s specifically FDR himself who changes it to “only.” Source: I’ve played FDR onstage twice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/45 "2022-01-07T21:34:03Z")
As far as I’m concerned, Powderfinger by Neil Young begins with the line: “Look out mama, there’s a whitebread voodoo honky mufuh!” There’s a lot that goes into that, but it’s now etched in stone. There’s many ingredients. One is Powderfinger by Neil Young, another is Susanah from the Dark Tower stories, another is a couple of my crazy friends, another is a good amount of the Mary Jane, making us all of the same loony mind, and another is a loud stereo. It was almost bound to turn out that way. But that’s how it is for good now. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/46 "2022-01-07T21:38:50Z")
I might be the only one, but I always sing it this way Steely Dan’s Reeling in the Years _Are you reelin’ in the years?_ _Stowin’ away the time_ _Are you gatherin’ up the cheese?_ _Have you had enough of wine_ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/47 "2022-01-07T21:44:13Z")
More of a phonetic misunderstanding, a homophonic confusion more than an outright change: Steve Miller Band Fly Like an Eagle Shoo the children with no shoes on their feet (as in, go ‘way children!, including making shooing motion with my hands) How’s the people livin’ in the streets? (they’re fine, thanks for asking) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/48 "2022-01-07T22:42:25Z")
Original: Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water. Instead: Put your gland in the hand… Original: I want to hold your hand. Instead: I want to hold your ham. When we were kids, girl often became squirrel. Imagine my joy when listening to Alvin and the Chipmunks Original: Jessie’s got himself a girl and I want to make her mine. Alvin: Jessie’s got himself a squirrel… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0OW2-ZEhGsA/maxresdefault.jpg "Chipmunk Rock 02- Jessie's Girl (High Quality)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OW2-ZEhGsA) There was a thread not long about about swapping [heart for fart.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-fart-in-song-title-or-lyric/951187) ETA: @Robot_Arm beat me to it on girl/squirrel And I forget the comedian’s name…I think he played a guitar that looked like a flamingo. Instead of “My Sharona” it was “Rice-A-Roni.” ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/49 "2022-01-07T23:03:31Z")
I read these lyrics on this board years ago: Feed the children Who don’t have enough to eat To the children With no shoes on their feet ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/50 "2022-01-07T23:08:12Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Shoo the children with no shoes on their feet (as in, go ‘way children!, including making shooing motion with my hands) I often hear it as “Shoot the children”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/51 "2022-01-07T23:08:32Z")
_Heading off to Iscandar_ _Who knew that it was so far?_ _I shoulda brought a candy bar_ _I’m going to starve to death!_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n_8fcWsbOMA/hqdefault.jpg "Star Blazers (intro | english) 1979 a.k.a. Space Battleship Yamato") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_8fcWsbOMA) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/52 "2022-01-07T23:19:00Z")
Since she put me down there’s been owls puking in my bed ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/53 "2022-01-08T01:04:59Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > I sometimes catch myself singing along to “Dust in the Wind” with “dustin hoffman” (“all we are is Dustin Hoffman…” I do the same with _Come Dancing_ by **The Kinks** , where I replace “Come Dancing” with Ted Danson: Ted Danson All his girlfriends used to come and call Why not Ted Danson? It’s only natural ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/54 "2022-01-08T01:16:12Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Also, sometimes changing “direction” to “erection” gives a different meaning. > Bread on Baby I’m a Want You: Your lovin’ and affection, givin’ me erection I’m totally stealing this ^ and imagining other substitutions (for correction, protection, selection…) (Joni Mitchell) While driving through the country, past the guernseys etc.: “I’ve looked at cows from both sides now…” (Steve Miller) Original: “Jungle love, it’s driving me mad, it’s making me crazy” Revised: “Jungle love, it’s strawberry mad, it’s making me crazy” (Spirit in the Sky) Original: “Go to the place that’s the best” Revised: “Colder the place, that’s the best” (Paul Simon) : She get down her knees and hug me and she love me like a rock (revised): She get down her knees and hug me…and she ugly like a rock (she ugly like the Rock of Ages, she ugly) It doesn’t fit but… We always called Barry Manilow “Barely Man Enough.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/55 "2022-01-08T03:14:37Z")
This isn’t comical, just a weird preference. Steve Martin and Edie Brickell have made three albums together. My favorite is their first, _Love Has Come For You,_ and my favorite song is “When You Get to Asheville.” There’s a lyric: She won’t sleep in the house now She just listens for the sound Of your old '84 Ford Coming down the road I just hate the sound of “Of your old '84 Ford.” It messes up the meter kind of unforgivably. When I sing it, it goes: She won’t sleep in the house now She only sleeps in the yard Waiting for the sound of Your '87 Ford. I hate correcting lyrics, almost as much as I hate lyrics that need correcting. > **[when you get to asheville - Yahoo Video Search Results](https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrVA1d9ANlha98Ajjz7w8QF;_ylu=c2VjA3NlYXJjaAR2dGlkAw--;_ylc=X1MDOTY3ODEzMDcEX3IDMgRhY3RuA2NsawRjc3JjcHZpZAN1bGNvNHpFd0xqSTJmTmM1WVhPazNBRWhNakUyTGdBQUFBQnZ2Y0Y1BGZyA3lmcC10LXMEZnIyA3NhLWdwBGdwcmlkA1hNUktKV29vUVRLVGNzaTloSmlweUEEbl9yc2x0AzU5BG5fc3VnZwMyBG9yaWdpbgN2aWRlby5zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDBHFzdHJsAzM2BHF1ZXJ5A3doZW4lMjB5b3UlMjBnZXQlMjB0byUyMGFzaGV2aWxsZSUyMAR0X3N0bXADMTY0MTYxMTQwMQ--?p=when%2Byou%2Bget%2Bto%2Basheville%2B&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=yfp-t-s#id=2&vid=1fdf3f71ff80b5079be109c080f3f5c4&action=view)** > > The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/56 "2022-01-08T05:31:37Z")
I have a good friend who is quite hard of hearing, but he grew up in a very musical family. He has all kinds of wrong lyrics. I think my favorite is “Pardon me, boy, is that the cat who chewed my new shoes?” That’s _Chattanooga Choo-choo_ if it’s not obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/57 "2022-01-08T06:42:37Z")
I try to avoid the word ‘cute’, but that was. Mentioned maybe a couple months ago that “glue” is usually an ok substitute for “you”. Rod Stewart: _If ya want my body, and ya think I’m sexy,_ _Come on, honey, make it {{{grow}}}._ (last word said with heartfelt, lingering lasciviousness) ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/58 "2022-01-08T14:34:52Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > “Pardon me, boy, is that the cat who chewed my new shoes?” I’ve heard that one, but with “Pardon me Roy,” and it was the punch line of a joke about Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and a mountain lion hunting expedition. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/59 "2022-01-08T14:42:07Z")
Another Tom Petty song, “Rebels” - when he sings “I was born a rebel” I have to change it to “I was Barney Rubble”. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352/60 "2022-01-08T14:53:33Z")
Use to always sing this to that Ozzy song: _I’m going off the rails eating Gravy Train_. (A reference to the [dogfood](https://www.gravytraindog.com/products/dry-dog-food/beefy-classic).) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-you-insist-on-singing-wrong/957352.md?page=4)