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Misheard Song Lyrics -> Stories -> John Cougar Mellencamp
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!).
Big Daddy album at Amazon.com
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Authority Song"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I fart with authority, and Lori had always winced.
The Real Lyrics:
I fight authority, authority always wins.
The Story: Actually, I was the lead singer of a band back in the 80's called Johnny B & the Decoys. When we performed the song, I sometimes wanted to see if the 'partying' people were actually listening. So I'd throw different words into the song to see if I could see anyones reaction. (Hey, sometimes you get bored up there on stage if you think nobody is listening.) - Submitted by: JohnnyB
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Authority Song"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I find authority a bore and I always will
The Real Lyrics:
I fight authority, authority always wins
The Story: When I first met my wife, she started to sing along with this song and I about wrecked the car from laughing so hard, but since we had just started dating, I didn't say anything. Now, I have realized that my wife is the queen of bastardizing lyrics! - Submitted by: Vince
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Check It Out "
The Misheard Lyrics:
All the chilly damn bills have been paid.
The Real Lyrics:
All utility bills have been paid.
The Story: The singer in the band in which I used to play always sang the misheard lyric to this song even after he was told what the correct line was. - Submitted by: Doug Bracey
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Check It Out"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Men and young boys
The Real Lyrics:
A million young poets
The Story: No great story to tell; I just remember the first few times it came on the radio, I thought to myself, "Sheesh, that sounds borderline creepy." I never learned the truth until I "checked it out" on the Internet -- to me it still sounds like "men and young boys." - Submitted by: Brian D. Smith
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack & Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Changes come around real soon
Make us swim in that mess.
Make us swim in that mess.
The Real Lyrics:
Changes come around real soon
Make us women and men.
Make us women and men.
The Story: Singing this song really loud in front of my wife. After singing this particular line, she busted out laughing at me. Seven years ago & she still laughs about it. - Submitted by: Frank Martin
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack & Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Jackie sits back, collects his thoughts for a moment
Scratches his head and does his fair exchange thing.
Scratches his head and does his fair exchange thing.
The Real Lyrics:
Jackie sits back, collects his thoughts for a moment
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean.
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean.
The Story: A friend of mine thought that the 'fair exchange thing' meant that Jack was(Ahem!) adjusting himself. - Submitted by: Anne
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack & Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Three American kids going to the promised land.
Three American kids going to the promised land.
The Real Lyrics:
Little ditty, 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids doing the best that they can.
Two American kids doing the best that they can.
The Story: My 13 year old son proclaimed, 'Hey, I love this song!' and suddenly started singing along with the radio while coming back from a long trip. My wife and I burst out laughing and pulled off the road. She concentrated heavily on 'Who's the third person, son?', whereas my concerns were focused (laughingly) on his love for a song that seemed to have such imminent doom in the first line. Addendum: After seeing your site, he is much comforted by the fact that others know that the SugarBear shaves wives (Elton John, Sweet Freedom). He too has proudly admitted that 'he'll never be your pizza burnin' (Beast of Burden)'. He has also said that fear and shame will prevent him from attempting 'Boheman Rhapsody' (Queen) in public, ever. Gotta admit, I'm not that brave either. - Submitted by: Scott Barber
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack & Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the threat of living is gone.
Long after the threat of living is gone.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
The Story: I had heard this song for years, grew up with it, and I went to a Kenny Chesney concert a couple of weeks ago where he sang the song as a part of his encore. I was belting out the tune as I knew it, and my mom turned to me and started laughing hysterically, asking me what I thought the lyrics were. She promptly corrected me, and asked me what about life, would be considered a threat. Boy did I feel stupid. I just thought it was a metaphor for something. Guess I sure was wrong. - Submitted by: Melissa Daniels
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack & Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill, of Olivia Newton-John.
Long after the thrill, of Olivia Newton-John.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
The Story: Growing up in the 80's, my brother was a huge Olivia fan, as well as a John Cougar fan. I would run through the house screaming the incorrect line until one day he finally realized what I was saying and fell over laughing. I still sing it sometimes that way just to make people laugh. - Submitted by: J Terry
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack and Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the threat of living is gone
Long after the threat of living is gone
The Real Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of living is gone
Long after the thrill of living is gone
The Story: I first knew this song when I was a lot younger, and I figured maybe the guy was really religious and was talking about heaven (hence life goes on...) and that in heaven you wouldn't have to worry about the problems of life (hence the threat of living). Who knows. (But I only just figured out the real lyrics now while reading your page. These misheard lyrics have a way of lingering into your adult life.) - Submitted by: Kerianne
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Jack and Diane"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of living in Chicago.
Long after the thrill of living in Chicago.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
The Story: Just that I would always sing it at the top of my lungs, and no one ever told me I was wrong. I thought it was his story of growing up in Chicago! [Ed.'s note: Which would be impossible, because most people know that John was born and raised in Seymour, Indiana.] - Submitted by: Heather
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Pink House"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I remember when you could stuff a block.
The Real Lyrics:
I remember when you could stop a clock.
The Story: I knew someone who thought Mellencamp was singing about how well she could cook, (Stuff a block). She remembers singing real loud at a party. The room went quiet, and the guests demanded she tell everyone what she was singing. - Submitted by: Paul Summers
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Pop Singer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Don't wanna be no Bob Seger.
Don't wanna play no Bob Song
Don't wanna play no Bob Song
The Real Lyrics:
Don't wanna be no pop singer
Don't wanna play no pop song.
Don't wanna play no pop song.
The Story: When this came out, I convinced one of my buddies that Mellencamp wrote this song because he HATED Bob Seger. - Submitted by: Steve
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "R. O. C. K. In The U.S.A"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Let's escape from the U.S.A.
The Real Lyrics:
R. O. C. K. in the U.S.A
The Story: As usual, I didn't understand anything but the refrain the first time through. It was Canada Day the first time I heard this song, so the real lyrics were rather out-of-place. - Submitted by: Bergil
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Rave On"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Ray Vaughn (4X)
The Real Lyrics:
Rave on (4X)
The Story: This tune is an 1988 cover of a '50s Buddy Holly hit. It's on the soundtrack for the 1988 flick "Cocktail" which stars Tom Cruise. I heard it on the radio and it sounded like JCM was referring to Stevie Ray Vaughn, whom I had seen live in concert in California the year before. - Submitted by: Buckeye Scott
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "Rock In The USA"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I'm a love seeker in the USA
The Real Lyrics:
R-O-C-K in the USA
The Story: I was singing this song and my husband nearly drove off the road when he heard the lyrics I was using. I told him he was sooo wrong and that I was right. The the dj came on and said the title of the song; I was mortified. - Submitted by: elaine
John Cougar Mellencamp's, "The Authority Song"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I fight Dorothy and Dorothy always wins.
The Real Lyrics:
I fight authority, authority always wins.
The Story: My brother-in-law was infamous for misinterpreting lyrics and then running with it. He just sang (what he thought were the right lyrics to songs) and didn't even realize it. "I fight Dorothy and Dorothy always wins" was to me his funniest screw up. The thought of my 275lb. linebacker of a brother-in-law losing a fight to a woman named "Dorothy" always cracked me up. - Submitted by: Mike
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