Oh, this has always bothered me -
Kansas - “Carry on Wayward Son”. The actual line in the song is always “Carry on MY wayward son.”
For that matter, they also had a big hit with “Point of Know Return” and, as far as I know, in the song it’s actually the more normal “Point of NO return”.
Richard Thompson - “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”
In the lyrics it’s a “Vincent Black Lightning, 1952”
Hate to tell you but Greg Lake says the song is a rant against the commercialism of Christmas.
He is not an atheist, he is quite spiritual, if you read his posts on his website.
On the other hand, Greg Lake didn’t write the lyrics, Pete Sinfield did.
Personally, I’m Catholic. I’d be HAPPY to think the song wasn’t anti-Christian. But it sure seems that way to me.
The song says, “They told me a fairy story til I believed in the Israelite.” Assuming the Israelite is Jesus (a fair assumption, I think), the lyricist is saying that Christianity was a lie he was taught to believe in as a child.
Even so, it’s about the ONLY song I liked on “Works Volume 2.”
I believe that they co-wrote the lyrics.
Patty Loveless’ “Blame it on Your Heart”. The actual lyrics are “blame it on your lying, cheating, cold deadbeating, two-timing, double dealing, mean mistreating, loving heart.”
Likewise, R. E. M.'s “Star Me Kitten.” That’s not what they sing, either. S’a reference.
In “Anna (Go to Him)” by Arthur Alexander and covered by the Beatles, the lyric is “go WITH him.” There was a hilarious episode of Married with Children where Al can’t remember the title of the song, and his only recollection of the lyrics is “hmm hmm him.”
Just this afternoon, I heard a song on the radio that fit the topic: Stevie Nicks and Don Henley’s duet, “Leather and Lace,” never uses the phrase “leather and lace.” Rather, he sings “Give to me your leather,” and she sings back, “Take it from my lace.”