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 Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society album at Amazon.com
But his mother knows the best about
The matter of owning snakes
But his mother knows the best about
The matrimonial stakes
The Story: As a kid I just wondered what owning snakes had to do with being a well respected man. - Submitted by: Addington
Like a dago ballerina
or
Like a day-glo ballerina
Like a Degas ballerina
The Story: I was just a kid when I got 'Give the People What They Want' album. An Italian kid who was a fan of the Kinks. And to young to know who Degas was, so this is how I heard the song. I was a little offended at first when I thought they were singing dago and then realized later they were singing day-glo. (Except, of course, they weren't.) - Submitted by: HarryMay
From the juice of itch creeps a crawly caterpillar
Well, the zombie gets a crack!
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
The Story: First heard when I first listened to the intro of the song. I really thought there was a zombie involved in the song. - Submitted by: BrilliantJ8
And there's a pop-up where the pally used to stand
And there's a car park where the palais used to stand
The Story: I thought that's what it sounded like. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Just like
Just died
The Story: I thought they were like "Just like" before they broke the guitar in. It was really part of their childhood died. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
My aunt Vachona died. Just died.
Part of my childhood died. Just died.
The Story: For years, I wondered where this guy’s aunt Vachona got her name, and thought she liked to party at the pally like his sister did. - Submitted by: Polly
The day they knocked down the Palley
The day they knocked down the Palais
My sister stood and cried.
The Story: I assumed "Palley" was a shortened form of "palladium", a music and dance venue - Submitted by: Joyce Calderone
Thank you for the gays
Thank you for the days
The Story: Who would have thought the Kinks were lesbians (or les-beans)? - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Basic
They said
The Story: It sounded like basic! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Thought I knew it was my bad
Thought I knew it was my dad
The Story: Thought I knew it was a mistake! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
But I know what I am, and I'll bet I'm a man.
But I know what I am, and I'm glad I'm a man.
The Story: For years, whenever I heard this song on the radio, I found it amusing that he was only betting that he was a man, and he wasn't sure. It wasn't until I saw the real lyrics on the internet that I found out what he was actually saying. - Submitted by: Glenn Iverson
But I know what I am, in bed I'm a man
But I know what I am, and I'm glad I'm a man.
The Story: Even after learning the 'correct' lyrics I still hear it wrong unless I force myself to hear it correctly. Of course, on paper it makes more sense the right way, with the little double-entendre as to what "so's Lola" in the following verse refers to. - Submitted by: Bill
I asked her her name and in a barroom voice she said Lola.
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola.
The Story: I did think that maybe the lyric could be "dark brown," but I dismissed that notion as not making sense! - Submitted by: galoux
Big shampoo
Pictures of your mama
Take 'em by your papa
A long time ago.
Picture book
Pictures of your mama
Taken by your papa
A long time ago.
The Story: This was on the HP commercial when I was watching Tech TV. Everybody was laughing at me in school the next day singing 'Big shampoo!' - Submitted by: Brian
You got me so I can't see Vadnigh
You got me so I can't sleep at night
The Story: My Father told me that when he heard this song he thought they said Vadnigh,a Montreal Canadians hockey player. I still crack up about this today - Submitted by: Mike
You really got milk You really got milk You really got milk
You really got me You really got me You really got me
The Story: I was listening to it and I thought they were singing about someone finally getting milk. My mom takes forever to shop. - Submitted by: Alyssa
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.