Misheard lyrics (also called mondegreens) occur when people misunderstand the lyrics in a song. These are NOT intentional rephrasing of lyrics, which is called parody.
For more information about the misheard lyrics available on this site, please read our FAQ.
This page contains a list of the songs that have stories about their misheard lyrics submitted.
Song names are sorted by first letter, excluding A and The. This is sorted by song title only, not
by song title and performer. So if two different performers preformed the same song, you'll see
misheard lyrics for both on the same page (provided the song title was spelt the same both times, and
misheard lyrics have been submitted for both!).
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra album at Amazon.com
Calling a married girl.
Calling America.
The Story: ELO's song 'Calling America' came out when my sister was in high school. She said this guy she knew really liked the song and kept singing it in the school halls, but he was singing 'calling a married girl' instead of 'calling America.' He was really embarrassed when she told him. - Submitted by: Shannon Presley
So now I'll tell you once more
Before you're dead on the floor
Don't bring me down.
I'll tell you once more
Before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down.
The Story: That's what I heard with my 9-volt transistor. It does make sense. - Submitted by: Ron
Illegal woman
Evil woman
The Story: With that extra syllable in there (e-evil woman), I think my brain just wanted to fill it in. I was at work, where they played classic rock until your ears about fell off. I asked one of the (elderly people) what 'illegal woman' meant. I mean, is she under age, or an alien, or something? She corrected me with an amused expression. - Submitted by: Sundee Cline
Medieval woman
Medieval woman
Medieval woman
E-evil woman
E-evil woman
E-evil woman
E-evil woman
Evil woman
The Story: When I first heard the song, I thought the chorus was singing about a medieval woman. I requested it on a radio station as "Medieval Woman" The DJs got a good laugh on the air-waves. - Submitted by: Peter H.
Medieval woman
Evil woman
The Story: My husband was singing these incorrect lyrics and it's the title of the song. He argued with me. I called the radio station right then and there. The female dj got a big kick out of it. She recorded the conversation she and I had and aired it immediately. He was sooooo embarrassed. Needless to say......he's not so quit to question me on lyrics after this episode. - Submitted by: rayabb
You found Ethel lying in a daze.
You found a fool lying in a daze.
The Story: I think of Ethel Mertz from "I Love Lucy" every time I hear this song. - Submitted by: Will Herrera
Hold on tight to your drink.
Hold on tight to your dreams.
The Story: I was about 5 years old when this song was new and I guess holding onto my beverage made more sense to me than holding onto dreams. I don't know. - Submitted by: Heather
Shake my d***
Strange magic
The Story: This is actually a friend's story. Whenever this song came on the radio when she was in the car with her dad, she'd quickly turn it off, thinking they were singing 'shake my d***'. She was afraid if her dad heard that obscene song, he wouldn't let her listen to that 'rock and roll' music any more! - Submitted by: Ellen Crow
Strange man's d***
Strange magic
The Story: My friend and I were sitting out on the porch, when her mom came out and exclaimed, 'Turn that song off! That's filithy!!' My friend and I turned to each other and were like what is she talking about? Appearently here mother thought ELO was singing about a 'strange man's (appendage)'. - Submitted by: Karen
Insufficient tator coming through
Insufficient data coming through
The Story: I was singing to this song one time, when I started to hear it as 'Sufficient tator' not, 'Insufficient data', which made me laugh. So I told my sister and mother about it. Sure enough, it sounded exactly the same to their ears as mine. - Submitted by: solidgameboy12
There are more Electric Light Orchestra misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Karen. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
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