# What are your favorite Mondegreens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361 "2003-04-08T19:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/1 "2003-04-08T19:03:50Z")
For those who don’t know the term, it was coined by Sylvia Wright in 1954. There is an old folk song that includes the lines “They had slain the Earl of Moray/And laid him on the green.” Ms. Wright, however, mistakenly heard the lines as “They had slain the Earl of Moray/And _Lady Mondegreen_.” Hence, the term “mondegreen” to refer to a misheard song lyric. Some of the most famous mondegreens include “Pardon me while I kiss this guy” (“Pardon me while I _kiss the sky_”) and “The ants are my friends/They’re blowing in the wind” (“The _answer_ my friends…”) For years, I thought the Hall and Oates song “Maneater” contained the line “And she can tell by the purple jag you wore” instead of “A she-cat tamed by the purr of a jaguar.” Another one that I always misheard was the Toto song “Africa.” Not only did I think they were singing “I _miss_ the rains down in Africa” instead of “I _bless_ the rains,” I always thought it contained the line “She’s coming in for a bloody flight” instead of “she’s coming in, twelve thirty flight.” So… What are some of _your_ personal favorite mondegreens? Barry ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/2 "2003-04-08T19:45:28Z")
In Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose”, I originally heard most instances of “grey” as “grave” (e.g. “kiss from a rose on the grave”). I like my version better, though it definitely gives the song a darker tone, so I stick with it even now. That’s the only one I can think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/3 "2003-04-08T20:12:33Z")
In some song by some heavy metal band (“Eat the Rich”), I thought they were saying “Bu-cha-rest.” In “I Like My Women a Little on the Trashy Side,” there’s a line “I like brassy and bold.” I kept hearing it as “I like President Ford.” Crystal Gayle’s “Half the Way:” _Aaaaah So! Don’t take me half the way!_ And this one I really believe: Andy Gibb’s “Love Is Thicker Than Water.” Several times he says, “You are. . .this dreamer’s only dream.” However, in one instance I still swear he is saying, “You are. . . the fish dreamer’s only dream.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/4 "2003-04-08T20:17:05Z")
And one from a six-year-old kid I was giving a ride home: Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract” was on the radio, and this kid was singing along with it. In the line “Ain’t no fiction–it’s a natural fact” she said it once as “Ain’t no fiction–it’s electrical fact.” And another time she was a little closer with “Ain’t no fiction–it’s a national fact.” ---
**Author:** ![Ego\_Mk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Ego\_Mk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ego_Mk2)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/5 "2003-04-08T20:26:17Z")
blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night! ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/6 "2003-04-08T20:29:30Z")
I’m so embarrased, but my SO had a good laugh. I thought “Ventura Highway” (America) was “One minute you’re a highway, in the sunshine” instead of “Ventura Highway, in the sunshine”. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/7 "2003-04-08T20:39:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ego\_Mk2 \* > \*\*blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night! \*\* What, you mean those _aren’t_ the correct lyrics??? 😉 Barry ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/8 "2003-04-08T20:40:55Z")
I think I’ve already listed some in an earlier thread, but here’s another batch off the top of my head: Oldies-but-goodies:[ul] [li]Excuse me while I kiss this guy (kiss the sky)[/li][li]"… and to the Republic for Richard Stanz …"[/li][li]“The girl with colitis goes by” (girl with kaleidoscope eyes)[/li][/ul][ul] [li]Alex the Seal (Go-Go’s, Our Lips Are Sealed)[/li][/ul]Hymns are the best:[ul] [li]Christ the Royal Master Leans Against the Phone (leads against the foe, from Onward Christian Soldiers)[/li][li]Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear (gladly the cross I’d bear)[/li][li]“Stand Beside Us, and Guide Us, through the night with a light from a bulb” (God Bless America)[/li][/ul]I’ll probably be back, when I think of all my favorites that are escaping me at the moment. I’ve got about a jillion of these. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/9 "2003-04-08T20:41:27Z")
I’ll never forget the immortal words of Elton John: > [@](#): > > _**Rocketmaaaaaaaan… > Burnin’ bag o’douche on Heaven’s lawn.**_ Like **Balance** , I also misheard the lyrics to Seal’s _Kiss From A Rose_. Instead of “To me you’re like a growin’ addiction” I thought it was “To me you’re like a benediction.” I was disappointed when I found out the truth. I just looked it up, and the actual EJ Lyrics are “Burning out his fuse up here alone.” ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/10 "2003-04-08T20:42:26Z")
Janet Jackson’s “What have you done for me lately,” I always thought it was “What have you done for men like me.” Which made no sense, but, you know. She’s a Jackson. One that I know is common is the song Smooth Operator, (don’t know who it’s by) sounds to me like “OOOO Boperetta.” I even met someone one time who called it the ooo boperetta song. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/11 "2003-04-08T20:53:47Z")
I misheard a line from “I Can Do That” from _A Chorus Line_ as “watchin’ Cisco pitter-pat” to such an extent that I named a character after this non-existent dancer in a play I wrote in high school. The line, I learned later, is “watchin’ sis go pitter-pat.” ---
**Author:** ![knarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@knarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knarf)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/12 "2003-04-08T21:40:36Z")
It’s been awhile, but I used to think that the AC/DC song went “Dirty Deeds and the Thunder Chief” ---
**Author:** ![snac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@snac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snac)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/13 "2003-04-08T21:48:38Z")
“All around the cathedral The snakes and opossums Look down as she sells her wares…” –Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/14 "2003-04-09T06:39:58Z")
Ooh, let’s see, there was Billy Squier’s _My Candelabra_, Whitesnake’s _Anal Love (in the Heart of the City)_… [sub]That’d be, o’course, _My Kinda Lover_, and _Ain’t No Love_ etc. etc.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/15 "2003-04-09T11:12:38Z")
Well, there’s that line from Green Day’s song “When I Come Around” where they sing, “throw doughnuts at the door.” Sadly, I don’t even know what the real lyrics are. Also, “stand up for your liver” from a John Mellencamp song (“Wild Nights”) There’s a local band (Boston, MA—the band is Hip Tanaka) who have a song which contains a line about a pelican eating a fish. MY SO and I swore it said, “a black kid eating a fish.” ---
**Author:** ![preacherswife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@preacherswife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/preacherswife)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/16 "2003-04-09T14:22:06Z")
When I was little I thought the song “Mr. Sandman” was “Mr. Sanchez” ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/17 "2003-04-09T14:40:17Z")
I thought the Dire Straits song “The Walk of Life” was “The Walk on By” until a co-worker mercilessly pointed my error out again, and again, and again.:smack: I posted here asking for info about the song “The Dangerous Dyke” which I liked in college. It turned out it was “The Dangerous Type” which spoiled the essence of the song entirely for me.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/18 "2003-04-09T15:37:53Z")
One of my current favorites was posted in a similar thread by a doper (who it was, I can’t recall.) Her daughter thought the words: “What would you do if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?” Were: “Watch what you do with your skank attitude, don’t you stand up and walk out on me.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/19 "2003-04-09T15:51:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > \*\*\ > Another one that I always misheard was the Toto song “Africa.” Not only did I think they were singing “I _miss_ the rains down in Africa” instead of “I _bless_ the rains,” I always thought it contained the line “She’s coming in for a bloody flight” instead of “she’s coming in, twelve thirty flight.” > > So… What are some of _your_ personal favorite mondegreens? > > Barry \*\* Interesting. A quick google for the toto lyrics reveal quite a collection of mondegreens: [this one](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/toto/3076.htm) “I passed some rains down in Africa” and [this one](http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?id=82493) “I bless the rains down in Africa.” I confess I never knew what was being said either. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361/20 "2003-04-09T16:45:35Z")
_Boyda wakelin milla blade_ and _Gee are Ola Sal rat grate_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-mondegreens/167361.md?page=2)