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!).
Abandoned Luncheonette album at Amazon.com
I could bite your name across the sky
I could write your name across the sky
The Story: It clearly sounded like bite. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
I can't coconut.
I can't go for that.
The Story: This song was popular in the early eighties-when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I could have sworn they were saying 'I can't coconut'. And I was sure that 'coconut' was some sort of dance. - Submitted by: Erica Stone
Watch out before she'll shoot you up
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
The Story: My friend D just cringed when she heard me sing this part. She just went "what???" - Submitted by: Chill
"She's a Man Beater"
"She's a Maneater"
The Story: I didn't really hear this, but it sounds funny! - Submitted by: Zane
And she kept time by a pearly Tag Heuer
A she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar
The Story: I saw an ad for Tag Heuer 10 years after the song came out but didn't attach it to the song until 2024. To make it even worse, I didn't know how to pronounce 'Heuer' and figured that since Daryl Hall was famous, he probably had one, and HE knew how to pronounce it, and stuck it in his song. Tag-Hu-Ar. I also doubt Tag Heuer makes a watch that's 'pearly', but if they see this post, maybe they'll think about making a "Maneater" tribute model. With pearls. - Submitted by: THOMAS MOSS
She can turn by the pub and j*** you off.
She cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar.
The Story: I can't say I reeeallly thought Darryl Hall was singing that line, but it sure sounded like it. 'She cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar' is unlikely phraseology as it is. Add the stretched pronounciation of 'Jag-yoo-aaar' and there you go. - Submitted by: MaxwellSmart
Watch out, boy, she'll cheer you up
Watch out, boy, she'll chew you up
The Story: I like my mishearing better. I sure hope to cheer people up! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Watching a wedding,
Oh she's sitting with you but her eyes are on the door
Watching and waiting,
Oh she's sitting with you but her eyes are on the door
The Story: I really thought mine was the right lyric - the boy being warned by the singer brought this girl who he really liked to a wedding, not realizing that the girl was not his, but that she was a maneater and looking for other guys (the door) - Submitted by: Mitch
Mr. Opportunity
Missed opportunity
The Story: Could they, 16 years into the future, hired for Honda? - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Friday nights they're watching you
Private eyes they're watching you
The Story: Long,long ago, in a decade known as the 80's, I walked in on my little sister rockin out to some Hall & Oates. She was dancing and singing at the top of her lungs: Friday nights (visualize above the head 80's - clap) they're watching you (clap,clap) they see your every move! Needless to say I hit the floor laughing! - Submitted by: jennifer
I'd better run out of Fay's
She's gone
Oh I, Oh I'd, better learn how to face it.
The Story: Fay's was a regional drugstore chain in New York State, with a store about one half mile from my house that I went to often. Being nine years old when I first heard this song, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why on earth they would be running out of Fay's! - Submitted by: Tim
When the Mets win the dreamer
When they're messing with a dreamer
The Story: Just always thought it was that and as I am a Mets fan, made it one of my favorite lines ! - Submitted by: Rich Martinson
You make my feelings come true
You make my dreams come true
The Story: Sounded like it had to do with feelings! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
You make my jeans so blue
You make my dreams come true
The Story: I kept thinking it had to do with blue jeans. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.