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!).
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night album at Amazon.com
Put the lion in the coconut
And call me in the morning.
Put the lime in the coconut
And call me in the morning.
The Story: I first heard the line when Dickie Goodman used it in 'Convention '72.' It baffled me--what does a lion have to do with coconut? After I started posting to the Straight Dope Message Board, at www.straightdope.com , I saw the line with the word 'lime' and realized there was no 'lion' in the song. :D - Submitted by: Doug Montgomery
Sailing on a submarine
Sailing on a summer breeze
The Story: It couldn't just happen to the Bee Gees after this one...it could have been heard as "submarine". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Skipping over the ocean
Like a storm
Skipping over the ocean
Like a stone
The Story: In 1969, my stubborn friend insisted that that last word in the stanza-closing line was "storm". I told him a storm hovers over the ocean, but doesn't skip. I thought it was "stone", like the stones you can throw and skip from the beach. We made a bet. Now I can go collect. With interest maybe? - Submitted by: Jay Grillo
We can make you tear the house in
We could make each other happy
The Story: I just thought he meant the song rocked so hard that he and his band could make you want to wreck your house. I know what the real words are now, but I still like my version better! - Submitted by: Keith Woods
Can't live, if living is without you.
I can't live, if living is without you.
The Story: When I look for password "Harry Nilsson" in my music library, only discovered the song "Without You" and this song became the only best known song in my place and was not found in other Nilsson songs that more popular than "Without You". But, according to Billboard, not just this song alone, but also Nilsson's late 1960s "Everybody Talkin'" which was the theme from the film 'Midnight Cowboy'. But, according to other entertainment sites, not just two songs before, but also for example "Jump Into the Fire", "Put a Lime in the Coconut" (which could be heard in children's television series ChalkZone), etc. But, when I listen to this song, Nilsson sang it as "Can't live..." not "I can't live..." and it was heard in the second part of the first chorus and the first part of the second chorus of this song. - Submitted by: Wisnu Aji
Now I can't forget this feeling
No I can't forget this feeling
The Story: I always wondered what it was. - 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.
