“A kiss from a rose on the grave.”
Not gray, dammit; I know what I heard, and it’s what the lyric should be.
Same here! I figured “Thunderchief” sounded vaguely like some Native American name.
Robert Palmer, “Addicted to Love”
Real lyric: “Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love”
What I heard: “Why the square faces? You’re addicted to love”
You mean that* isn’t* how it goes? 
Boston: Peace Of Mind
Lyric: *All I want is to have my peace of mind
*
Heard: All I want is to have a piece of pie
Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone - Temptations
They sang: “And when he died, all he left us was alone.”
I heard: “And when he died, all he left us was his loan.”
I am glad to know that I am not the only person who heard that.
My contribution, Blur Song 2
Actual: I got my head checked by a jumbo jet.
Heard: I got my head shaved, my lips are Moche.
It’s ‘Jeux sans frontieres’.
I’ve always heard “wrapped up like a douche.” What is it really, “revved up like a deuce”? Not clear.
Well, the lyrics as read are revved up like a deuce, but singers have been know to mis-say lyrics before.
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah.” I heard “Doctor Jazz Bo.”
Your way is considerably better.
[QUOTE=campp]
oston] Boston: Peace Of Mind
Lyric: All I want is to have my peace of mind
Heard: All I want is to have a piece of pie
[/QUOTE]
Ditto
[QUOTE=The Other Waldo Pepper]
“A kiss from a rose on the grave.”
Not gray, dammit; I know what I heard, and it’s what the lyric should be.
[/QUOTE]
I know! Makes much more sense
[QUOTE=Leaffan]
Rush “Limelight.”
Actual “Living in a fish-eye lens…”
Heard “Living in the fish islands…”
[/QUOTE]
Who *didn’t *think this
[QUOTE=outlierrn]
CSN, Southern Cross
Line: We got 80 feet of the waterline, nicely making way.
Heard: Nice Jamaican waves.
[/QUOTE]
I thought it was “nicely making waves”.
Not only that line; I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it but only looked up the lyrics for the first time a few year ago. It cleared up quite a few things, such as
" . . .and the downhill run to Papeete"
I had never heard Papeete pronounced so I spent many years trying to decide if it was “Coppperhead Bay” or Pappahay Bay"
“In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you”
I heard this lyric correctly and *incorrectly *thought he was talking about the town on Catalina Island. At that time there was only one big bar in Avalon, and to this day I picture - not Stephen Stills, mind you, but David Crosby because his was the face I was most familiar with - the singer dressed in his sailing gear, standing at the pay phone of that bar.
“. . .You will survive being bested”
I thought he was singing “vested”, a term which I had a vague idea had something to do with tenure or job security. Or something.
And the line in the chorus
" (I’ve been around the world) I have been around the world
(Lookin’) Lookin’ for that woman girl"
I always heard it correctly but convinced myself it was “looking for that one girl” because “woman girl” is just stupid.
My sincerest apologies to Mr. Stills.
Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”:
Lyric: “No dark sarcasm in the classroom”
I heard: “No dogs of hazard in the classroom”
Probably a common one:
Heard: the sky’s in love with you
Actual: this guy’s in love with you
Herb Alpert, '68
The Who - Baba O’Riley
Lyric: “Teenage wasteland”
I heard: “Teenage whistling”
I always heard it your way, too.
Me too. And in the same song:
Lyric: I’m not talking about movin’ in
Misheard: I’m not talkin’ 'bout Meridian.
Or…
Lyric: I’m not talking about movin’ in
Misheard: I’m not talkin’ 'bout the linen.
Year of the Cat (Al Stewart)
The first verse said:
“On a morning from a Bogart movie,
In a country where they turn back time,
You go strolling through the crowd like Pete Telari
Contemplating a crime…”
I never gave Pete Telari much thought, just figured it was some guy from movies or novels that I’d never heard of.
I was in my forties when someone kindly informed me about who Peter Lorre was.
Too Much Heaven (Bee Gees)
The real lyrics:
“When you are to me, the light above
Made for all to see our precious love”
What I heard:
“What you are to me, a mynah bird,
Let the roaches sing our precious love”
In Superdude’s Obligatory Counting Crows reference, from their song “Rain King,” the actual lyric is:
“I belong…in the service of the queen.”
My ears heard:
“I belong…in the cervix of the queen.”