# The Tune Distorts the Lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209 "2018-09-12T05:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/21 "2018-09-12T12:28:46Z")
“Life would be ecstasy, you and me _and Leslie_” (ok, I guess it’s supposed to be “endlessly”) ---
**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:** [September 12, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/22 "2018-09-12T14:27:40Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Anything with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. > > And no, I’m not referring to Elton John’s deliberately mangled pronunciations. I’m referring to stuff like > > I sat on the roof > and kicked off the moss, well, a few > [beat] > Of the verses, well, > they’ve got me quite cross I don’t know if you’re referring to that “[beat]” that breaks up the line, but that reminds me of an example. Typically, I actually do like it when lines are enjambed like that (so that it breaks up the typical predictable pattern of a thought or part of thought ending at the end of every musical phrase) but one that always bugged me was from the Paula Abdul hit “Straight Up.” I don’t know how many of you remember the song, but there’s a pre-chorus that goes : I’ve been a fool before Wouldn’t like to get my love Caught in the slammin’ door Are you more than hot for me Or am I a page in your history book? I don’t mean to make demands But the word and the deed go hand in hand […] But the second- and third-to-last lines are melodically and rhythmically divided so it sounds like: Are you more than hot for me Or am I a page in your history book? I don’t mean to make demands […] [Here’s a link to the section](https://youtu.be/El1kgCqD7Xk?t=160). It was years and years later that I even realized the word “book” was in there. I just shrugged it off as some non-sensical/percussive vocalization, not an actual lyric, because nowhere else in the song are the verses enjambed like that. (ETA: Actually, re-listening to it, my brain interpreted it as “Look, I don’t mean to make demands.”) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/23 "2018-09-12T15:05:59Z")
_Let’s Duet_ by Dewey Cox is full of examples, purposefully for comedy effect. “In my dreams, you’re blowing me. Some kisses” ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/24 "2018-09-12T15:19:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t know if you’re referring to that “[beat]” that breaks up the line, but that reminds me of an example. Typically, I actually do like it when lines are enjambed like that (so that it breaks up the typical predictable pattern of a thought or part of thought ending at the end of every musical phrase) but one that always bugged me was from the Paula Abdul hit “Straight Up.” > > I don’t know how many of you remember the song, but there’s a pre-chorus that goes : > I’ve been a fool before > Wouldn’t like to get my love > Caught in the slammin’ door > Are you more than hot for me > Or am I a page in your history book? > I don’t mean to make demands > But the word and the deed go hand in hand […] > But the second- and third-to-last lines are melodically and rhythmically divided so it sounds like: > > Are you more than hot for me > Or am I a page in your history > book? I don’t mean to make demands […] > > [Here’s a link to the section](https://youtu.be/El1kgCqD7Xk?t=160). > > It was years and years later that I even realized the word “book” was in there. I just shrugged it off as some non-sensical/percussive vocalization, not an actual lyric, because nowhere else in the song are the verses enjambed like that. (ETA: Actually, re-listening to it, my brain interpreted it as “Look, I don’t mean to make demands.”) Actually, until I read your post, I could have sworn that she indeed sang : “Look, …” However, I just _love_ how she sings the preceding line, with each syllable bouncing down before nicely landing on the “-ry”. That’s a neat trick, even if it leads to that clunky enjambment. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/25 "2018-09-12T15:35:06Z")
Does that Pinball Wizard have “subtle wrists” or “supple wrists”? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/26 "2018-09-12T16:04:28Z")
Although Elton John is a classic mushmouth, I think it’s the tune more than him that distorts Back to the howling old owl in the woods Hunting the horny-backed toads Into whatever the hell it is that he sings on the song. How are those words _supposed_ to fit in to the music playing? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/27 "2018-09-12T16:41:34Z")
> [@blob](#): > > Isn’t the way Patsy’s songs sound also partly influenced by her southern accent? In many cases yes, but sing that one with a northern accent or a Russian accent and it still comes out wrong - it’s the song’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/28 "2018-09-12T16:49:31Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Does that Pinball Wizard have “subtle wrists” or “supple wrists”? I don’t think the music could have been fixed to clarify that though. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/29 "2018-09-12T16:56:11Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Exhibit A, > America, Horse with No Name > “_'Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain_” > > Rather than a mangled/garbled lyric forced to fit the metre they chose clearly spoken gibberish because it fitted the tune. I’ll pay it. Heh. That song is packed with such examples isn’t it. Eventually they gave up even pretending, and just wrote “Na na na na na na, na na na na na…” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/30 "2018-09-12T17:07:11Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Although Elton John is a classic mushmouth, I think it’s the tune more than him that distorts > Back to the howling old owl in the woods > Hunting the horny-backed toads > > Into whatever the hell it is that he sings on the song. How are those words _supposed_ to fit in to the music playing? I’m not sure if this is because the music distorts the lyrics, or because the lyrics are obscure/weird/unpredictable. Maybe they’re so weird FROM trying to fit the tune. Something definitely went wrong there, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/31 "2018-09-12T17:15:14Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > R.E.M.: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight. > > Official lyrics: call me when you try to wake her up > heard lyrics : commie try to wake up Those cases are truly weird - far too few notes for the number of syllables. It’s one thing to chop off “The” from the beginning of a sentence, but leaving out half of the words? Why bother writing them. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/32 "2018-09-12T17:29:40Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > I’ve always been amused by Bono telling us that _all he wants is [Yoo-hoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoo-hoo)._ Speaking of U2, “I Will Follow” has one that perplexed me for years in the days before internet lyrics. “If you walk away, walk away I walk away, walk away, I will follow” Sounds more like: ["If you wokawadadoolay, wokawadadoolay, I will follow.](https://youtu.be/okxgmpsiRLM?t=70)" The words don’t fit the music at all. Couldn’t they just have written different lyrics that fit? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/33 "2018-09-12T18:01:52Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > “sheep” by Pink Floyd might be a suitable example for this. > > [At this point](https://youtu.be/3-oJt_5JvV4?t=101)the word “away” blends into a synth note (or whatever the hell it was those crazy kids were using). The same trick is repeated for the last word of each verse. > > Good song, nice touch, I approve. Ignore the prime example, though _It’s too late to Lose the weight you Used to need To throw around So have a good cry as You go down, all alone Dragged down by the stone Stone … stone … stone …_ where the last word morphs into a baying **Mr Carlson** : Do I hear dogs? **Johnny Fever** : I do. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/34 "2018-09-12T19:14:16Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Speaking of U2, “I Will Follow” has one that perplexed me for years in the days before internet lyrics. > > “If you walk away, walk away > I walk away, walk away, I will follow” > > Sounds more like: > > ["If you wokawadadoolay, wokawadadoolay, I will follow.](https://youtu.be/okxgmpsiRLM?t=70)" > > The words don’t fit the music at all. Couldn’t they just have written different lyrics that fit? Oh! I remember now! WA kuh WAY wuh KUH way, WA kuh WAY wuh KUH way… A classic perfect example of what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/35 "2018-09-12T23:18:06Z")
“Back to howling old Owl in the woods.” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/36 "2018-09-12T23:24:19Z")
I don’t know who the singer is, but there’s some pop song right now with the lyrics \*All you gotta do is **TAKE** a minute just **TAKE** the time…\* But the autotune is so extreme that it sounds like “All you gotta do is **HATE** ”. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/37 "2018-09-12T23:29:04Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > “Back to howling old Owl in the woods.” ☹ The tune fits the words perfectly in that section - are you saying it sounds like those words are just invented gibberish? ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/38 "2018-09-12T23:54:09Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Exhibit A, > America, Horse with No Name > “_'Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain_” > > Rather than a mangled/garbled lyric forced to fit the metre they chose clearly spoken gibberish because it fitted the tune. I’ll pay it. Exhibit Q: Paul McCartney and Wings, “Live and Let Die.” “In this ever-changing world _in which we live in._” Just throw an extra preposition in there and call it artistic license, huh? But then, what do you expect from a guy who’s been impersonating the real Paul since 1966… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/39 "2018-09-12T23:56:21Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > The tune fits the words perfectly in that section - are you saying it sounds like those words are just invented gibberish? Yeah, but the next line sounds like _Hauntin’ the hawny-back TAAAoood!_ I love Elton, but he hits notes and cadences in that couplet not heard in 500 years of Modern English. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209/40 "2018-09-13T00:15:48Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Exhibit Q: > > Paul McCartney and Wings, “Live and Let Die.” > > “In this ever-changing world _in which we live in._” > > Just throw an extra preposition in there and call it artistic license, huh? But then, what do you expect from a guy who’s been impersonating the real Paul since 1966… 😉 Or you can just pretend you’re really singing “in this ever-changing world in which we’re livin’,” which I believe is an explanation given by Paul, and I actually bought it for awhile, but after listening to various versions, I do think it sounds like “in which we live in” and not “in which we’re livin’” with a swallowed “r” and dropped “g.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tune-distorts-the-lyrics/821209.md?page=3)