My favorite misheard lyric ever is when I was in 7th grade, and my friend jokingly told me she was going to name her new kitten "Boberetta, like the song." "What song?" I asked, full of skepticism. "You know, the one that goes 'Ooooh, Boberetta'!" To which I exclaimed, "You mean 'Smooth Operator'?!?" I still think of it every time I hear that song.
Wow - that's quite a mishear! It's also a great reminder that I haven't written about Sade yet, which is surprising since I have several personal stories that can go with a few of her songs!
Great one, Steve (as usual)! One of my first mis-heard lyrics happened in 1966. I was 11, and listening to The Beatles' newly-released "Paperback Writer" in the car; presumably, a parent was driving.
But, dumb little kid that used to live in my body, I heard the chorus as "Paperback Rider," imagining a guy flying (flying carpet style) thru the air on a paperback book! My mom read a lot of paperbacks, so I knew what THOSE were, but hearing the word as describing someone who might've written the book was somehow overtaken by the sound-alike to something I know I did on my bike! Holy frame of reference, Batman!
From 1976, when Boston's classic debut album was released, until a little over 10 years ago, I thought the chorus of their song 'Peace of Mind' went like this:
I understand about indecision
And I don't care about FBI
It took the video game Rock Band, and singing along to the karaoke-style lyrics scrolling across the screen, for me to realize it was actually:
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
That made a lot more sense, and I was relieved to find that neither singer Brad Delp nor songwriter Tom Scholz had any disrespect for a US federal agency.
I only know ‘Thank You ...’ from a great Magazine cover version.
The most famous UK misheard lyric is ‘Sue Lawley’ by The Police, but since she was a famous newsreader over here I guess that variant on ‘So Lonely’ will mean nothing to US listeners.
By the way my current (v.persistent) ear worm is Prefab Sprout’s ‘King of Rock’n’Roll’, “hot dog, jumping frog, Alberquerque”!
Still have all their records on vinyl and as a big Thomas Dolby fan ( see my piece on “Hyperactive”) was extra in love with Steve McQueen when that album came out. Worth a revisit this weekend!
It always irked me that McQueen didn't follow-up with a record, himself, name-checking PS! Uh-oh, all of this name-as-song talk has got me conjuring up a possible future GROW BIGGER EARS themed tune-boggle!😱
Fingers crossed! Also, I just realized there really is no "Steve McQueen" song, but merely the title of the album. But, I stand vindicated in noticing that there IS a "Faron Young" song (my memory jogged thru research!), which only fortifies, even more, my desire for a future themed article, as well as intensifyies my incredulousness as to why a SINGER (Young, who died "only" in '96) never reciprocated with a Prefab-inspired song! The musical mysteries pile up!🎶
American Pie - I always heard “Do you recall what was the deal” instead of “what was revealed”. Still sing it that way when I listen to it and sing it to the cat.
Nice one! I hadn’t heard that lyrical variation before. I wrote a post way back about intentional lyric changes for comedic effect, often sung to a pet or a spouse. It’s a universal trait I believe.
My favorite misheard lyric ever is when I was in 7th grade, and my friend jokingly told me she was going to name her new kitten "Boberetta, like the song." "What song?" I asked, full of skepticism. "You know, the one that goes 'Ooooh, Boberetta'!" To which I exclaimed, "You mean 'Smooth Operator'?!?" I still think of it every time I hear that song.
Wow - that's quite a mishear! It's also a great reminder that I haven't written about Sade yet, which is surprising since I have several personal stories that can go with a few of her songs!
Great one, Steve (as usual)! One of my first mis-heard lyrics happened in 1966. I was 11, and listening to The Beatles' newly-released "Paperback Writer" in the car; presumably, a parent was driving.
But, dumb little kid that used to live in my body, I heard the chorus as "Paperback Rider," imagining a guy flying (flying carpet style) thru the air on a paperback book! My mom read a lot of paperbacks, so I knew what THOSE were, but hearing the word as describing someone who might've written the book was somehow overtaken by the sound-alike to something I know I did on my bike! Holy frame of reference, Batman!
From 1976, when Boston's classic debut album was released, until a little over 10 years ago, I thought the chorus of their song 'Peace of Mind' went like this:
I understand about indecision
And I don't care about FBI
It took the video game Rock Band, and singing along to the karaoke-style lyrics scrolling across the screen, for me to realize it was actually:
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
That made a lot more sense, and I was relieved to find that neither singer Brad Delp nor songwriter Tom Scholz had any disrespect for a US federal agency.
i always thought it was “I don’t care if I get too high” which might also mean mot caring about the FBI!
I only know ‘Thank You ...’ from a great Magazine cover version.
The most famous UK misheard lyric is ‘Sue Lawley’ by The Police, but since she was a famous newsreader over here I guess that variant on ‘So Lonely’ will mean nothing to US listeners.
By the way my current (v.persistent) ear worm is Prefab Sprout’s ‘King of Rock’n’Roll’, “hot dog, jumping frog, Alberquerque”!
Still have all their records on vinyl and as a big Thomas Dolby fan ( see my piece on “Hyperactive”) was extra in love with Steve McQueen when that album came out. Worth a revisit this weekend!
It always irked me that McQueen didn't follow-up with a record, himself, name-checking PS! Uh-oh, all of this name-as-song talk has got me conjuring up a possible future GROW BIGGER EARS themed tune-boggle!😱
There is always the chance that filmmaker Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave,etc.) will direct a Prefab Sprout biopic! He is British after all.
Fingers crossed! Also, I just realized there really is no "Steve McQueen" song, but merely the title of the album. But, I stand vindicated in noticing that there IS a "Faron Young" song (my memory jogged thru research!), which only fortifies, even more, my desire for a future themed article, as well as intensifyies my incredulousness as to why a SINGER (Young, who died "only" in '96) never reciprocated with a Prefab-inspired song! The musical mysteries pile up!🎶
Mad props for a far-too rare Prefab Sprout shout-out!🎉Nicely done!
American Pie - I always heard “Do you recall what was the deal” instead of “what was revealed”. Still sing it that way when I listen to it and sing it to the cat.
Nice one! I hadn’t heard that lyrical variation before. I wrote a post way back about intentional lyric changes for comedic effect, often sung to a pet or a spouse. It’s a universal trait I believe.