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!).
Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology album at Amazon.com
Sitting on a taco today.
Sitting on the dock of the bay.
The Story: I actually heard a French street musician singing this over the din of the subway in Paris last week! - Submitted by: anna-maria best campolmi
Sitting on the dock with a babe
Sitting on the dock of the bay
The Story: In high school, many years ago, my best friend absolutely insisted that this was the line in the song. I still give her trouble about it today. - Submitted by: Julie
On a cold, rainy, windy night
She s***s on the floor, she cut off the lights
She holds me and squeeze me tight
She tells me, "Big O, everything's all right"
On a cold, rainy, windy night
She shut all the doors, she cut off the lights
She holds me and squeeze me tight
She tells me, "Big O, everything's all right"
The Story: Driving in car song comes on Radio - Submitted by: Alyssa Brown
They call me Mr. Kitty Claws
They call me Mr. Pitiful
The Story: I was at Wendy's and KNEW this had to be wrong but had no way to look it up. Did not know the title of the song. - Submitted by: Briana
I got all the b****es, baby
One man can tame.
I've got all the riches, baby
One man can claim.
The Story: My friend convinced me that Otis Redding was really saying those words. When I questioned him, he said, 'Otis was a pimp, even back in those days.' I finally looked up the lyrics---and bitched him out for lying. - Submitted by: Leanne
Sittin' on a docket of eight
Sitting on the dock of the bay
The Story: I thought a 'docket of eight' was a pile of money. After singing the song incorrectly for years, my wife couldn't take it anymore and had to correct me; which, I remember, exactly where we were driving on the highway at the time. - Submitted by: Marco
Whiskey on the top of the bay
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
The Story: I was standing in a drug store check out line waiting for an override, after the register failed to ring up the sale price of an item I was buying. This song was playing on the store speakers. Amidst all the confusion and chatter, I found it to clearly sound like 'whiskey on the top of the bay'. It clicked in my mind that way and, concentrating on efforts to get the price right on my purchase, I thought nothing of that mishearing as strange or noteworthy. When I'd finally successfully checked out at the right price, I walked out, with 'whiskey on the top of the bay' ringing in my ears. At least three repetitions of that went through my mind before I finally realized, "Hey -- I know the real words, and that ain't them!" - Submitted by: Regina Haniger
Sittin' here restin' my b***s
Sittin' here resting my bones
The Story: This was a grade-school thing. When my sister and I heard this song, we would collapse in hysterical laughter, much to the bewilderment of our parents. - Submitted by: DI
Sittin' on the dockalow bay
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
The Story: I worked with a guy who insisted that these were the lyrics to this song. Everytime it came on the radio he would sing it real loud and drive everyone nuts. - Submitted by: Linda
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
