11 greatest misheard song lyrics from ABBA to the Kings of Leon
Is there anyone among us who’s never confidently belted out the wrong lyrics to a song? Our rundown of top misunderstandings should make you feel better…19:15, 12 Aug 2025Updated 19:16, 12 Aug 2025The SKY. That’s what Jimi Hendrix kissed.(Image: Michael Ochs Archives)Singer Alex Warren insists we’ve all been mishearing the lyrics to his hit song Ordinary, as the Daily Star revealed this week. That bit where he sings “All my life, I’ll do ya” – he’s actually saying “how do ya?”But he’s not the first pop star to fall victim to a lyrical muddle. Now we’ve taken a look back at some of history’s daftest misheard songs…Hits and missesHIT: “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”MISS: “Excuse me while I kiss this guy.”The big one – from Purple Haze (1967) by Jimi Hendrix. Not even Jimi would be sure what he said. In either case, he should probably wait until after the performance.The Kings of Leon – not on fire(Image: Getty Images)HIT : “Oooohhh, this sex is on fire.”MISS : “Oooohhh, dyslexics on fire.”From Sex on Fire (2008) by Kings of Leon, the clue is in the song title. Both options sound painful, neither makes a huge amount of sense.HIT: “Spare him his life from this monstrosity.”MISS : “Saving his life from this warm sausage tea.”In a song as bizarre as Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) by Queen, it’s easy to see how you might get confused. But what’s wrong with those sausages?HIT : “See that girl, watch that scene, diggin’ the dancing queen.”MISS : “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen.”What’s wrong with you? ABBA were never that mean. Dancing Queen (1976) is just a nice song about a girl who likes a boogieHIT : “Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong.”MISS : “Take your teeth out, tell me what’s wrong.”Ok, you can have this one. Brings a new and unsettling dimension to ABBA’s 1979 ballad Chiquitita.HIT : “I believe in miracles.”MISS : “I remove umbilicals.”Completely ruins You Sexy Thing (1976) by Hot Chocolate – and introduces some worrying questions. A less sexy concept is hard to imagine.Chaka Khan – definitely not Terry Wogan(Image: Michael Ochs Archives)HIT : “I’m every woman.”MISS : “I’m Terry Wogan.”Every woman deserves a celebration – and Chaka Khan’s I’m Every Woman (1978) is an empowering feminist anthem. However, the late Terry Wogan was also pretty good.HIT : “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.”MISS : “I can see clearly now, Lorraine is gone.”Who is Lorraine and what did she do to Johnny Nash’s vision? It’s a question that’s been puzzling listeners since 1972.HIT : “Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer.”MISS : “Then I saw her face, now I’m gonna leave her.”Makes the Monkees seem a bit indecisive in their 1967 hit I’m A Believer. Especially when they go on to sing “I couldn’t leave her if I tried.”HIT : “Concrete jungle, where dreams are made of.”MISS : Concrete jungle, wet dream tomato.”Not everything rapper Jay-Z has to say makes sense. But this version of his 2009 hit Empire State of Mind, featuring Alicia Keys, would be wild even by his standards.HIT : “I’m blue, da-ba-dee da-ba-di, da-ba-dee da-ba-di, da-ba-dee da-ba-di.”MISS : “I’m blue in Aberdeen, I will die in Aberdeen, in Aberdeen I will die.”Article continues belowPossibly wishful thinking on the part of anyone unfortunate enough to hear Blue (1998) by Italian group Eiffel 65. In lyrical terms, an improvement. More