With internet access, it is easy to verify song lyrics. It might just be taking away the mystery, and a bit of fun.
When artists created their LP (Long Playing) record albums in the past, they would often include printed lyrics on the inside cover. But many did not.
It led to some very colorful misinterpretations, Misheard Lyrics.
“Bad Moon Rising” .
Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life. There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Don’t come around tonight. It’s bound to take all night. There’s a bathroom on the right.
“Margaritaville”
And all of those tourists covered with oil.
All of those tunas covered with oil.
“Blinded by the Light”
And she was blinded by the light. Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
And she was blinded by the light. Wrapped up like a douche, you know, to run her in the night.
“Stairway to Heaven”
If there’s a bustle in the hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now.
If there are busses in your hedgerow, just call your lawnman.
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family. Spare him his life from his monstrosity.
He just a poor boy from a poor family, sparing his life for his four sausages.
“Rock the Casbah”
Sharif don’t like it. Rock the Casbah! Rock the Casbah!
And he don’t like it. Rock the cash bar, rock the cash bar.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido.
A mulatto, a big wino, a mosquito and a beetle.
“Lady Marmalade”
Creole Lady Marmalade.
Frito-Lay and marmalade.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
A girl with colitis goes by.
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
Keep on with the force, don’t stop ’til you get enough.
Come on with the coleslaw, don’t stop ’till you get enough.
“Big Yellow Taxi”
Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got ’till it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Donut holes, they seem to go, but you don’t know what you got ’till it’s gone. You pay paradise, put up a parkin’ lot.
***************************************************
And from a classic SNL sketch, Buckwheat Sings.
vanbytheriver 
Haha… this is so funny. So true, most of all when you are basically not speaking the language the song is then the chance to misinterpret is bigger and you can even hear phrases in your own language. Eddie Murphy is just so amazing…. lol!
So many language barriers, Erika, even from English to English ! It’s an old clip of Murphy, but it still makes me laugh.
So true!! And yes, Eddie Murphy is never boring 😂
😁
Ha ha! Love this! I thought of another one from the rock and roll song from the 60s tv show “Secret Agent Man.” An Asian friend told me when he was growing up he thought the lyric was “Secret Asian Man.” If you listen to the song, it does sound like that!
It surely does sound like that. Thanks for playing.
I was convinced it was a douche and that there were 4 sausages. Even with your research here, I’m still doubtful. Fun post.
I sang it with the word “douche” all the time. I was certain as well. Thanks, Ally.
I always got the lyrics wrong and I suppose that gave me a little ownership.
Alone, in your car, with the music up loud…sing away, with conviction… even if it’s wrong. Thanks, Mike.
With alternative lyrics.
😁
A Life In Cars is my new blog.
I love these, Van, they gave me chuckle 🙂
There are just so many out there, Judy, this was just a sample of some of my favorites…and they are mostly “oldies” now. Glad you enjoyed.
Well if they had been more recent songs I wouldn’t have known them -)
My people.
So funny! I remember a couple:
This Twit made one mistake (Hot Chocolate’s So you Win Again)
It started with a kick (another Hot chocolate smash, It started with a kiss)
Kick…kiss. It makes sense to me, Di. 😁
“I’ve got two tickets to paradise….”
To:
“I’ve got two chickens to paralyze….”
😃
Oh, that’s a really good one. I might have eaten a few of those paralyzed chickens over the years. Thanks.
Yesss! Great post! My kids follow Buzzfeed’s Misheard Lyrics. We pretty frequently break out into “Avocado A Potato, here we are now, entertain us” when we buy/cut avocado.
Of course, I hardly know any CCR lyrics, having never looked, I’m pretty content to make open vowel noises and bob my head. I’m happy in my ignorance, although I’ve got THAT part of Bad Moon Rising down 😛
Not too long ago, I discovered I had a Pearl Jam lyric wrong, and it’s my favorite one! It’s not sun in somebody else’s sky, it’s star! Oh my!
And sometimes, with Tori Amos, I’ve found I prefer the lyrics in my head. LOL
Fun stuff, Van!
Those artists that tend to mumble…it’s hard not to make up your own lyrics, isn’t it ? I love Eddie Veder, but…damn. Enunciate a bit. Teen Spirit was a special challenge. We were just talking about Immigrant Song, and I was surprised at the real lyrics, which I guess came while they were on tour in Iceland, honoring local mythology. Tori Amos is brilliant, but requires/creates a certain mood, I think. Thanks, Joey.
Laughing. At myself. I will not own up to which of these I’m guilty of!
Ha ha…I know. And so many more, but I sang them with enthusiasm…so there’s that, C.
Enthusiasm counts for something. 😉
That’s for the chuckle and the Buckwheat share!! Still giggling …. 🤣
It’s a favorite flashback, Val. You’re most welcome.
Ha ha ha. I know that I get the lyrics wrong all the time. I LOVE the Eddie Murphy skit. What a hoot! So funny, Van. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
😁 I’ve had that skit saved on my computer for quite a few years, D. Glad it made you laugh.
Oh my where to start!!!!!! I still call them LP’s, I miss spending hours looking at covers and memorizing all the words. I’m Quilty of a few you had on the list, not the fact wrong words but still wrong. The skit from SNL was one of his best characters. Thanks for the belly roll this morning. I’m having a total knee replacement of Tues., please keep me in your thoughts.
Hugs
M
I miss the cover art when we went to those small cd’s…just not the same, is it ? I agree, Murphy was a talent, and this was a highlight for me.😁
I’ll be thinking of you, M. and that knee. Take care.
Hugs
Oh Van, this is SO funny!! I always hear “a girl with colitis goes by” … I just do. If I knew what I do today I would have kept all my LP’s. Darn! Even the quality of music on CD’s is just not the same to me. I love turntables! 👏🏼
We kept them, still use our turntable. My kids told me they preferred the slightly less than perfect sound of a record…scratches and all. Thanks, Amy.
Haha! I’LL NEVER BRING YOU PIZZA BURNING is what I heard in the Rolling Stone’s Beast of Burden! ♡
Diana xo
You know, it does sound like that, D. Thanks.
Bennie and the Jets, Elton John – I know it says more about me, but I always heard
She got electric boobs and mohair pubes
rather than
She’s got electric boots a mohair suit
Ha ha…well, I’m with you on the boobs…not so sure about the other ??? Nice share, Geoff. Thanks.
Oh Van I love this! The old man and I were just talking about song lyrics and vinyl and how you used to, but not always, get the lyrics sheet with the album. And the album covers were a big thing too. I miss that! And yes, I have been to known to sing the wrong lyrics for like 45 years before I get it right, and I’m sure there are still plenty I haven’t quite got yet. That’s one of the things the internet IS good for, although I’ve seen the wrong lyrics posted there also. Thanks for the blast from the past.
I so agree on those album covers…some were amazing and creative, a unique art form. Glad you can relate, Ilona. Thanks.
P.S. It think I need to share on FB!
Feel free to do so, I.
This is hilarious!!! You took me back van.
😁 Sometimes, going back there…works for me, Lynn. Glad you enjoyed.
Driving home from Cape Cod thismpast Father’s Day, Van, I caught a Massachusetts radio station running the best promos: “Let Dad sing it bad weekend” with a string of bad voices bellowing classic rock songs with mis-interpreted lyrics such as yours above. Loved them all.
What a great idea…gotta love radio ! It’s why I passed on the cd player in the car. Thanks, Mark.
Thanks for the laughs, Van. There are so many of these. It’s funny when I hear people sing some of these lyrics or when I finally find out after all these years that I’ve been singing them wrong..:)
Early 70’s, Shocking Blue released a song that got me in a bit of trouble with the lyric: “I’m your Venus, (insert body part)…I’m your fire and your desire”.Yep, I sang that one, out loud, George.
Lol
Huge Lol. As soon as I read the beginning about misinterpreted lyrics, the first song I thought of was ‘Blinded by the Light’. LOL. Yes, I did so always sing it like it sounded! 🙂 😉 🙂
I know, Deb, the “deuce” was a car, but those lyrics…still make me wonder ?? Thanks.
Lolllllllllllllll. Old habits die hard. Douche – it shall forever be engraved in memory. 🙂 😉
Oh my God, so funny. And Eddie Murphy…what a comedic genius. He didn’t need to force anything.
So right, Julie, a natural comic. Pretty rare.
What a hoot! Thanks for sharing, Van. 🙂
Thanks, Tonya. It was fun for me too !
🎶🕺💃🎶🤗☺️ fun! Smiles hedy