We’ve probably all sung the wrong lyrics to a song at some point, with some hilarious misinterpretations of some of the greatest tunes of all times – but what are they really saying?
Music lovers can get swept up in their favourite songs and find themselves singing along.
Often belting out the words to catchy tunes with what they think is being sung. But how many times are they right? Whether it’s a particular pronunciation to suit the musical arrangement, or selective hearing, over the years we’ve probably all been guilty of getting the lyrics a bit wrong at some point or other. In fact it’s such a common thing, there’s even a word for it in the dictionary – mondegreen.
So here the Daily Star has decided to set the record straight, on a number of, umm, records and reveal the true lyrics to some often hilarious misinterpretations.
Kicking off with the Eagles’ Hotel California, Don Henley’s classic about American decadence and burnout, has the opening misheard line, “On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair”. When what he was actually singing was: “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair”. But the dessert line does sound kind of fun.
Some listeners to ABBA’s Take A Chance On Me have decided that the Swedish popstars were big fans of martial arts. They apparently hear “If you change your mind, Jackie Chan, I’m the first in line, Jackie Chan”.
However, the track was penned in 1977, before Jackie’s career really kicked off, and what they were actually singing was: “If you change your mind, take a chance, I’m the first in line, take a chance”.
I’m guilty of mishearing Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Blinded By the Light, and refuse to accept the true lyrics. They’re definitely singing “Blinded by the light…wrapped up like a douche when you’re rollin’ in the night”. Even though it’s claimed they’re singing: “Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.”
Another very popular misheard song is Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze, when he takes some time out to smooch a bloke. The often misquoted line is: “’Scuse me, while I kiss this guy.” However, according to the lyric sheet, it’s: “‘Scuse me, while I kiss the sky.”
There’s plenty to choose from in Michael Jackson’s back catalogue, but we’ll just do a couple. Firstly Man in the Mirror, according to some, Jacko belts out the line “And no Mrs could have been any clever”. But it’s actually “And no message could be clearer”.
And the King of Pop (and non-sensical lyrics) is also responsible for some folk singing “Mama say, mama say, mama applesap” during his song Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, when he is in fact singing the far more comprehensible: “Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa.”
The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations has some music fans singing: “I’m pickin’ up good vibrations, she’s giving me her citations.” But it should be “I’m pickin’ up good vibrations, she’s giving me excitations.”
Meanwhile listeners to the hair metal classic Livin’ On a Prayer by Bon Jovi, believe they can hear him sing: “It doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not”. But in truth, he’d not talking about getting his kit off, he’s singing. “It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.”
R.E.M’s The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite had everyone confused in the early 90s. A catchy tune, made impossible to sing along to thanks to Michael Stipe’s rapid delivery of the line: “Call me when you try to wake her up”, which loads of people thought was “Calling Jamaica”.
If you needed to go to the toilet, Creedence Clearwater Revival helpfully informed listeners: “There’s a bathroom on the right”, in their song Bad Moon Rising. Ok, so in reality it’s “Bad moon on the rise”, so you’re just going to have to cross your legs.
Allegedly Sir Mix-A-Lot likes “big butts and a can of limes” in the timeless classic, Baby’s Got Back. But in truth he likes big butts and he “cannot lie”.
Honorary mentions should go to Toto’s Africa, to which people sing “Ain’t nothin’ that a hundred men on Mars could ever do”. However, it should me “There’s nothin’ that a hundred men or more could ever do.”
And surely everyone loves to sing along to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, but some people think it’s “Hold me closer, Tony Danza.” Tony Danza, in case you didn’t know is an American actor and retired professional boxer, with a thick Brooklyn accent, who starred in Taxi and Who’s the Boss? Sadly for Tony, it’s just the tiny dancer Elton wants to hold closer.
Over on Reddit, Blue by Eiffel 65, had its “I’m blue, Da ba dee da ba di” mixed up with “I’m Blue, I would beat off a guy.”
And Beyonce’s Single Ladies (Put a ring on it). The clue to the lyrics is in the name, but that hasn’t stopped some Reddit users from admitting to changing the words, “All the single ladies… etc, to “I’m a single lettuce, I’m a single lettuce. If you like it, you should put whipped cream on it.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
