We’ve all had that moment of lyric-related shock. You’re singing along to your favorite tune in the car with a friend when he or she turns down the radio and turns to look at you.
“What did you just say?” you are asked.
You repeat the lyric you just belted out, only to be met with laughter as your friend explains that the lyric you’ve been singing for the past decade is hilariously incorrect.
Though songwriters may pride themselves on their poignant and thought-provoking words, it’s common for fans to jumble these sentiments and create an entirely new meaning for the tune.
By now, you’ve probably met someone who thought Jimi Hendrix was singing, “Excuse me while I kiss this guy” during “Purple Haze” when he was actually singing about kissing the sky.
Those who enjoyed the pop smash “Oops! I Did It Again” by Britney Spears are often surprised to find out that the lyrics actually state, “That I’m sent from above” and that Britney was not, in fact, singing about “medicine from a dove.”
Other common misheard lyrics include:
“Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life, there’s a bathroom on the right” from CCR’s song “Bad Mood Rising.” In reality, the lyrics go, “there’s a bad moon on the rise.” This one small tweak changes the meaning of the song quite a bit.
Some people thought Elton John was singing, “Hold me closer, Tony Danza” when he was actually saying, “Hold me closer, tiny dancer.” Needless to say, that was not correct.
Rolling Stones fans may have wondered why the group got involved with a pizza shop as they sang, “I’ll never leave your pizza burning.” In reality, the song says, “I’ll never be your beast of burden.” Given the title of the tune, it makes a lot more sense.
If you were a fan of the ‘90s classic “Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba, you may have felt unsure about why the song explained, “I got no thumb, but it grew back again. You’re never gonna keep me down.” In reality, the group was singing, “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.” It’s okay; the British accents must have thrown you off.
Take a second listen to Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” and you’ll realize that Kurt Cobain is actually not saying, “Here we are now, in containers” but rather, “Here we are now, entertain us.”
Interestingly enough, as I was creating this post I realized that for roughly two decades I’ve been butchering the lyrics to Alanis Morisette’s “You Oughta Know.” I always wondered why she was singing, “It’s not fair to deny me of the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me.” In reality, no teddy bears were harmed in the making of this song. She’s actually saying, “It’s not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me.”
Now that I’ve admitted my lyrical faux pas, it’s your turn. Tell me about a famous song lyric that you’ve taken some “creative license” with in the past.
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Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.