Misinterpreted song lyrics!

Sixstring

Legend!
This topic has been spawned by that little book "Scuse me while I kiss this guy" What songs have you misinterpreted the lyrics on in the past? I remember listening to songs and in the heat of rocking out and not having the words to the sonf in front of me at the time have heard one word then later on found out it was something completely different!

It's not hard to do with some vocal styles it will sound like but it really isn't. The one that still sticks in my head is a Def Leppard song off of High & Dry,
"On Through The Night".

What I heard!
The WIN is done, the battle's won
So count the cost before you run
'GOES on and on your TIMELESS power
The clock on the wall ticks away the hours
Come on down, you're flyin' high
You'll never win if you never try
Stop the hate and carry the load
Come on, get this show on the road

On through the night
You can't stop me now
On through the night
You won't stop me anyhow

The stakes are HIGH GETTING HIGH
I'm flat on my face and you call me liar
I'm watching you, you're watching me
You're watching every move that I can see
My reputation's still at stake
I play it safe for safety's sake
Your ego and your promises
Are DONE IN VAIN again and again

[Repeat Chorus]

Not anyhow
All you want to hear
Is the audience applause
WE can't get on stage
For a country clause
And the road ahead seems a little rough
If you want to know my feelings
I say that's tough, that's tough
Your wheels ain't turnin', you're out of gas
You pay by check but they take cash
Two roads ahead but which to take
YOU CAN SEE it's your mistake

They're waitin' for you
They're waitin' for me
And what seems like eternity
It's all tradition, GET YOUR HEAD,
ROCK & ROLLERS DON"T SEEM TO END!

[Repeat Chorus]

On through the night
Goin' on and on, on and on
On through the night
You can't stop me anyhow
Oh no no anyhow

The actual lyrics!
The wait is done, the battle's won
So count the cost before you run
'Cos on and on your time was power
The clock on the wall ticks away the hours
Come on down, you're flyin' high
You'll never win if you never try
Stop the hate and carry the load
Come on, get this show on the road

On through the night
You can't stop me now
On through the night
You won't stop me anyhow

The stakes are high and gettin' higher
I'm flat on my face and you call me liar
I'm watching you, you're watching me
You're watching every move that I can see
My reputation's still at stake
I play it safe for safety's sake
Your ego and your promises
Are gonna fade again and again

[Repeat Chorus]

Not anyhow
All you want to hear
Is the audience applause
You can't get on stage
For a country clause
And the road ahead seems a little rough
If you want to know my feelings
I say that's tough, that's tough
Your wheels ain't turnin', you're out of gas
You pay by check but they take cash
Two roads ahead but which to take
And you can't see it's your mistake

They're waitin' for you
They're waitin' for me
And what seems like eternity
It's all tradition, it'll get you yet
In rock'n'roll there's no safety net

[Repeat Chorus]

On through the night
Goin' on and on, on and on
On through the night
You can't stop me anyhow
Oh no no anyhow
 
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version of 'Blinded by the Light':

They sing: "Rev'd up like a deuce, another runner in the night"
I heard: "Rev'd up like a douche another runner in the night"

I remember never being able to resolve this lyric. I would try to listen carefully to the song, convinced I was wrong, but could never reach a different conclusion, then years later (thanks to the internet) I discovered my mistake!
 
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version of 'Blinded by the Light':

They sing: "Rev'd up like a deuce, another runner in the night"
I heard: "Rev'd up like a douche another runner in the night"

I remember never being able to resolve this lyric. I would try to listen carefully to the song, convinced I was wrong, but could never reach a different conclusion, then years later (thanks to the internet) I discovered my mistake!
I've always heard it as "Wrapped up like a douche". Could never figure it out either!
 
Here are some of my personal misunderstandings that I can remember off the cuff:

Xanadu (Olivia Newton John) : "Hector, believe me I'm magic." (Have to believe...)
Into the Night (Joe Jackson) : "E. T. Alive!" (Title)
Roundabout (Yes) : "Mallards come out of the sky and stand there" (Mountains...)
Girls just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) "What in the world can they ex-done?" (When the working day is done)
Spirit of Radio (Rush) "Words of the prophets were ultimately stooping to one" (were written on the studio wall)
Rocket Man (Elton John) "Burning up a fuse however long" (burning out his fuse up here alone)
Moby Dick (Led Zeppelin) "Bagada-bagada-bagada-bagada" ("Bagada-bagada-bagadadaga-bagadaga")
 
Sometimes, I prefer my misunderstanding :)
Killers (Somebody Told Me)
Mine:
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in Bellevue

Actual:
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year

.....Yep, I thought he was talking about being in the nut house :rolleyes:
 
I was only corrected on this a few days back, when the song came on the radio and my wife heard me singing it. I'm not lying.

In the song "Betty Davis Eyes", I thought the lyrics were, "all the boys think she's a SPAZ", when, lo and behold, the lyrics actually are "all the boys think she's a SPY." I like my lyrics better. Just sayin'...

There are others, but I can't lay claim to them.
"Excuse me, while I kiss this guy..." - Purple Haze
"Hold me close now Tony Danza..." - Tiny Dancer
 
Older people, like myself lol, might remember the song from England Dan and John Ford Coley "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight". When it was a hit, many decades ago, I'd always hear:

"I'm not talking about your linen, and I don't want to change your line".

Where the real line was "I'm not talking 'bout movin' in, and I don't wanna change your life".

I always thought it was very strange that they'd write about laundry and clotheslines heh.
 
I was so disappointed when I bought Elton John Madman Across The Water to find it was one that didn't have the lyrics inside. I can't remember which ones I had wrong, but he was one of the hardest singers to understand. Actually, I have trouble with many British singers.
 
Here are some of my personal misunderstandings that I can remember off the cuff:

Xanadu (Olivia Newton John) : "Hector, believe me I'm magic." (Have to believe...)
Into the Night (Joe Jackson) : "E. T. Alive!" (Title)
Roundabout (Yes) : "Mallards come out of the sky and stand there" (Mountains...)
Girls just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) "What in the world can they ex-done" (?!) (When the working day is done)
Spirit of Radio (Rush) "Words of the prophets were ultimately stooping to one" (...were written on the studio wall)
Rocket Man (Elton John) "Burning up a fuse however long" (burning out his fuse up here alone)
 
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version of 'Blinded by the Light':

They sing: "Rev'd up like a deuce, another runner in the night"
I heard: "Rev'd up like a douche another runner in the night"

I remember never being able to resolve this lyric. I would try to listen carefully to the song, convinced I was wrong, but could never reach a different conclusion, then years later (thanks to the internet) I discovered my mistake!
That is the one that always got me as well! Exact same scenario from beginning to end!! I think I actually asked my sister what a douche was because I was young and did not know. When she told me, I was even more confused!!!
 
Metallica: Master Of Puppets;
'Master, Master,
Where's the dreams that I've been after,
Master, Master
Thomas told me lies!!' :)
 
I'll never leave your pizza burning (I'll never be your beast of burden)
Heard it in a lovesong, ten feet long (can't be wrong)
Mama don't take my coat and comb away. (Kodachrome)
 
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