# YOUR misheard lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 6, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166 "2015-08-06T16:34:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/81 "2015-08-10T17:48:53Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I always heard “keep on, to the bus stop, don’t stop…” I thought it was “keep on, when the fun starts.” ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/82 "2015-08-11T19:45:00Z")
Not me, personally, but a friend of mine insisted that Lipps Inc.‘s _Funky Town_ was really “Country Time,” and another heard the Go-Gos’ _Our Lips Are Sealed_ as “Olives or Seals.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/83 "2015-08-11T20:20:56Z")
Ah, I just recalled the one I was thinking of earlier. “Bring Me a Higher Love” by Steve Winwood. I could have sworn he was singing “Ricky and Oliver.” (I guess the name of the song was actually just “Higher Love.”) ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/84 "2015-08-11T21:11:24Z")
The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” Actual: “His disciples lead him in” Heard: “He slides the nickel in” Prince’s “1999” Actual: “2000, zero, zero/Party’s over, oops, out of time” Heard: “2000, zero, zero/My deodorant’s out of time” Given that the song came out in 1983, my thought was “You got 16 years out of that deodorant. Why complain?” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/85 "2015-08-12T00:54:53Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Another Elton John, but not a mishearing, just a misunderstanding my 9yo self had in the song Tiny Dancer: > > Sung: Jesus-freaks, out in the street > Understood: Jesus freaks out in the street > > Same words, different meaning! 😃 Eagles, The Last Resort: Heard: and jesus-people bought 'em Lyrics\*: and, jesus, people bought 'em \*According to a words and music book of Eagles tunes I saw. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/86 "2015-08-12T01:30:40Z")
For years and years and years, I thought the chorus to Van Halen’s _Panama_ was “round and round,” not Panama (don’t ask why – I just did). Now, keep in mind I didn’t know what this song was titled or who sang it, so I couldn’t figure out the error that way. Over time this was just the ‘round and round’ song that I liked which occasionally popped up on the radio. Now, there’s another song that does have ‘round and round’ in the chorus – _Round and Round_ by Ratt. I don’t like this song, and as the Internet grew I discovered I could track down those mystery songs I liked by searching for snippets of lyrics. Sadly, since the only lyrics I could keep in my head was ‘round and round,’ my searches kept bringing up the Ratt song. I didn’t figure out I was mishearing the lyrics until the movie Superbad came out. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/87 "2015-08-12T02:10:22Z")
The one I still hear incorrectly is 'Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry. Instead of hearing “voices carry” I always hear “this is scary”. I think it’s because she pronounces the oi in voices like a short i sound rather than a oy sound. Even if I listen really hard, I hear visses carry rather than voices carry, with visses rhyming with kisses. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/88 "2015-08-12T14:05:09Z")
“I Love Rock 'n Roll” by Joan Jett: Real lyric: “I saw him standing there by the record machine” I heard: “I saw him standing there by the wrecking machine” Same with Van Halen’s “Jump”: Real lyric: “I got my back against the record machine” I heard: “I got my back against the wrecking machine” …I pictured them hanging around scrapyards. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/89 "2015-08-12T14:19:52Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > The one I still hear incorrectly is 'Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry. Instead of hearing “voices carry” I always hear “this is scary” Speaking of “Voices Carry”… Actual: “Hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry” Heard: “Hush, hush, even downtown voices carry” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/90 "2015-08-12T14:38:35Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > “I Love Rock 'n Roll” by Joan Jett: > > Real lyric: “I saw him standing there by the record machine” > I heard: “I saw him standing there by the wrecking machine” > > Same with Van Halen’s “Jump”: > > Real lyric: “I got my back against the record machine” > I heard: “I got my back against the wrecking machine” > > …I pictured them hanging around scrapyards. I never misheard “record machine” but I can understand why you would; what a stupid way to refer to a jukebox. To me it comes off like someone calling a tv “the talking box” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/91 "2015-08-12T15:47:01Z")
Two more " :smack: " moments… > [@42fish](#): > > Prince’s “1999” > > Actual: “2000, zero, zero/Party’s over, oops, out of time” > Heard: “2000, zero, zero/My deodorant’s out of time” Until this very moment I thought it was “2000, zero, zero/party overloops, out of time.” > [@Patch](#): > > For years and years and years, I thought the chorus to Van Halen’s _Panama_ was “round and round,” not Panama (don’t ask why – I just did).( Just last night I learned that the chorus to Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” does, in fact, say “dragula” – not “jagged edge.” ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/92 "2015-08-12T22:49:48Z")
And, apparently, per the thread on the song 2525, I have spent my life mis-hearing the lyrics: Real: In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may find… Heard: In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may _ **FLY** _… Oh, the things I learn on SDMB… ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/93 "2015-08-13T02:29:50Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Same with Van Halen’s “Jump”: > > Real lyric: “I got my back against the record machine” > I heard: “I got my back against the wrecking machine” That’s exactly what I thought for a long time too. My entry, Stevie Nicks - “Edge of 17”. I know there have been a few mondegreens for this line, but I haven’t read any that matched what I heard. Actual lyrics: Just like the white winged dove What I heard Just like the one we love ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/94 "2015-08-13T03:43:18Z")
I heard: Just like the one-winged dove… ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/95 "2015-08-13T11:25:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I heard: > > Just like the one-winged dove… Me too. I always pictured it flying in a circle. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/96 "2015-08-13T12:22:18Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > That’s exactly what I thought for a long time too. > > My entry, Stevie Nicks - “Edge of 17”. I know there have been a few mondegreens for this line, but I haven’t read any that matched what I heard. > > Actual lyrics: > Just like the white winged dove > > What I heard > Just like the one we love You’re not alone; I thought the same thing until I “realized” it was “one winged dove”. It’s called _enunciation_, Ms. Nicks; look into it. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/97 "2015-08-13T13:42:09Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > You’re not alone; I thought the same thing until I “realized” it was “one winged dove”. I thought it was “wild winged dove” and pictured a white bird with racing flames on the wings. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/98 "2015-08-13T13:46:39Z")
I thought Hall & Oates were singing “Friday night I’m watching you” - it’s “Private eyes are watching you.” When I was really little I couldn’t make out Elvis’s “I’m All Shook Up” - I thought he was saying a woman’s unique name, “Amoshica.” (Kind of a cool name, if you ask me.) ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/99 "2015-08-13T14:42:42Z")
> [@Didactylos](#): > > The Who - Baba O’Riley > > Lyric: “Teenage wasteland” > > I heard: “Teenage whistling” …“they’re all whistling” lol, that would make no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166/100 "2015-08-13T15:45:50Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Real: In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may find… Huh. I thought it was ‘they may thrive’, because it rhymes with twenty-five, alive, and survive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-misheard-lyrics/727166.md?page=6)