# Your favorite mondegreens **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862 "2005-05-07T21:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/1 "2005-05-07T21:07:05Z")
From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen:) > [@](#): > > A mondegreen (also sometimes spelt ‘mondagreen’) is the mishearing (usually accidental) of a phrase, such that it acquires a new meaning. > > The word ‘mondegreen’ is itself a mondegreen of “They hae slain the Earl o’ Murray and laid him on the green”, from the anonymous 17th century ballad ‘The Bonnie Earl O’ Murray’, the last five words being misheard as “Lady Mondegreen”. Sylvia Wright is thought to have coined the word to describe all such mishearings. While a common occurrence for children, many adults have their own collection, particularly with regard to popular music. When I was little I used to think there was a country called “Orientar” (where the Three Kings came from). I also thought St. Mary was really fat, based (honestly!) on the phrase “round yon virgin.” (That latter doesn’t really count, I guess, as it’s a case of the words being misinterpreted, not misheard.) In the Beatles’ “Back in the USSR,” I only recently learned that the singer flew with a paper back on his knees rather than a paperback. What are your favorites? BTW, I sing a lot of karaoke, and I find sometimes that the same song will have slightly different lyrics in the subtitles of one disc vs. another. E.g., in “Zoot Suit Riot,” sometimes it’s “Fat cat came to play, now I want to swing you down,” and sometimes “want to swing you dove” and I don’t even know which is correct (but the latter at least rhymes with the next line, “Now you sailors know where your women come for love”). Have you ever had that experience? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/2 "2005-05-07T21:08:38Z")
Correction: “In the Beatles’ “Back in the USSR,” I only recently learned that the singer flew with a paper **bag** on his knees rather than a paperback.” Mondegreens are really hard to get out of your head, even after you learn the real words. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/3 "2005-05-07T21:11:03Z")
My favorite mondegreen comes from a mis-hearing of Bob Dylan’s “Jokerman.” The actual line is “asleep 'neath the stars with a small dog licking your face.” I heard “asleep 'neath the stars with a small dark look on your face.” I like my version better than Bob’s. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/4 "2005-05-07T21:13:58Z")
I have heard this sung not once, not twice, but _thrice_ - instead of “dark sacred night” in the second verse of _What a Wonderful World_, many seem content with the logic of “dogs say goodnight”. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/5 "2005-05-07T21:27:39Z")
'Scuse me, while I kiss this guy. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/6 "2005-05-07T21:32:14Z")
Paul Young: “Every time you go away, You take a piece of _meat_ with you!” ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/7 "2005-05-07T21:36:16Z")
“I found an island in your arms, poultry in your eyes” “Hang onto the night, hang onto the mammaries” My favorite mondegreen from my mother: “… cross eyed bear that you gave to me” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/8 "2005-05-07T21:44:38Z")
Slightly off topic, but I often suffer these at the shop. I hear something like “ten seventeen” when the til person said “ten seventy”. I got the oddest look when I handed over a twenty pound note and a twenty pence piece, thinking I was doing her a favour by making the change £10.03 instead of £9.73. It was my turn to have a funny look when my change turned out to be £9.50 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/9 "2005-05-07T21:46:06Z")
Oh yeah, and I even said to the girl… “there’s twenty p, to make it easier” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/10 "2005-05-07T22:00:24Z")
From my childhood memories: Shocking Blue’s “Venus”: “I’m your fetus. I’m your fire and joy, yes I am.” Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away”: “Man, you’ll find a hole in your arm, twistin’ the night away” and “He’s dancin’ with the chicken slats” ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/11 "2005-05-07T22:32:28Z")
Chap I used to work with, lovely bloke, his whole life was Jimi Hendrix. Just mad on Hendrix - knew everything about him, could explain very nuance of his playing, a real encyclopedia of Hendrixology. Except this lyrics - virtually every lyric he’d quote was a mondegreen - my favourite, and he resisted correction on this for hours, was from “House Burning Down” was “well, I asked my friend, where was that tax book coming from…”. His total mis-hearing of the lyrics of Neil young’s “After The Goldrush” was also hilarious, as I recall. mm ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/12 "2005-05-07T23:12:37Z")
**Take the Back Right Turn** by the Beatles. Oops, I mean **Paperback Writer**. Took me years to figure that one out. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/13 "2005-05-08T01:29:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > BTW, I sing a lot of karaoke, and I find sometimes that the same song will have slightly different lyrics in the subtitles of one disc vs. another. E.g., in “Zoot Suit Riot,” sometimes it’s “Fat cat came to play, now I want to swing you down,” and sometimes “want to swing you dove” and I don’t even know which is correct (but the latter at least rhymes with the next line, “Now you sailors know where your women come for love”). Have you ever had that experience? That’s weird because the actual lyrics are “I want to swing you done,” which emphasizes the sexual subtext moreso than either of those options. “I want to swing you done,” i.e.: I’ll give you more loving than your sailor can. My mondegreen is the same as **AmericanMaid** ’s mother. It’s so hard to tell with Alanis that I didn’t question the logic. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/14 "2005-05-08T01:30:54Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > My mondegreen is the same as **AmericanMaid** ’s mother. It’s so hard to tell with Alanis that I didn’t question the logic. Ditto. On top of that, “It’s not fair to remind me of the cross I bear that you gave to me” is ungrammatical and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/15 "2005-05-08T03:00:15Z")
Mine’s from Groovin’ (On a Sunday Afternoon) “You and me **and Leslie** ” I always wondered who Leslie was. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/16 "2005-05-08T03:04:42Z")
Not my favorite, just the most recent: Gwen Stefani singing “ain’t no harm in that girl” instead of “ain’t no holla-back girl”. How the heck would I know what a “holla-back girl” is??? At least I didn’t think it was “ain’t no Harlem black girl” like someone else on the board. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sneezy5660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@sneezy5660](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sneezy5660)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/17 "2005-05-08T03:14:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Ditto. On top of that, “It’s not fair to remind me of the cross I bear that you gave to me” is ungrammatical and stupid. Heh, my husband had the same one, too. We heard the song on the radio, and he said, “What kind of bear? A cross-eyed bear?” I’m glad I wasn’t driving, because I was hysterically laughing in the back seat! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/18 "2005-05-08T03:39:59Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > **Take the Back Right Turn** by the Beatles. > > Oops, I mean **Paperback Writer**. > > Took me years to figure that one out. Really. Oh my gawd, I thought I was the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/19 "2005-05-08T03:52:40Z")
“Bad Habit” by **The Offspring**. Hey man, you know, I’m really okay… The _guy in my head_ will tell you the same… I like my version better than the real one, which goes _gun in my hand_. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862/20 "2005-05-08T09:41:28Z")
My wife had a cute one the other day – she thought “Bismillah” in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was “Mitch Miller”! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-mondegreens/302862.md?page=2)