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 Mamas & the Papas - Greatest Hits album at Amazon.com
Oh, Louisa Brown
All the leaves are brown.
The Story: For years, I thought this was about a girl called Louisa Brown and 'a sky of clay'. The funny thing was years after I worked out the right lyric, I was discussing the lyrics with my brother. He had up to that moment still thought the song began, 'Oh Louisa Brown'. - Submitted by: Kevin Murphy
Ebenezer Brown
All the leaves are brown.
The Story: One day my teenage son asked me to put the 'Ebenezer Brown' song on. It took me awhile to figure out which song he was talking about. - Submitted by: Merlin Walter
I began to pray
The preacher lights the cove.
I pretend to pray
The preacher likes the cold.
The Story: I made this mstake because I was an altar boy. I lost a bet to my cynical sister who knew the real, very cynical lyrics. - Submitted by: charles
Not to be the cry in time
Not to be the girl you left behind.
Not to be the crying kind
Not to be the girl you left behind.
The Story: I always thought it was "cry in time". But suddenly I heard it different, and I checked on a lyrics site. Yup, I was wrong. I've sung this so many times out loud, I wonder what people must think of me! - Submitted by: Emmy
Can't afford the treatment
California dreamin'
The Story: A friend of mine had been singing along to this song one afternoon. I heard him sing, 'Can't afford the treatment ...on such a winter's day'. I pretended nothing was wrong. A minute later, I asked 'What was the name of that song you were singing?' 'Can't Afford The Treatment' he replies. And then he went on to tell me that the song is about the state of the US health care system in the mid 60's - Submitted by: Pat Foley
You know the creature likes the cold.
You know the preacher liked the cold.
The Story: My mother and I sing to alot of songs, and I was doing the lead. In the song, 'you know the preacher..' comes out really loudly, and I tried to simulate it. Unthinking, I came out with creature. Mum fell apart, and we can't sing that song anymore, or we get to that point and burst out laughing. - Submitted by: Killashandra
Ma and my hitchie were gettin' kinda b****y.
or
Tom and Mitchie were gettin' kind of b****y.
Tom and Mitchie were gettin' kind of itchy.
The Story: This happened to be in a movie, and I thought 'I don't know the Mamas and the Papas that well, but that's a bit much for the 60s and 70s!' Even now, I can still hear it! It still makes me snicker! - Submitted by: Diddims
There are more Mamas And The Papas misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Karen. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
Would you like to Submit some Misheard Lyrics for a song We're always looking
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All correct lyrics are copyrighted, amIright.com does not claim ownership of the original lyrics.
