# Song lyrics you've misheard that are perfectly acceptable - perhaps even better - substitutes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005 "2015-06-20T13:04:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/81 "2020-01-25T23:24:35Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > I’ve posted this before on earlier threads: > > **R.E.M. - Losing My Religion** > > What they sang: > _That’s me in the corner > That’s me in the spotlight_ > > What I heard: > _Let’s pee in the corner > Let’s pee in the spotlight_ Love it. At the risk of a banning (notice all the banned dopers in the 2015 section of this thread?): The Cars, “…My best French girl, and she used to be mine…” I thought it was that for years, and I still think it’s better than “…friend’s…” ---
**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:** [January 26, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/82 "2020-01-26T13:39:15Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Love it. > > At the risk of a banning (notice all the banned dopers in the 2015 section of this thread?): > > The Cars, “…My best French girl, and she used to be mine…” > I thought it was that for years, and I still think it’s better than “…friend’s…” :dubious: Even when the title of the song is “My Best Friend’s Girl”?? mmm ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/83 "2020-01-26T13:55:33Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > :dubious: > > Even when the title of the song is “My Best Friend’s Girl”?? > mmm Well, I’d heard it on the radio from time to time, and at a middle school dance party, but had no reason to see it written down. I did happen to watch MTV from its very start (August 1981 — I was eleven), and the Cars were big on early MTV, and MTV was a good way to learn proper titles of songs — BUT, “My Best Friend’s Girl” was a little pre-MTV, so no video, so no way for me to know the proper title. (Unless I bought the LP, of course, but I didn’t.) ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/84 "2020-01-27T15:47:31Z")
Gloria, I think they got your number I think they got the area code That you’ve been living under. Hey, phone numbers have area codes. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/85 "2020-05-25T13:21:22Z")
Another one about Toto’s Africa. Official lyric: _I know that I must do what’s right As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti_ I heard as _I know that I must do what’s right As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like an Empress above the Serengeti_ Sure, Olympus is a famous mountain, but I think mine is more poetic. As for blessing the rains, the rainy season is the lifeblood of the Serengeti. It is crucial to the survival of everything that lives there. It makes sense to bless them, if you’re into blessing things. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/86 "2020-05-25T15:32:13Z")
Elton John’s **Someone Saved My Life Tonight** : Original lyric: _Someone saved my life tonight (Sugar Bear)_ Improved lyric: _Someone saved my life tonight (Should’ve they?)_ ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/87 "2020-05-25T15:49:42Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I heard as > > _I know that I must do what’s right > As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like an Empress above the Serengeti_ > > Sure, Olympus is a famous mountain, but I think mine is more poetic. Same on both counts! Although, I originally heard it as “A lepress” which I assumed to mean (and Google says is accurate) a female leper. That made no sense in context though, so I settled on Empress. I would have never guessed Olympus without reading the lyrics and agree that “Mountain rises like a different mountain” is kind of lame in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/88 "2020-05-25T16:26:17Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Queen real lyrics: > Goodbye everybody - I’ve got to go > Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth > > I always heard: “…and fade away” > I think mine makes more sense. He certainly fades away, but how exactly does he face the truth? I always had it as “face the road”… ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/89 "2020-05-25T23:12:55Z")
I only recently learned that the line I’ve always heard from “Stuck In The Middle With You”: \*I’m so scared, I guess I fall off my chair \* Is apparently \*I’m so scared in case I fall off my chair. \* I like mine better. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/90 "2020-05-26T11:36:58Z")
From “A Horse With No Name” I, for a long time, heard “the first thing I met was a pile of bones”, but eventually realized it’s “the first thing I met was a fly with a buzz”. I think “pile of bones” makes more sense. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/91 "2020-05-26T13:28:11Z")
Correct: The middle of the road is trying to find me I’m standing in the middle of life with my plans behind me My version The middle of the road is trying to find me I’m standing in the middle of life with my pantsbehind me Middle age, what happened to your plans? That’s philosophical, perhaps bittersweet. But your pants? There must be an interesting story behind that development. Chrissie meows later on…is that a clue? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/92 "2020-05-26T13:34:38Z")
I’ve probably shared this one before . . . _Building a Mystery_ by Sarah McLachlan Correct lyric " You strut your rasta wear and your suicide poem" I heard “You strut your \*astra \*wear and your suicide poem” It didn’t occur to me that being Canadian, she’s Brit adjacent and therefor saying “rasta”. Also, astra would fit in with all the other dreamy references. And if you’ve ever seen the video, it would really fit. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/93 "2020-05-26T13:59:43Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Dire Straits, “So Far Away”. > > The real lyric: > _Here I am again in this mean old town_ > > What I heard: > _I hear that Armageddon is a mean old town_ > > In my defense, if there was a town named “Armageddon”, it would definitely be a mean town! Here’s what I heard… Here in Allegheny in this mean old town And you’re so far away from me ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/94 "2020-05-26T14:03:25Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Another one about Toto’s Africa. Official lyric: > > _I know that I must do what’s right > As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti_ > > I heard as > > _I know that I must do what’s right > As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like an Empress above the Serengeti_ > > Sure, Olympus is a famous mountain, but I think mine is more poetic. > > As for blessing the rains, the rainy season is the lifeblood of the Serengeti. It is crucial to the survival of everything that lives there. It makes sense to bless them, if you’re into blessing things. I’ve always heard that as: _As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like **a tigress** above the Serengeti_. Of course, there are no tigers in Africa. But in my mind, the image was of a regal lioness, sitting up attentively, surveying her domain. So, I guess, I like my mangled mental image of my mangled mis-hearing of the lyrics better. One that I think is a straight-forward improvement is Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”: _We come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun, where the **hot springs flow** _ I’ve always heard as: _We come from the land of the ice and snow, **Of** the midnight sun, where the **harsh winds blow** _ Saying “we come…from the midnight sun” doesn’t make sense, but saying “we come from the land…of the midnight sun” does. But that’s a very minor quibble. Saying you come from the land of saunas doesn’t exactly establish you as a fearsome warrior. On the other hand, ice, snow, harsh winds - it all works together as establishing that you are someone who grew up in a harsh, unforgiving environment, and that you are just as harsh and unforgiving. You’re coming down on the soft lands of the South as a harsh wind from the North. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/95 "2020-05-26T14:52:18Z")
Maybe it’s the writer in me… Everclear’s ‘Father of Mine’ The lyric: “My daddy gave me a name” Me: “My dad, he gave me a name” In my defense, it scans the same and the grammar is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/96 "2020-05-26T14:58:17Z")
Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) - Elton John What I’ve always heard: My sister looks cute in her bracelets and boots A handful of breeze in her hair Correct: My sister looks cute in her braces and boots A handful of grease in her hair Until now, I thought I had only been wrong about the breeze/grease part. I just looked up the lyrics. Apparently, I was wrong about the bracelets/braces part too. A “handful of grease” sounds like a lot of grease, and I have really small hands. I always thought “a little dab’ll do ya.” ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/97 "2020-05-26T16:48:07Z")
Rose Royce, “Car Wash” Real lyrics: “You might not ever get rich/But let me tell you it’s better than digging a ditch” My lyrics: “You might not ever get rich/But let me tell you it’s better than being a [vulgar word that rhymes with ditch]” My version makes more sense. The real version implies that you are likely to get rich by digging a ditch, which in most instances is definitely not true. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/98 "2020-05-26T17:51:04Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > The real version implies that you are likely to get rich by digging a ditch, which in most instances is definitely not true. I never got that. I took it to mean that both ditch digging and working working at the car wash are possible employment options for a low skilled worker. Neither will make you rich, but at least the car wash is a better work environment. I mentioned this one in the other misheard lyrics thread a long time ago, but it fits here. I always heard Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” as: “Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul…” The actual lyric is: “Give me the beat, boys and free my soul” I think my version totally works. I always imagined the singer getting lost in thought while listening to a Beach Boys record. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/99 "2020-05-26T18:24:27Z")
Sex Pistols - “God Save the Queen” (1977) They made you a moron A potential H bomb [misheard as] They made you a moron A mental H bomb ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/100 "2020-05-26T21:06:59Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > The chorus to Wham’s _Wham Rap_ goes > > “Wham bam I am a man > job or no job, you can’t tell me that I’m not” …and TIL that the lyric isn’t “out of a job - you can’t tell me that I’m not” I guess I could have learned that five years ago. Also, I like my version of the end of the chorus “If not, just stop Don’t say ‘yeah’, and not” just as well as the real one “If not, just stop Don’t stay there and rot” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005.md?page=6)