M is for…Misheard Lyrics

What did you just say??

For those who love singing along to their favourite tunes there is always the danger of not quite grasping what is actually being said. This provides the funny bone tickling pleasure that is Misheard Lyrics. Discussion on this topic never fails to produce a snort laugh or two at a party. According to some brief research I have done, the technical term for this musical phenonemeon is mondegreen. It is specific to the unintentional use of similar sounding words in place of the real ones.

Not to be confused with when you’re trying to be funny by singing, “It’s a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll” in AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top (if you want to rock n’ roll). Or that thing large groups of Aussies do at the pub when The Angels politely ask,”Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?” and we reply, “No way, get f*****, f*** off!” I don’t think there’s a technical term for that.

Here are my personal top three mishaps in the misheard lyrics department.

Flashdance, What A Feeling – Irene Cara
Take your pants off, and make it happen (Take your passion and make it happen)
I was a naive young girl in primary school when this song was out and I can remember being very scandalised by these racy lyrics.

Luka – Suzanne Vega
My name is Hooker, I live on the second floor (My name is Luka)
Again, I was very worried about a song discussing a prostitute that lived upstairs.

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Don’t go out tonight, cos it’s bound to take your life, there’s a baboon on the run
(There’s a bad moon on the rise)
This misheard song lyric did nothing to help with my irrational fear of large, human killing baboons.

Another honourable mention has to go to the friend who grew up believing the peace loving Bob Marley had his own serial killer tendencies when he sung: I shot Sherry, but I did not shoot Debbie down.(I shot the sheriff but I did not shoot the deputy). And last but not least, a recent family favourite to be sung whilst shaking your booty on the kitchen floor to Sheppard’s Say Jeronimo:

Bums away, bums away, put your bums away, bums away (Bombs away, bombs away, put your bombs away). 

What are your own favourite misheard lyrics?