# Song goofs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901 "2007-03-07T02:37:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/1 "2007-03-07T02:37:57Z")
I guess whatever parameters there are with movie goofs, excluding stuff thats meant to be false, as in parodies and whatnot. Two examples: U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” mentions early morn/April 4th, when the real event happened around dusk I think. O’Jays “Love Train” mentions telling people in “Africa, Isreal & Egypt”- a bit redundant eh? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/2 "2007-03-07T02:46:12Z")
Here’s a grammatical example- “Torn Between Two Lovers”- and he knows he can’t possess me/and he knows he never will- should be doesn’t instead of can’t- its repetitive the way it is- but doesn’t is two syllables. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/3 "2007-03-07T21:56:23Z")
Eric Clapton sings, in “She’s Waiting” > [@](#): > > Think you’re a king, she’s your prawn. Clearly not what was meant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/4 "2007-03-07T22:00:31Z")
Grammatical issues could use a whole website, but the one that really gets on my nerves because it’s so emphasized is: “If I **WAS** to say to you, ‘Girl, we couldn’t get much higher’” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/5 "2007-03-07T22:32:54Z")
**I’m gonna love you Till the stars fall from the sky for you and I** Doors. (“Touch me”) ---
**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:** [March 7, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/6 "2007-03-07T22:40:10Z")
DI’s song _Richard Hung Himself_. 'Your answer is non **seglidur**. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/7 "2007-03-07T22:49:58Z")
James Blunt (rhymes with…) tells us he “a plan” to get this beautiful woman he’s seen. Then immediately tells us he will “never be with [her]”. The so-called plan never surfaces again; there is no exposition. This is one of the many annoying things about that song, not the least of which is that he sings it like he’s got a piece of bread in his mouth. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/8 "2007-03-07T22:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Grammatical issues could use a whole website, but the one that really gets on my nerves because it’s so emphasized is: “If I **WAS** to say to you, ‘Girl, we couldn’t get much higher’” [/QUOTE] I believe the same song contains this excessively grating line: “You know they are a liar” **THEY** are **A** liar? Arg!! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/9 "2007-03-07T22:57:40Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] I believe the same song contains this excessively grating line: “You know they are a liar” [/QUOTE] Not the same song–you’re thinking of “L.A. Woman.” How about Eric Burdon in “Sky Pilot” stumbling over “He’ll stay behind” so it comes out “He stale behind”? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/10 "2007-03-07T23:41:32Z")
In the song “That’s All,” there’s a line: “A love that time can never destroy.” Except in Johnny Mathis’ recording, he sings “A love that time can \*\*\*only \*\*\*destroy.” I can’t believe nobody in the recording process caught that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/11 "2007-03-07T23:47:21Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] **I’m gonna love you Till the stars fall from the sky for you and I** Doors. (“Touch me”) [/QUOTE] Especially since a perfectly acceptable alternative would be **'til the stars fall to the sea, for you and me.** ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/12 "2007-03-07T23:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] I believe the same song contains this excessively grating line: “You know they are a liar” **THEY** are **A** liar? Arg!! [/QUOTE] It’s the singular they. It’s been around since the Canterbury Tales. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/13 "2007-03-07T23:57:49Z")
Any song using “you and me” in place of “you and I”. Or vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/14 "2007-03-07T23:58:48Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] It’s the singular they. It’s been around since the Canterbury Tales. [/QUOTE] Yeah, well, talk about goofs. The spelling in that thing! ---
**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:** [March 8, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/15 "2007-03-08T00:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Grammatical issues could use a whole website, but the one that really gets on my nerves because it’s so emphasized is: “If I **WAS** to say to you, ‘Girl, we couldn’t get much higher’” [/QUOTE] “If I was” is colloquial and the English subjunctive “if I were” construction seems to be disappearing in all but the most formal of speeches. I have noticed, though, that “if I was” seems to be more acceptable across the pond than in the US. (Not that it matters in the Doors case). Thank god grammarian’s don’t write songs, else we’d have such classics like “(I Can’t Get Any) Satisfaction” and “There Isn’t Any Sunshine When She’s Gone.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/16 "2007-03-08T00:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] O’Jays “Love Train” mentions telling people in “Africa, Isreal & Egypt”- a bit redundant eh? [/QUOTE] In “City of Dreams”, the Talking Heads sang “From Germany and Europe”. Really? Both places? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/17 "2007-03-08T00:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Thank god grammarian’s don’t write songs, else we’d have such classics like “(I Can’t Get Any) Satisfaction” and “There Isn’t Any Sunshine When She’s Gone.” [/QUOTE] You’ve inspired me to start a [thread on the subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=411393)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/18 "2007-03-08T00:45:34Z")
A little obscure, but: Billy Joel, “Souvenir”: **"And your momentos / Will turn to dust . . ."** Ruins one of my favorite songs just a little bit. When I sing it, I use the correct pronouncination. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/19 "2007-03-08T00:59:34Z")
How about this one from _A Man for All Seasons_ by Al Stewart. _Henry Plantagenet still looks for someone To bring good news in his hour of doubt While Thomas More waits in the Tower of London Watching the sands running out_ ---
**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:** [March 8, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901/20 "2007-03-08T01:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] You’ve inspired me to start a [thread on the subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=411393)🙂 [/QUOTE] I’m honored. 🙂 I can’t believe I spelled “grammarian’s” with an apostrophe. :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-goofs/394901.md?page=2)