What lyrics have you always gotten wrong?

katie Thu, May 21, 2009 at 03:31 PM EST

My mom today thought Lady GaGa was singing my butt ugly face instead of my poker face

KittyJules Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 05:33 PM EST

I asked my mom one time why a knight would want to wear white satin...She said she didn't know either! LOL I guess that was the easier answer for her to give!

Jenn Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 04:53 PM EST

Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Soul to Squeeze"

real lyrics:"it took away my pain said,' please..."

my interpretation: "they took away my pcp..."

Bruce Centerwall Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 03:39 PM EST

I just found out.....
Song: Roundabout
Group: YES

Real words: In and around the lake...
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there !!! :)

Bruce Centerwall Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 01:22 PM EST

I do not know the real lyrics or the band. Here is what I hear in my head:

"In and around the lake, maggots come out of the sky and they stand there."

Please help !!! :)

Saidhbhin Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 10:07 PM EST

Beastie Boys: Sure Shot
"Born in the back of a shoe shop, shoe shop."
Madonna: Papa Don't Preach
"Poppadom Beach"
And I probably made at least half of the same mistakes as the other people here and never realised til just now that I'd been wrong!

Nadine Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 05:16 AM EST

i thought the beegees song was "you come to me on a submarine" until i just read that post... and i've been singing along to it for 17 years

chrisie Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 11:48 PM EST

tiny dancer by elton john i always thought he was saying tony danza.

will smith Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 06:34 AM EST

'welcome to miami' was 'welcome to my enemy' (made sence if you consider it was on the MIB soundtrack :)

will smith Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 06:34 AM EST

'welcome to miami' was 'welcome to my enemy' (made sence if you consider it was on the MIB soundtrack :)

moi Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 06:27 AM EST

'so horny' by mousse T, when i was a kid i used to sing ' im honey, honey honey honey :D

Susie Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 11:51 AM EST

I got a good laugh over all of you Secret Asian Man singers, but didn't any of you watch the TV series with Patrick McGoohan that the song was the theme for?

When my son and his best friend were about 8 years old, they were absolutely convinced that in the lyrics to Teach Your Children by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, "feed them on your dreams, the ones they picked," that the word "picked" was actually "bi*ch." - which is a word that they weren't supposed to say (or even know)! They would giggle and sing that word along with the song, no matter how much I argued that they had the wrong word. I guess it's like the Don Henley lyrics, "And we would sing right out loud, the things we could not say."

Kathy Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 01:47 PM EST

Emily - I heard the line in 'Chasing Waterfalls' as 'Jason Waterfall' too. XD

jennabelle Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 01:43 PM EST

This is a great blog post. I've been laughing out loud at some of the comments. My mix up was Robert Palmers' Addicted to Love. For YEARS, I sang, you're gonna have to face it, your a dic-dic-tuta-luv. No idea what that is, but that's how it sounded to me. It wasn't until I saw the video years later and saw the name of he song that I made the connection.

emily Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 01:55 PM EST

TLC...."Don't go Chasing Waterfalls"...I always wondered who was Jason Waterfalls and why were we rooting for him (Go, Go!!!)

Susie Ulmer Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 04:50 AM EST

I've always gotten the lyrics from John Foggerty's Bad Moon Rising wrong. Hearing the song on the radio all these years, I could barely understand any of the lyrics, but always figured it was a bar song. So I thought the lyrics, "there's a bad moon on the rise" was "there's a bathroom on the right." I was pretty embarassed when my young son pointed out my error.

Dee Fri, Jul 4, 2008 at 10:40 PM EST

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already (too lazy to scan through the other comments), but CollegeHumor has this video up for "Sugar We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy that is HI-larious! That's gotta be one of the top songs whose lyrics get butchered!

donner Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 11:04 PM EST

The Motel's - "Only the Lonely"..
Actual Lyrics - "Only the lonely can play"...My version - "Only the lonely get laid"...which really doesn't make much sense, does it...

Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 03:13 PM EST

Does anyone remember the hair metal band Sherif and their ballad "When I'm With You"? The lyric is "Baby, yeah, yeah, oh I can't choose when I'm with you". It sounds like he's saying "oh I can't chew when I'm with you."

Anne Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 02:53 PM EST

Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science"
Actual words: "She's tidied up, and I can't find anything!"
My misunderstood words: "She's tied it up, and I can't stand anything!"
Yeah, the original is better.

How about Social Distortion's "Story of My Life"
Actual words: "I sit on the edge of my bed and sing an outlaw love song"
My misundertood words "I'm singing out a long song" or "I sing a la-la-la song"
Again, the original is (much) better.

JillEE Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 11:03 AM EST

When I was in high school my best friend swore up and down that the song "Lady in Red" said "ca-chink ca-chink," when it really says "cheek-to-cheek." We even made a bet about it, and she ended up dancing with her high school crush cheek-to-cheek as payment. :-)

Ginger Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 11:01 AM EST

You mean her mind isn't Tiffany twisted and Tommy has his guitar in hock?? What!! I also used to think it was "alma's parrot eyes" instead of "almost paradise"! Oh, and in the song, Sarah, I thought he was saying "you're time is a good time of the night," like everyone in that town was only allowed out for a little while at assigned times or something!

bud Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 10:58 AM EST

My best friend always would sing Maureen when Blondie was singing "Call Me". She has problems.

Nancy Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 10:48 AM EST

To Nicole:

Good Times! Anytime you need a payment.
Good Times! Anytime you need a friend.
Not gettin' hustled, not gettin' mussled.
Keepin' your head above water! Making a way when you can! A temporary layoff! Good Times! Easy creditor ripoff! Good times! Scratchin' and survivin'! Good Times! Hangin' in a donut! Good Times! Ain't we lucky we got em' - da da da da dada - Good Tiiiiiiiiiimes!

Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 10:22 AM EST

These posts are awesome. Madonna's La Isla Bonita was a bit of a challenge for me-- I always heard 'A young girl with eyes like potatos'. It was really funny when I got busted.

Melissa Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 08:47 AM EST

I never could understand the lyrics to "Blinded By The Light." Well, at least how Manfred Mann sang it. When I was a kid, I always thought he was "wrapped up like a goose in the middle of the night." Like goosedown? We're singing about comfy bedsheets and blankets? Allrighty. Only in my teens did I learn that it was really "Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night" via Springsteen.

Anne Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 08:22 AM EST

I was pretty young when KC and the Sunshine Band's song "Shake Your Booty" was popular. I heard the lyrics OK but didn't really get what they meant by "booty". I serioulsy thought they meant dancing shoes.

MT-Head Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 08:10 AM EST

I always thought Neil Diamond's "Forver in Blue Jeans" was "Reverend Blue Jeans" and I about died when I saw a King of Queens episode where Doug thought the same thing - that it was a song about a hip preacher man. My sister and I used to sing Reverend Blue Jeans when we heard it on the radio during car trips. I don't think I was clued in until I was around 10 or 12 and actually looked at the album cover.

I just learned to day that the line in Games w/o Frontiers is not "she's so popular", so thanks to all who enlightened me!

nicole Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 07:48 AM EST

The theme to Good Times.
ANYONE?!?!

Ryan Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 07:39 AM EST

The Rolling Stones, "Beast of Burden" had me and my younger brother singing, "I'll never be your Big Suburban"
And I do believe that the Smashing Pumpkins correct lyric for Bullet w/ Butterfly wings is in fact, "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage"

Catherine Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 07:26 AM EST

"Come on Eileen,
Oh, I swear I smell clean."

I was 8

Ashlyn Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 05:28 AM EST

Hahaaaa... These posts made me laugh out loud!
I got a lot of lyrics wrong, but I can't think of all of them now...

I do remember this though; in "Believe" by The Bravery, I always thought he sang "There's a smell of stale feet and it's reeking from our skins..." when he actually sang "stale fear"...

HAHAHAHAHA!

KrisW Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 01:34 AM EST

As a kid I always thought the GoGo's were singing "Arliss the Seal"

gina-marie Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 12:14 AM EST

It was the song "bandages" by Hot Hot Heat. My friend heard "bag of chips, bag of chips" instead of "bandages, Badages". Too funny. Now that is what I sing when I hear it!

Mari Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 12:12 AM EST

"Please Don't Stop The Music= Mama say mama saw ma Microsoft (I have not idea what the true lyrics are but I am sure it is not Microsoft)"

OMG! LOL, that's so funny!!
And yeah, it's not Microsoft, those lyrics are for a Michael Jackson's song, they did a sampler of that song in Rihanna's song, so, no, not Microsoft, but I don't know the real lyrics either.

About the PussyCat Dolls song, my sister thought the song said "boobies" too LOL
And when I was little and didn't know much english I thought Michael Jackson whas saying "Annie are you walking?" in "Smooth Criminal"
My sister has a very embarassing lyric, she thought that in Snow Patrol's "Run" the lyric was "I'll be right beside your deer" instead of "I'll be right beside you, dear" hahaha.
This is so much fun!
You need to make a second part of this !

flp Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:51 PM EST

My friends little sister got the lyrics to the Paul Young song "Everytime you go Away" a little confused - instead of "Everytime You go Away you take a piece of me with you" she would sing "Everytime you go away you take a piece of Meat with you"

Still cracks me up when I think of it now.

wwb Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:47 PM EST

Pocket Full of Sunshine = "A Swedish place" instead of the correct lyric "a sweet escape".
Hollaback Girl = "I ain't gonna holla fat girl"
Two Wrongs (Wyclef Jean)= "Build by house with bread and no longer with sand"...um, that would be BRICKS, not bread!
Miss Independent = "No longer needs to be the piss ant" instead of "defensive".
Please Don't Stop The Music= Mama say mama saw ma Microsoft (I have not idea what the true lyrics are but I am sure it is not Microsoft)

These all courtesy of my husband & best friend. They keep me in stitches!

Bernie Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:45 PM EST

instead of bad moon on the rise it was "there's a baboon on the rise"
hence i've never seen baboons as anything but ominous signs of gloom since i first heard that song.

Laura K. Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:42 PM EST

I remain unconvinced that it's not boobies.

the Getaway Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:21 PM EST

that song "Meet Virginia." When the singer says "She wants to be the queen" I thought he was saying "She wants Steve McQueen." Who doesn't want Steve McQueen? (Alive, young, skinny Steve McQueen, that is)

Lana Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 11:06 PM EST

Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca: "Her lips are damn grreat..." It should be: "Her lips are devil red and her skin's the color of mocha." I like my version better, actually.

Mari Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:50 PM EST

El Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 12:57 PM EST

I have no idea what the real lyrics are, because I only ever here this song when someone else is in control of the radio, but in Enrique Eglasias song "Bailamos" he sings "Let the rhythm take you over, bailamos, te quiero..." and then I'm pretty sure the next line is "My burrito". That makes sense right? Lets dance, you want my burrito?
.......................................

The lyrics are "Te quiero, amor mio"
Trust me on this one. Spanish is my first language, and my bff LOVES Enrique Iglesias so I know all the lyrics for his songs.
Sorry for my english, btw. I'm still learning.

Nix Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:36 PM EST

Huh, so this may just be me: I've always gotten "Hold me closer, tiny dancer" from "Tiny Dancer" (since I assumed it's the title of the song ...) but I never could make out what the last line was. "The highway is the day today" or something. Luckily Elton sings it too high for me to sing, so I never sang it in public.

sketchycat Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:21 PM EST

i always thought that, in the chris isaak song "wicked game," they were singing "zum-zum-zum-zum-bee-doo-wah" in the background. the first time i sang that around my college buds, they started cackling and said, "what? that's not what they're saying!" they looked it up online, and the actual lyrics are, "this world is only gonna' break your heart." duh me.

Jay Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:15 PM EST

The beginning of Rock of Ages by Def Leppard: "Onta Gleebin Gloutin Gloven". I still don't know what they're saying.

K Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:08 PM EST

For several years I went around singing along with a certain Steve Miller Band hit from 1977, coincidentally the year of a particular Australian Open men's champion... I never did understand why Vitas Gerulaitis was going to carry me to my home, so it was kind of a relief when I finally figured it out.

But seriously. Sing it. It scans.

Honorable mention goes to my best friend's little sister who at a tender age would belt out the beginning of Steve Perry's "Oh Sherry" as "CINN-A-MON GU-UM!" Because that's what she heard. And of course now it's pretty much what I hear too.

idigress Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:01 PM EST

Ketra - I totally thought Peter Gabriel was saying "she's so popular" until I just read your post!! OMG!

There's a song from the 70s, I believe, called "I'm Your Puppet", my little sis and I thought it was "I'm your tuffet (as in little miss muffet sat on a...) for years! Makes no sense but that is what we both heard - we still sing that lyric. Also thought that she had "electric boobs"...

Finally - in "Careless Whisper" I thought George said - "calls to find the silver string, darkness says goodbye" (what?) the real lyric is this..."calls to mind the silver screen".
and all its sad good-byes

Jay Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 09:38 PM EST

Harden My Heart by Quarterflash: "I'm gonna harden my heart, I'm gonna swallow mighty earth ..."

Silv Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 09:26 PM EST

Jumpin by Destiny's Child
...the club is full of ballers and their pockets full of combs..."

Silv Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 09:10 PM EST

Staying Alive by Bee Gees, as I heard it...
"...Music loud and women warned..."
"..Whether you're a brother, or whether you're a mother, you're staying alive / Evil city shaking, and everybody's breaking and they're staying alive, staying alive..."
"Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, staying alive...I'm going nowhere, somebody help me, somebody help me please..."
Well, who can understand guys singing that fast and that high???

Andrew Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 09:06 PM EST

Directly related to this post, I always thought Don Henley was singing "Poison Summer" instead of "Boys of Summer". As in "my love for you will still be strong, after the poison summer has gone." Seems more poignant, somehow.

Mavis Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 08:49 PM EST

One of my best friends and I really like Jimmy Buffett. He has this song called "Saxophones", well my friend used to think that he sang "Sexy Thongs"! So now if we go to one of his shows or hear that song, we always sing the sexy thong line and laugh like crazy!

surfergirl577 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 08:38 PM EST

Ride Wit Me by Nelly

When they say "Hey, must be the money!" my mom thought they said monkey instead of money. Since then we've called it the monkey song.

SoG Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 08:05 PM EST

When Rage Against the Machine covered Renegades of Funk -- I sang, when a Redneck gives a F*** -- out loud. in the car. did i mention, someone was in the car with me? yeaaaaa. I have no idea what I was thinking either.

jusgorjus Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:42 PM EST

Rose Royce's (I know from the 70's) Love Don't Live Hear Anymore. I thought she was singing "you are bending me, love don't live here anymore." After I heard the remake from Mary J. Blige, I realized she was saying, "you abandoned me, love don't live here anymore."

JaneBrain Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:36 PM EST

My sister thought Steve Millers lyric was "Big Hotel with the light on" instead of big old jet airliner coming to take me away.

x302 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:28 PM EST

Tears for Fears-everybody wants to fool the world :)
I have noticed that the new REMASTERED songs on CD's - you can actually hear the words!! boy, I have I gotten some so wrong :)

dep Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:28 PM EST

Even though I know the real lyrics to "Eyes Without a Face," after hearing a friend's version, I now can't not sing "I'll supply the fish."

KJ Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:27 PM EST

A girl I worked with thought "might as well face it, you're addicted to love," was "my anus where your face is, you're addicted..."

So, so SO WRONG.

Sarah Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 07:21 PM EST

Driving in the car with a college girfriend... we were belting out "Missing" by Everything But the Girl in that oh so sincere way...and she sang..."and I miss you...like the desert's masquerade..."

and I said bzuh?

Don't you mean..."like the deserts miss the rain"

I've never let her forget it. How exactly does a desert masquerade?

But then again, when Billy Idol showed up in The Wedding Singer - I turned to her and said - "you think they could have found someone who looked a little more like Billy Idol."

so - we are evenly embarrassed.

Mary Jane Powell Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:55 PM EST

The song Cocktail by the Beach Boys
The line-Montserrat mystique
My husband's misinterpretation-mounds of rotten steak

Stephanie T. Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:52 PM EST

Flashdance, lol. I agree with Kyrie. I thought it was "Kyre it laid behind the road that I must travel".

Parag Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:48 PM EST

For something like seven years, I thought the main lyrics to U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" were "Someday, Buddy Someday". And yea, I made an ass out of myself in front of some friends.

Flashdance 2x2 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:39 PM EST

Oh, and this one - Kyrie by Mr. Mister. I could not for the life of my hear what the chorus was behind all the synthesizers, so I made up "Kiwi in my navel" just to have somthing to sing.

fistfullofdeuce Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:33 PM EST

My niece loves Kenny Chesney and animals, so when she misheard a line from his song "I Lost It", it became her favorite song. The line is "Or drive me mad like she does," but she heard it as "Or drive me mad like a cheetah." She always wants to hear "the cheetah song."

As for me, I can't seem to understand enough of what Eddie Vedder is singing in "Yellow Ledbetter" to mishear it. I think he may have been drunk when it was recorded. It does make me think of underwear it odd ways though.

Flashdance 2 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:31 PM EST

Yes Stephanie, I am with you! I used to think the same thing..."Take your pants off, and make it happen". It made total sense.

I also used to think the old Supreme's song "Come See About Me" was "Pour Syrup On Me". Probably Def Leopard's fault.

hawaii Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 06:18 PM EST

Twista and Jamie Foxx's Slow Jams: She said she want some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross, a little Anita will definitely set this party off right. My friend: She said she wants some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandrum, a little Banita so you can set your face on fiyah.

No idea how she came up with that. But we always have a great time singing it.

Melanie Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:58 PM EST

I always thought that Tommy had his six string on high. I was 25 before I knew he had it "in hock." Guess I thought it went to 11 or something.

elly Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:39 PM EST

i just remembered, my husband always hears "she's got a ticket to ride" as "she's got a chicken to ride", and, despite me showing him the song track on the album cover, still remains convinced that this is what the beatles are singing. :)

Stephanie T. Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:33 PM EST

I don't know why but for some stupid reason, when I was a kid I thought that the lyrics from Flashdance (What a Feeling) were instead of "Take your Passion and make it happen" were "Take your pants down, and make it happen".

elly Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:30 PM EST

oh no..jen, the song is 'bad *moon*' rising'... :o

you have my sympathies..i've been there!!

for over a decade, i thought the chorus of the crash test dummies' tarzan/superman song was, "superman never made any money saving the world from sodom and gundy." i figured it couldn't be so wrong, just because i had no idea what a gundy was. this year, my husband bought me 'batman: the long halloween' for my b-day and i learned about SOLOMON GRUNDY - a villain of the DC universe that supe and the bats share...and who the dummies were singing about. when i yelled "OH!" and went to tell my husband that i finally got what the song meant, he admitted that, even though he knew who solomon grundy was, he'd always misheard the lyrics the exact same way. clearly, we were meant to be. :)

EllieLand Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:21 PM EST

Bombs Over Baghdad by Outkast... the part at the end where kids are chanting "Bible music electric revival" I thought it was "Why don't you take me into the fly zone" Not even close!

Jen again Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 05:08 PM EST

I had a more optimistic take on Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Mood Rising." Instead of "I see a bad mood rising" I thought it was "I see a brand new horizon."

nunaurbiz Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:58 PM EST

A college friend thought Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean" was about interior decorating, not paternity. She thought "But the kid is not my son" was "But the chair is not my style."

As for me, I always hated Steve Miller's "The Joker" because of the line "Really love your features want to shake your tree," which never made sense to me. Then years later, learned it was "Really love your PEACHES want to shake your tree" and it made me hate the song even more because that's so STUPID!

It also makes me chuckle at karaoke to see the "Hotel California" line "Her mind is definitely twisted" instead of "Tiffany twisted" and that she's got the "Mercedes bends" instead of "Mercedes Benz."

cranberry Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:53 PM EST

Ketra said I'm Every Woman" ~ "Climb every woman" yes, makes no sense...

I always sang "Climb every mountain" It sounded right. : (

Benny Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:29 PM EST

On the song "Mercy" by Duffy, I thought she says "I'm learning your spell" when in reality she says "I'm under your spell". Which also suits the song, if she's looking to get back at him. LOL

Arsenio Billingham Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:28 PM EST

In Rusted Root's "Ecstasy" I used to sing "I eat corned beef, living in a world of ecstasy" instead of "I wouldn't want to be living in a world of ecstasy." I like my way better...who wouldn't be in ecstasy eating corned beef?

Coach's Mistressc Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:17 PM EST

This was so embarassing when I was a young teen, but I would sing the song "Stroke Me" as "Stunt Man!" Yes, I'd sing, "Stunt Man, Stunt Man". I was mortified when I learned the truth (ooooh...STROKE me!)

Amy Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 04:12 PM EST

When I was a kid I thought the line from "Winter Wonderland" that says, "later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire"

was "later on, we'll perspire, as we dream by the fire"

Hey, they were hot sitting by that fire!

Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:59 PM EST

My mom always though in Mariah's "Dreamlover" she was saying "I wanna shamalama with you baby" instead of "share forever". My sister always though in Michael Bolton's "Reach Out" he sings "you little retard" instead of "you better reach out". Stupid me always though that Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" was "And I'm FREEEEEEEEEE, Free for it!" We are special people.

jeremy Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:58 PM EST

Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." For years I thought it was "Where was the thunda."

Stephanie T. Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:53 PM EST

The Clash, Rock the Casbah: "Machines don't like it, Rock the Camera, Rock the Camera".

Stephanie T. Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:44 PM EST

1. Peter Gabriel, Games without Frontiers: a) "She so funky yeah". b) "Jeans are funky, yeah".

2. C.C.R. Bad Moon Rising: "There's a Bathroom on the Right". Apparently that goofed lyric was so popular that John Fogerty used to purposely flub the lyric when he performed live because he thought it was funny.

3. Paul McCartney Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey: "Hands across the water (water), hands across this guy".

Sarah Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:37 PM EST

As a kid, my sister thought that it was Secret Asian Man as well, and will be quick to point out how many people have posted that. She swears to this day that everyone thought those were the words.

For my part, I always thought that in the song Free Falling, Tom Petty was "flying down over Valhallah" (instead of Mulholland), because at 6 I didn't realize that the song was all about places in LA, but for some reason I knew what Valhallah was and that seemed to make sense to me.

Ryan Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:36 PM EST

I also thought the line in Benny and the Jets was "electric boobs." Also, in Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box, I thought it was "Hey! Wayne! I want your window pane." In Destiny's Child's Independent Women, I thought they said "Throw your hands up, Batman."

Melinda65 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:34 PM EST

Sorella: The correct lyrics are "Secret AGENT Man." "Asian" is the mis-heard lyric.

Mary Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:34 PM EST

As a kid in the 70s, I loved (and still do) the Bee Gees. I thought the words from "How Deep is Your Love" were "you come to me on a submarine" instead of "you come to me on a summer breeze". Even at 8, I wondered why they would use a submarine instead of a car! :-)

carole Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

Wil Smith's Getting Jiggy With it - turned into 'Stick a chicken in it' :(

GatorGal Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:32 PM EST

This has got to be one of my favorite PopWatch posts of the year. The running lyrics joke in my family is my sister's confusion over "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" from the Sound of Music. The lyrics should say: "How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?" My sister's version: "How do you hold a poor peep in your hand?" When we confronted her on it on a very long family road trip sing-a-long, she confessed she pictured a little baby chicken as part of the song. WHAT?? She was clearly confused over that yummy marshmellow Easter treat.

Melissa Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:22 PM EST

For years my fiance thought these were Eric Clapton's lyrics to "Layla": "Bay-ba, got me on my knees Bay-ba/Million dollar please, Bay-ba/Darlin' won't you be my clementine?"

Jamie Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:18 PM EST

Alanis Morissette, "Head Over Feet": I convinced myself for YEARS that she was singing about a dog based on mis-hearing "best friend with benefits" as "best friend within a fence."

jim Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:09 PM EST

There is an old 60's song, of which the true lyrics are "you and me endlessly; crusin'; on a Sunday afternoon". For 30 years I thought it was "you and me and Leslie". I alsways wondered, who the heck is Leslie? And why is she with you two sweethearts while your out crusin'?

Sorella Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:07 PM EST

Speaking of funny Italian grandmothers singing, mine used to sing at the top of her lungs in her broken English "I left my art in San Francisco" with so much feeling (I remember as a child asking my Mom, who the heck Art was). But Nonna was such a sweetie we just kept quiet (plus it always gave us a chuckle!).

HJ Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:03 PM EST

Stevie Ray Vaughan singing "And that's a cold shot, babe." I always thought it was "At night we go shopping."

JillyRo Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 03:01 PM EST

Someone posted: manfred man's earth band that goes "blinded by the light/ revved up like a deuce/another runner in the night"?? everyone I know has heard it as "blinded by the light/ wrapped up like a doucher in the mornin' in the night" !
****
I always thought they sang "Blinded by the Light, wrapped up a little rooster like a roller in the night". Yeah, makes no sense to me either.

funny Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 02:35 PM EST

I could never figure out as a kid why The Knack was singing about "Rice a Roni", turns out it was My Sherona

Also, in Jesse by Josh Kardisan (however you spell that), I always thought he said we would look facetious. Turns out they were looking for sea shells. I kept wondering how one would go about looking facetious.

And I always thought Whitney was declaring that we should climb every mountain. Turns out she is every woman.

And much to my husband's dismay, I still sing "Cupid walk out the door" instead of "Cupid draw back your bow". Some habits are hard to break.

Alaina Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 02:34 PM EST

To wendy - I thought the exact same thing about Panama! I was with a group of teenagers last week who are obsessed with Van Halen and we were singing Panama at the top of our lungs and there I go singing "Animal!" and realized I was wrong. Talk about feeling like a tool...

stephanie Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 02:26 PM EST

UM HELLO. what about blinded by the light by manfred man's earth band that goes "blinded by the light/ revved up like a deuce/another runner in the night"?? everyone I know has heard it as "blinded by the light/ wrapped up like a doucher in the mornin' in the night" !

wendy12 Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 02:19 PM EST

hold me closer tony danza is the only way i will sing tiny dancer even though i know its wrong

Nancy Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 02:18 PM EST

To Ketra412: So you're saying the lyrics aren't "She's so popular"? Oh my, another one to my list.