# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [August 10, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/121 "2026-08-10T19:00:43Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > The devil’s on the loose… Thank you for understanding the assignment that I posted lo these many years ago. Yep, devil’s on the loose is a much better lyric. mmm ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/122 "2026-08-10T19:06:05Z")
Come on, you have never seen stars moving around, let alone due to wind. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/123 "2026-08-10T20:07:12Z")
You have obviously not ingested the same substances that I have. ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/124 "2026-08-10T22:23:52Z")
True Love Ways – Buddy Holly Correct lyrics: Just you know why Why you and I Will bye and bye Know true love **ways** What I always heard: Know true love **waits** Because “true love will _ **wait** _” until it happens! On the other hand, this part does sort of make sense: Throughout the days Our true love **ways** Will bring us joys to share With those who really care ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/125 "2026-08-11T02:34:21Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’ve also always thought it was “devil’s on the loose” “The devil’s on the loose” is a line from another Creedence song, _Run Through the Jungle._ ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/126 "2026-08-11T03:26:07Z")
Interestingly, _Down on the Corner_ was from an earlier album than _Run Through the Jungle_. Maybe Fogerty read about people hearing the lyrics wrong, and decided to use the Devil line for real. I’ve no evidence for that, but he did perform _Bad Moon Rising_ [using the infamous bathroom lyric](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrZ3TNAQ2ng). ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/127 "2026-08-11T03:34:33Z")
“Doubles on kazoo” always sounded pretty clear to me and fits in with the description of a ragtag band with cheap or makeshift instruments. “Devil’s on the loose” just doesn’t fit the upbeat tone of the song. IMHO while it might be a viable misheard lyric, it certainly isn’t an improvement. And to be fair I have my own misheard lyric from this song. I always heard “Out here in the street” as “Howdy in the street”. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/128 "2026-08-11T17:26:34Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > “Howdy in the street” That’s how I wish a good afternoon to Cotton Eye Joe. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005/129 "2026-08-14T13:27:28Z")
I have one where I don’t know if I “mishear” or not. The internet has the lyrics two ways and I don’t know which one is right. Just You ‘N’ Me by Chicago has: Just you and me to carry on Simple and free my lovely Two/to flow as one as love’s reward Loving you girl is so damn easy Some places have “two flow as one” and others have “to flow as one”. To me it’s a little different meaning. The emphasis is either: two people flowing as one, or that flowing as one is the reward of love. I don’t know if it’s officially two or to. Both are acceptable to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-youve-misheard-that-are-perfectly-acceptable-perhaps-even-better-substitutes/723005.md?page=6)