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!).
Argybargy album at Amazon.com
Sunshine on the lan' oh! Woke me with a shake I looked around to find her but she'd gone.
Sunshine on the lino Woke me with a shake I looked around to find her but she'd gone.
The Story: This is a notorious misheard and glossed over lyric. People insert whatever in there and they have no clue what "lino" is (pronounced "la'-no" in the song). It is the British slang/shortening of the word "Linoleum" When I heard it again after reading the lyrics, I never heard the song the same way. Plus, there was no fewer that FOUR versions of the song recorded for different sides of the Atlantic! - Submitted by: Jeffrey Wrobel
Squeeze's,
"Pulling Muscles from a Shell"
"pulling muscles from Michele"
"pulling muscles from a shell"
The Story: "from a shell" and "from Michele" sound much too close. - Submitted by: Clay Tenn
Squeeze's,
"Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)"
Pulling muscles for Michelle
pulling mussels from the shell
The Story: I always thought this way of hearing it was just as good a metaphor for what it really means, since I found out what the real lyric/title is and what it means. - Submitted by: eric
Squeeze's,
"Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)"
Pulling muscles from a shed.
Pulling mussels from a shell.
The Story: Me and my best friend used to listen to her dad's records and a favorite was Squeeze's ArgyBargy. We were about 13. When he sang about 'Pulling muscles from a shed' I figured he was talking about working out, like lifting weights in a shed so he could look good on the beach. And the line, 'But behind the chalet, my holiday's complete,' I pictured him going behind that shed where he lifted weights. When I finally took note of the title, I still didn't get it because I didn't know what mussels were. Don't worry, I understand it now. - Submitted by: Marni Jean
Squeeze's,
"Pulling Mussels From A Shell"
Pulling muscles for Michelle.
Pulling mussels from a shell.
The Story: I thought that was hardcore love if you were willing to blow a hammie (hamstring) for a girl. - Submitted by: Paul V.
Squeeze's,
"Pulling Mussels from the Shell"
Pulling muscles for Michelle
Pulling mussels from the shell
The Story: Russell, his girlfriend, and a few others were piled in my old Honda Accord, driving into New Orleans from the suburbs, listening to 'Singles: 45s and Under' in preparation for that night's Squeeze show. In the middle of a group sing-a-long, I quickly lowered the volume, and caught Russell's emotional, heartfelt 'Pulling muscles for Michelle' lyric. Poor guy. Haven't seen him since. - Submitted by: Chris
Dentyne by the fruit of another
Tempted by the fruit of another
The Story: I heard this in a Dentyne Tango commercial around 2004... - Submitted by: Cody Finke
I got a job with Stan Lee
He said I'd come in handy
I got a job with Stanley
He said I'd come in handy
The Story: Stan Lee was an iconic comic book writer, editor and publisher. - Submitted by: Jef
She gave birth to a daughter
We didn't even rock her
She gave birth to a daughter
Within a year a walker.
The Story: A totally depressing song all along, and so the misheard lyrics seemed to fit the idea that the product of the unexpected pregnancy would be instantly neglected by her own parents, all very depressing. The woman soon leaves him and takes the daughter, and he just seems to accept that, further indicating his seeming indifferent attitude to the child. So it all seemed to fit - that she wasn't rocked in the cradle when born - Submitted by: Gary
There are more Squeeze misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
