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!).
Lion Sleeps Tonight album at Amazon.com
Creole marmalade
Wee-oh-wom-oh-weh
The Story: At the time I thought that it inspired the hit song "Lady Marmalade" (and the line "Creole Lady Marmalade") by LaBelle later in 1975 (later covered by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack in 2001) - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
or
Weeeeeeee, uh-we love marmalade
Weee-wi-mo-mo-a-weh
The Story: Packing with my sister when she moved from her apartment 20 years ago, her husband was playing very loud music on the radio. This song came on, and I started singing and at the part where I misheard I sang it loudly and everyone stared at me. - Submitted by: Heidi
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
Orion sleeps tonight.
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight.
The Story: When I first heard this song at age 10, I thought they were talking about the mythological hero Orion sleeping in the jungle. It's a neat coincidence that the Constellation shows Orion killing a lion. I guess he slept in the jungle once the lion was dead. - Submitted by: Andy Nelson
Meee... meee-eee-eee-ee, mum mum a-away
Wee...wee-oh, wee-oh, wee-oh wom oh-weh
The Story: In show-and-tell in elementary some of us would bring in old 45s and play them. At an adjacent desk Roger would chant this line. None of us then had a clue as to the chorus lyrics. REM put out a brilliant cover of this tune in 1993 ( as a counterweight to "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" ) and it is easier to conprehend - even with their Georgia accents which can be confusing at times (I'm a Midwesterner, so if I stepped on anyone's toes I didn't mean to. This is not a slam). - Submitted by: DooWop Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Doo
My wings are wet
My wings are wet.
A-wimoweh
A-wimoweh.
The Story: My wife's family is very musical -- her father, mother, brothers and sister used to all sing around the piano while her father played the banjo. After a few beers, I was ready to join in. They've never let me forget it! - Submitted by: Ed Williford
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
