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!).
Aloha From Hawaii - Via Satellite album at Amazon.com
Anne-Marie's the name
Of his latest flame.
And Marie's the name
Of his latest flame.
The Story: I heard this one on a radio phone-in quiz. The lady on the phone was asked, 'What was the name of his latest flame in the hit by Elvis Presley?' She replied, 'Anne-Marie'. The DJ did award her the point---once he'd stopped laughing! - Submitted by: Paul J
A moshi cup.
I’m all shook up.
The Story: I had no idea what the title of the song was, to be fair. To not be fair, what the heck is a “moshi cup”? I just assumed it was something I was too young to understand…and let my brain parse it as that nonsense, I guess! - Submitted by: Pirka
Almond sugar (ah-mond shu-ga)
I'm all shook up.
The Story: A French woman at work quite often gives us a good laugh, due to her accent. (eg, 'we need a s*** (sheet) on that bed.') etc. I heard her singing this Presley classic one day and couldn't believe that she actually thought the lyric said 'almond sugar'. I didn't even know there was such a thing. - Submitted by: J Simmonds
Amoy Suka
I'm all shook up
The Story: My Filipino grandpa loved Elvis and he liked to joke around a lot. I was told by my grandma that he would say "Amoy suka" because it sounds like Elvis's "All Shook Up." - Submitted by: JuggiesNuggies
My lid eyes are shaken like a sea-green booty
My insides are shakin' like a leaf on a tree
The Story: Well I did this for a talent show, and sang 'my lid eyes are shakin' like a sea green booty', and was humiliated - Submitted by: Amander
When she touched muh *ss
She touched my hand
The Story: When I heard this song for the first time, the final verse contained a lyric that in Elvis' musky accent something about getting his buns kneaded by a girl XD - Submitted by: Chloe
Blues Way Juice
Blue suede shoes
The Story: My husband recorded this song from the radio and wrote Blues Way Juice on the cassette. My friend and I laughed about this for ages. - Submitted by: Teresa
Sit on my face
Step on my face
The Story: I have to continually remind myself to sing "STEP on my face" whilst in earshot of others. I'll always wonder how many amused glances I garnered over the years. - Submitted by: Elizabeth Emerald
You can do anything but don't step on my lose weight shoes
You can do anything but don't step on my blue suede shoes
The Story: We had this misheard lyric while producing a short feature about Elvis in a German TV studio, and the whole crew was rolling in the aisles -- especially those who wished they had a pair of "lose weight shoes". - Submitted by: Ariane Boeckler
It's coming closer, the flames are now licking my body!
It's coming closer now, the flames are now reaching my body
The Story: It always sounded like "lickin'" to me. Then just the other day I saw footage of Elvis performing this song live and he did INDEED say "reaching" and not licking. Then I found the lyrics on the Internet, and they do indeed say reaching and not licking. So maybe it's matter of poor articulation. - Submitted by: Chris Mulwee
Sunday was meant to be
Some things are meant to be
The Story: I wondered what it actually was. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Don't be cruel
Too hard to screw
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
The Story: My brother and I used to listen to our parents' Elvis LPs on our Mickey Mouse record player and this is the lyric we heard (and still sing to this day!). - Submitted by: DaFlame
Don't be cruel
To a heartless Jew.
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true.
The Story: My then 3-year-old cousin walked around the house singing those misheard lyrics at the top of his lungs one day. He was quickly corrected, but it has been a long-time joke told at his expense to every new girlfriend. - Submitted by: Erinn
Don't stop thinkin' of me.
Don't start the hanky number
The Story: "Don't start the hanky number don't make me feel this way" Don't start crying and playing the guilt card. - Submitted by: KAI
If you can't fool around
Stay off my telephone.
If you can't come around
At least, please telephone.
The Story: This is how my six year old nephew was going through the house singing it after hearing an old Elvis record of mine. - Submitted by: Ricky
Let's walk up to the creature
Let's walk up to the preacher
The Story: Why we hear "creature" instead of "preacher", and vice versa. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Please don't get in my "pants"
The Future looks bright ahead
Please don't forget the past
The future looks bright ahead
The Story: I'm went to a boys boarding school in Searcy, Arkansas named Morris and the Catholic brothers that ran it would not let us listen to Elvis on the radio because they said these lyrics had sexual overtones! - Submitted by: Al
Welcome to the future
And let us say 'I do'.
Let's walk up to the preacher
And let us say 'I do'.
The Story: I was playing in the band in a musical production of 'All Shook Up' and we were waiting back stage during the intermission on opening night. We were all very excited, and the trumpet player started singing All Shook Up starting with 'welcome to the future.' I then asked her if the lyrics she sang made any sense and she burst out laughing.... - Submitted by: Me again!
Well let's 1, 2, 3 cha
And let's say I do
Let's walk up to the preacher
And let us say 'I do'.
The Story: I didn't know that I had the lyrics wrong for about 40 years. - Submitted by: Bryan Coomer
With force inside my covay cook kept crying out.
A voice inside my coffee cup kept crying out.
The Story: As a youngster around eight or so, I would listen to that song all the time on an old vinyl. I couldn't really get to grips with what it was all in aid of at first, until my mother informed me it concerned a man and his two kids who are grieving over the untimely death of wife/mother. Before she explained that, I remember wondering why the eldest kid talked of finding a brand new mommy. Anyhow, I listened to the line about a million times, then trying desperately to make out the words. But it continually sounded to me like 'With force inside my covay cook", which doesn't make sense. So I always knew it had to be something else. Trouble was when I eventually found out the real words, that didn't make sense either. One wonders what he'd laced that coffee with. - Submitted by: The Big Guy
Baby, info mania man
Baby, if I made you mad
The Story: I first thought he said “info mania man” instead of “if I made you mad” - Submitted by: Dennis (AKA Pink Glory)
Well, a heart-melted woman
Well, a hard headed woman
The Story: Sounded like a woman had her heart melt. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
They said you was white trash
But, that was just a line.
They said you was high class
But, that was just a lie.
The Story: Unfortunately for several patrons at a roadhouse bar, I sang it this way by mistake. Oops. - Submitted by: Christin
You ain't nothin' but a ham's daughter, cryin' all the time.
Well, they said you was high clanced, well, that was just a lie.
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, cryin' all the time.
Well, they said you was high class, well, that was just a lie.
The Story: I misheard this when I was a kid. - Submitted by: Thaddeus Gammelthorpe
You ain't nothin' but a howlin' dog
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
The Story: That's how I remember hearing it from Lilo and Stitch. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
And her hungry bird.
And his hunger burns.
The Story: This is a Miffy and Friends Noggin Show gag. - Submitted by: Hunter Sullivan
With arms wide open, he'll fart on you.
With arms wide open, he'll pardon you.
The Story: My friend's four year old daughter was singing her version loud and clear in church! My friend and I were embarrassed, but the pastor, thank goodness, got a huge chuckle out of that one! - Submitted by: Arashi
Those who fart will go to jail
There's a party going on at the county jail
The Story: Elvis' voice is different so this came out different to what it actually was. - Submitted by: Parody Man
Everbody in all say, 'Oh, Bob!'
We're dancing to the jailhouse rob.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The Story: These lyrics were on a Brazilian Elvis Presley album cover and were printed in Guitarist Magazine in the UK for a giggle! There were more classic lines like these, but I can't remember the rest. - Submitted by: Mick
Everybody in the wholesale block
Was dancing to the jailhouse rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Wwas dancing to the Jailhouse Rock.
The Story: I was 7 or 8 years old when I heard this song. My father was in retail jewelry sales. Of course, a common phrase used in that day was 'I can get it for you wholesale.' - Submitted by: Jackson Wolffe
Everybody you know, except Pop
Everybody in the whole cell block
The Story: I thought the lyric referred to an old 'lifer' in jail who was too weak to dance. - Submitted by: Bruce Long
Goin' to the potty in the county jail
The warden threw a party in the county jail
The Story: I misheard these lyrics as a kid and eventually realized they didn't make sense as I'd heard them, but the Internet wasn't around back then to find out what the actual lyrics were. So for years I thought the correct lyrics must be "Warren threw a party in the county jail," with Warren being one of the inmates who started a riot. Now I know what he actually sang here and it's even funnier to me! - Submitted by: Amanda
I sure you would be delighted " whomp'n " me .
I sure am delighted with your company.
The Story: I believe the homosexual reference were included in the lyrics because either Jerry Leiber or Mike Stoller had had an argument with Elvis. - Submitted by: Callum Downes
If you can't find a partner, use a whirlpool chair.
If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair.
The Story: I never gave it a second thought, but when you think about it, it's highly unlikely that inmates would have access to a whirlpool. On the other hand, what the heck is an inmate supposed to be doing with a wooden chair?? - Submitted by: Charlie Buttrey
Number 47 said to number 3 'You're the cuests jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with some sodomy.'
Number 47 said to number 3 'You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company.'
The Story: I actually think this is what he's singing. - Submitted by: Philip Martin
Sad sack a-s***tin' on a block of stone
The sad sack was sittin' on a block of stone
The Story: Inherited the original single from my grandmother before I knew the English language (I'm from Sweden). As the years have progressed I have somewhat mastered the English language. But I always come back to this record, the vocal performance is superb (duh it's Elvis) but many of the words and phrases are indistinct, especially the first line after the guitar solo, a quite funny mishearing which I didn't even bother to look up the right lyrics until today. - Submitted by: Simon B
Sure would be delighted with you accompanying me or
Sure would be delighted will you accompany me
Sure would be delighted with you pumping me
The Story: My mom is an Elvis fan from way back. She said that when she first heard this song (at maybe 10 years old) she was shocked at the raunchy lyric. Even as a kid myself (in her all-Elvis household) I thought it was 'accompany me.' Either she was an extremely jaded 10-year-old or I am a very naive 30-year-old, because we both swear with our dying breaths by the version we each 'heard'! - Submitted by: Eve
Sure would be delighted would you bop with me.
Number 47 said to number 3 'You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company.'
The Story: I herby reject the correct lyrics, my misheard version has been cool with me since 1968. There it stands, and there it will remain. - Submitted by: Zo
The drummer Buzz Anelli went a crash boom bang.
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash boom bang.
The Story: I thought the name Buzz Anelli was really a good rocker name, so I used it as a stage name for my character in the 60's music tribute band 'King Grease.' We're getting together for a tour sometime soon, so watch out and 'Don't talk back!' - Submitted by: T M Turner
The whole rhythm sexually purple gang
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
The Story: I thought since they were all in jail so they were bad guys anyway engaging in bad sex behaviours and deviant stuff. So the whole rhythm sexually purple gang probably meant they had some sex diseases that made their parts turn purple or something. - Submitted by: Kenny
In the golden turkey rain
In the cold Kentucky rain
The Story: It was actually my niece who misheard this, one of my favorite Elvis songs. I was playing it on a cd and my niece heard it. Later I heard her singing, 'In the golden turkey rain...In the golden turkey rain'. - Submitted by: Kimberly Townsend
Bowie Kuhn
Moody blue
The Story: Bowie Kuhn was the baseball commissioner at the time. - Submitted by: Luna J
pants
hands
The Story: Everytime he says "hands" I thought he said "pants" - Submitted by: Michelle
Polk salad Annie
Ate it with her granny.
Polk salad Annie
'Gators got her granny.
The Story: Saw the movie 'Elvis - That's The Way It Is!' the other day: onstage in Las Vegas in '70 Elvis introduces this as a song of the South, and explains what 'polk salad' is (a plant). Well, I really felt he was singing about the stark, rural dinners of Annie and her mom, but I hadn't figured them to be _that_ grim. :-) Only when I looked up the lyrics did I notice the alligators... - Submitted by: Debbie
Reefer in December
Return to Sender
The Story: I'd thought that as a little kid in the 70's, even though I didn't know what 'reefer' was....or did i?? I may have been getting 2 different things mixed up. - Submitted by: Emdooey
Return Lucinda
Return to sender
The Story: My daughter was only three years old when she heard this song on the radio. Her name is Lucinda, and she thought it was someone (Elvis, maybe?) singing to her alone. - Submitted by: Margaret Hendry
Return to Cinder
Return to sender
The Story: First heard the number when I was about twelve. I initially thought that Cinder was the name of a town or something that he was returning to get reaquainted with a girlfriend. Owing to the king's singing style at times, I couldn't make out much of the other lyrics of the number back then. - Submitted by: The Big Guy
Return to center.
Return to sender.
The Story: What on Earth was the center Elvis wanted people to return to? A shopping center? A sports center? A military center? Or did he people to return to the middle of something they had left, and get their lives back on track? I was forty one when I heard Clint Eastwood use the phrase 'return to sender' when he gets an unanswered letter back from his daughter in 'Million dollar baby' And suddenly in the dark of the cinema the horrible truth hit me and I understood after all these years that it must have been what Elvis sang. How stupid I had been. What a wasted life!!! But if you don't live in an English speaking country, you are not so familiar with the phrase, and easily mistake 'd' for a 't'. - Submitted by: Christian
Return to sender
That dreadsome note
No such number
No such hmmmph.
Return to sender
Address unknown
No such number
No such zone.
The Story: I always, for years thought it was 'that dreadsome note' and wasn't particurlarly sure of the last line. It was only when I got married, and was singing it one day my wife told me how wrong I was. - Submitted by: Fred
Three times December
Return to sender.
The Story: Our friend Suvir was singing this lyric at the top of his lungs one morning on a trip to Mexico. He was making breakfast in the condo, and we all overheard him and laughed ourselves sick! - Submitted by: Suvir Hiranandani
Return to Simba,
Address rock-n-roll.
Return to sender
Address unknown.
The Story: When I was a kid in the 60s, I thought that's what they said in the song. - Submitted by: M. Jones
Return to Zelda
Return to sender
The Story: Thought it was about a sequel to “The Prisoner of Zenda” - Submitted by: Jon C. Halter
Return, Lucinda, address unknown
Return to sender, address unknown
The Story: Half a century banging in my head this way - Submitted by: John Shannon
We had a coral
We had a quarrel
The Story: Elvis and his family (including Lisa Marie Presley) would love to posthumously have a coral at Graceland! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
We're just not white for each other
We're just not right for each other
The Story: I thought this could have been about white people. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
There's one slight catch: When the kissin' starts
A team o' wild horses couldn't tear us apart!
'Cause once I catch ya and the kissin' starts
A team o' wild horses couldn't tear us apart
The Story: Prefer my understated lyric - Submitted by: Davo
They call me a tramp.
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: It was my mother who misheard these lyrics. She'd thought for years the first line of the song was 'They call me a tramp'. Last Christmas, it came on the radio. She'd had a bit to drink, so belted out the line during a family gathering. At which point, the whole room froze. As one we shouted 'you what?'. My mother now has the rather unflattering nickname, 'Tramp', which confuses occassional visitors to the house. But they're never brave enough to ask for the origin of the name. - Submitted by: Rob
We called it a crap
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: When we were younger and didn't understand English properly, that was how we loudly sang it. - Submitted by: Dora Lou
We can't make tea together
With suspicious ice.
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds.
The Story: This is what my niece heard when she listened to the song. And even when I tried to tell her the correct lyrics, she argued with me. - Submitted by: Jennifer
We caught him a trout
I can't walk out
We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
The Story: I never could figure out why Elvis sang a song with 'trap' rhyming with 'out,' especially when trout is something people really do catch. I think someone was begging to have the fly fishermen of the world hooked on this song. - Submitted by: Sam
We cornered a tramp.
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: In a cover band several years ago, I used to deliberately use the wrong lyric. It took the other guys in the band years to twig it. Then one day the guitarist realised what I was saying, and p***ed himself so hard he had to stop playing. - Submitted by: Mick Synnott
We're caught in crap.
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: For many years I thought this was what Elvis was singing. I was very embarrassed to try and sing-along to the song for fear that that was the real lyrics. - Submitted by: Peter
I spilled tea all over your BLT.
I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
The Story: When my father first heard this song, he thought it was the stupidest he'd ever heard. He thought, 'Why would anyone write a song about spilling a drink on a sandwich?' - Submitted by: Opie_nick
The backing singers, singing "Hot Bananas" - EG "Baby let me be (hot bananas) your lovin' teddy bear (hot bananas) etc
Backing singers singing "Bap-a-da-da" '
The Story: Back in the days of AM transmission, when reception came and went like a mountain mist, this was one of many misheard lyrics on the car radio. - Submitted by: Ali B
Cream and ice
Treat me nice.
The Story: When I was a kid I always thought Elvis said, 'Cream and ice.' We were listening to him in the car one day when my mom and my friends realized what I was saying and told me what the real words were. I had no idea he was saying 'Treat me nice.' - Submitted by: Elizabeth
I'm the U.S. Mail 'Cause I was born
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
I'm the U.S. Male 'Cause I was born
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
The Story: When I asked my father about this song at the age of maybe 4 or 5 years he told me that Elvis was a postman of the U.S. Mail ... Uh, I guess he was joking ... I believed in that until I grew up, learned a little more English and finally came across the word 'male' that sounded absolutely the same as 'mail'. Somehow I thought that would maybe fit a little better into that song, hehe ... - Submitted by: Claudius Reiter
Bebo Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas
The Story: My old horse-back-riding instructor would always sing 'Bebo Las Vegas' because my horse's name was Bebo (I don't know what it means, I bought him when he was 6 and I didn't want to change his name). Then I heard it when I was in the car with my dad and I told him about how it had Bebo's name in it...yikes, I was embarrassed when he told me what it really was! - Submitted by: Anna
Fecal Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas
The Story: I couldn't believe myself about what fecal matter (poop) has anything to do with Vegas. Even worse was "Viva Viagra"! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
People love Vegas!
Viva Las Vegas
The Story: I was little when this song came out and this is what I thought I heard. - Submitted by: Dick Laurent
People love bagels.
Viva, Las Vegas.
The Story: I'd always thought the song was called 'People Love Bagels' until the age of 11. I started singing 'People Love Bagels' in a friend's car. Needless to say, everyone found it hysterically funny! - Submitted by: Caitlin
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.