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 Who: The Ultimate Collection album at Amazon.com
She’s a girl!
She’s a bone!
She’s just a girl!
She’s a whore!
She's just a girl
She a bomb
The Story: It kind of alternates between “she’s a whore“ and/or “she’s a bone!” It made absolutely no sense to me but I had no idea where to find the correct lyrics. I always heard it as “she’s a whore!” and “she’s a bone!” - Submitted by: William Wixon
Out here int he fields I fight for my meals.
Out here in the fields
I FARM for my meals.
The Story: everybody thinks its fight, but one line later the lyrics is "I don't have to fight" doesn't make sense that he has to fight and one line later he don't have to fight...FARM is the correct lyric but 99% of people think its fight. - Submitted by: the real Baba O Reilly
The Who's,
"Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland)"
Teenage waistline
Teenage wasteland
The Story: My buddy Rob, for YEARS, would call in to radio stations asking for "teenage waistline" as it was in the lyrics. - Submitted by: Tommy Jakob
The Who's,
"Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland)"
Teenage waitress
Teenage wasteland
The Story: My Dad always liked the song and was asking for the album with Teenage Waitress. Obviously we had no idea what he meant until the song came on the radio and he identified it. - Submitted by: Scott Lundquist
Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals
I get my back into my kneebends
Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living.
The Story: My college roommate assured me the song was about soldiers in Vietnam, doing calisthenics before going to fight. - Submitted by: D. Gibson
Out here in the fields, I found where Bob kneels
Out here in the fields I fight for my meals
The Story: I was getting a lift home from college by a friend and the song came on the radio. Somehow the "strange" lyric came up, which I suggested sounded like someone named Bob was being forced to give oral sex to make ends meet (no pun intended). My buddy laughed his head off and corrected me. I was SO embarrassed. - Submitted by: Andy Byers
Out here in the fields
I fart from my meals
Again, my back-end tool
My living
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
Don't cry, don't brace your eye
It's only teenage ways there
Shall we take my hand?
Trouble
South falls land
Put out the fire and don't-look paths
Much older
The Eggs of Deuce is here
The happy walls are near
Out here in the fields
I farm for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
Don't cry, don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland
Sally, take my hand
We'll travel south 'cross land
Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
The Story: The misheard lyrics of the pre-teen years can be hard to override - Submitted by: saddleback
Teenage nature
Teenage wasteland
The Story: The fact that "teenage nature" makes sense with "mother nature". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Teenage waistline. It's only a teenage waistline
Teen age wasteland. It's only a teenage wasteland.
The Story: For years, I kept looking for Teenage Waistline on ANY of the The Who's albums and was wondering why I could never find it - Submitted by: Doctor Dootch
They're all whistling!
They're all Wasted!
The Story: My Mum misheard Wasteland for Whistling when she first heard the song and I had to set her straight. She thought they were all whistling! - Submitted by: Kathryn
They're always dead.
They're all wasted.
The Story: This misheard lyric stuck in my head for years. I knew in the back of my mind that the words didn't sound right and certainly didn't make any sense (not a big surprise for 70's rock lyrics). I still remember the day I figured out the correct lyrics on my own. I didn't mention it to anyone, I was so embarrased. - Submitted by: Rob Bierman
I called you a bonehead
I'd call that a bargain
The Story: It was weird to hear men sing about something intimate for women! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Before I laugh, and I crack a joke.
Before I laugh, and act like a fool.
The Story: Sung it wrong in the car with my girlfriend. She broke up with me shortly thereafter. [Ed.'s note: Probably just coincidence.] - Submitted by: Alan
Keep me warm, but beware your coat.
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat.
The Story: I was in the car with my dad singing this song. I happened to be singing the right lyrics, but he told me they were wrong. Two years later, I told him that I was singing the lyrics right all along. - Submitted by: melissa
Keep me warm, everywhere do you go.
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat.
The Story: Girl said song reminded her of me.... I listened and wondered where she went because she left me. - Submitted by: Marshall
I'm the screwed pudding, the fool cheese.
I'm the school bully, the classroom cheat.
The Story: I was so convinced that Tommy was lactose intolerant and Cousin Kevin fed him dairy products as a method of torture. Oe day I tried to tell a friend about how Tommy was lactose intolerant and pointed to these 'lyrics'. I felt dumb when she laughed at me. - Submitted by: sabine
Got a bus fare, I'll need it
Got a bet there? I'll meet it.
The Story: After about 35 years, I only recently learned the real line - Submitted by: Michael Trotier
Livin' in funk, it's a put on.
Eminence front, it's a put on.
The Story: I was out one night in college with friends. I was in a very good mood and we were having a great time when this song came on. I started singing along.... 'Livin' in Funk, it's a put on'. Two people next to me asked what I was singing and I told them 'Livin' in Funk, duh!' They said it is 'Eminence Front'. I asked what the heck 'Eminence Front' meant. They couldn't tell me, so I still sing it as 'Livin' in Funk'. It only makes sense with the following lyrics... Come on join the party, Dress to kill, Won't you come and join the party, Dress to kill. - Submitted by: Kimberly Hicks
Damnit lets f**k
Eminence front
The Story: My college roommate ask if I had ever heard that song that says 'damnit lets f**k' in the chorus. It took some time to figure out which song he was talking about. And now, due to the prior suggestion, I still listen to the songs chorus closely wondering 'Well maybe that is what they are really saying.' - Submitted by: Dave C
Everything's f***ed
Eminence Front
The Story: My brother and I would sing this in the back seat, and get smacked by our father every time. Until he heard the song on the radio, and apologized to us, saying 'I guess you're right. That really is what they're singing!' - Submitted by: Wild Legend
It's an M&M's front
It's a put on.
It's an emminence front
It's a put on.
The Story: I have a friend who enjoys being right, and usually is. But much to my delight, he had the words to this song badly mangled. Fortunately, I had read the lyrics, because who in the h*** would guess that Pete was saying 'eminence front' unless they had? 'M&M's front' is only slightly more random. - Submitted by: E. Fincher
Livin' in a box!
Livin' in a box!
It's a put-on!
Eminence front
Eminence front
It's a put-on!
The Story: I was surprised when my co-workers told me it was 'Eminence Front', but after a few minutes they agreed that it sounds a lot like 'living in a box' - Submitted by: Andy Nelson
Livin' in the spot
Eminence front
The Story: I was in a car, it was my first time hearing the song, and that's what I thought I heard. - Submitted by: Steffen
Unlimited Fun
Eminence Front
The Story: I was driving around with my girlfriend from school and her boyfriend when this song came on the radio. He was singing 'Unlimited Fun', and we were hysterical laughing at him- he insisted he was right, so we made him go to the mall to check it out at the record store and prove otherwise. We still laugh about that one today. And yes, he still sings 'Unlimited Fun'. - Submitted by: Rose
What's in Eminem's trunk?
What's in Eminem's trunk?
its a foot long.
It's an eminence front
It's an eminence front
It's a put on.
The Story: haha - Submitted by: anonymous
He lived in the sand on the Taliban.
He lived in the sand on the Isle Of Man.
The Story: I probably vaguely heard this song sometime closer to when it came out in the 1970s, when few in most of the world had heard of the Taliban, if indeed the word even existed back then. I recently heard it and tried listening closely to the lyrics for the first time. The misheard version is exactly what this line sounded like to me, even though I knew that the taliban could hardly have been mentioned in any popular English language song from the 1970s. The Isle Of Man, on the other hand, is something whose existence I've been well aware of before, during, and after the 1970s. But that didn't help me hear the lyrics correctly, as I never suspected a reference therein to the Isle Of Man until I checked a lyrics site. - Submitted by: Emmy Kay Butanone
Cabbage Train
I Can't explain
The Story: My cousin thought that theses were the real words even though it was the title of the song. He must have thought that, back in the old country, every year during the cabbage harvest, that there was a great celebration when the harvest came in. 'Cabbage Train, think it's love, I say it to you when I feel blue, Oh Cabbage Train!' - Submitted by: DaBear
Put the swing on, little boys.
Put this wig on, little boy.
The Story: Seeing as this song is about a boy who has three sisters, and his mother won't accept him as a boy; I always thought the 'put the swing on' meant spank the boy for being one or simply give him the strap. Don't forget the line, 'If I say I am, I get it!' Talk about cruelty. - Submitted by: Selim
The Who's,
"It's A Boy ('1921'part)"
It could be good for me and Herbert
You and me -no never.
It could be good for me and her
But you and her, no never.
The Story: I have to practice Tommy music for marching band so I got the cd to help. When I was listening to that song it confused since it sounded like they said ' me and Herbert' . I never saw the movie before so I thought Herbert might be a character. However, the cd came with a lyrics booklet and I realized to was 'me and her, but' and that made more sense. However, it really does sound the same, the way they say 'but' ,if you listen to it. When I saw the real lyrics I thought it was pretty funny. - Submitted by: jbmusic
Love, reign o'er me! Reign o'er me! Holy! Holy! Oh,
Love, reign o'er me! Oh, me!
Love, reign o'er me! Reign o'er me! O'er me! O'er me! Oh,
Love, reign o'er me! O'er me!
The Story: I always thought the singer randomly sang "Holy!" (as in: Holy s***!) until I figured out that he was just singing the second half of the title of the song. - Submitted by: themorus
People try to put us down
Talking 'bout my chitty shoes.
People try to put us down
Talking 'bout my generation.
The Story: A few years back there was an advert on television for a brand of ice-lollies with the 'My Generation' song. Well, one sunny day, my brother and I were walking along the street eating these particular ice-lollies when I belted out with, 'People try to put us d-down.' My brother sang back, 'Talking about my chitty shoes.' I was in fits of laughter; and even when I explained to him what the real lyrics were, he refused to believed me and was adamant that 'chitty shoes' were indeed the real lyrics - despite admitting to not knowing what 'chitty shoes' actually were. To this day, he probably still sings about those chitty shoes. (But why would people try to put them down?) - Submitted by: Lynda
Talkin' about my vagination
Talkin' about my generation
The Story: It was weird to hear men sing about something intimate for women! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
My wife's a gentle being
Mother of my children's what she's gonna be
My life's in jeopardy
Murdered in cold blood's what I'm gonna be
The Story: This is about the most extreme way possible to get a lyric wrong. For over thirty years, I used to tell all my friends what a great love song "My Wife" was - along the lines of Shakespeare's "Nothing Like The Sun". Then I finally got a hold of the REAL lyrics. Turns out the song is about a guy who's TERRIFIED of his wife, because he stayed out too late and spent the night in the drunk tank, and she's going to kill him when he gets out. My God, it's embarrassing! - Submitted by: Mark
A pinball wizard's got such a subtle wrist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
The Story: It's a subtle difference, you know.. supple versus subtle. ;) - Submitted by: Harry Scrote
He sure plays a mean steel guitar.
Sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: I just found out today that I was wrong. Actually, I tried to find the "steel guitar" part on the Net to prove I was right. Umm, I'm not! - Submitted by: Melody
I stepped on the blanket
Show play the beans pinball!
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!
The Story: I was 7. My brother gave me my first Who tape. I sang it around the house all the time - until my brother caught me singing those words. - Submitted by: Eitan Brown
Short laser beam pinball
Sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: 5 yr old grandson's version. Otherwise, he knows the whole song - Submitted by: &rew
Sure pleased to meet him BONG!
Sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: Just thought that because was so great, that meeting him would have been great. One day my sister pointed out the correct lyrics. We had a hell of a laugh, and I still do thinking about it. - Submitted by: Mike Veinot
That deaf dumb and a blanket
Sure plays a mean pinball.
That deaf, dumb, and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: I was roadie for a band called Highway in Wales. I tape recorded the song off of "Top of the Pops" for the band to learn it. When I showed them the lyrics, I never heard the last of it...even now. - Submitted by: john marsh
That deaf, dumb and blink kid
Sure plays a mean guitar.
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: The same girl in college who thought the REM song was called 'Chinese Happy People' thought The Who song included this lyric. - Submitted by: Julie
That deaf, dumb black kid
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
The Story: I thought, 'How can they play such a racist song?', until I saw the movie 'Tommy' several years later. (Oh, he's blind!) - Submitted by: lisa c
That death of a black kid
That deaf dumb and blind kid
The Story: It's been at least 3... just realized - Submitted by: Jonathan
No easy way to be green
No easy way to be free
The Story: When my boyfriend and I were watching Freaks and Geeks on DVD and this song came up in an episode, I did a double take and said, "Wait. Did Roger Daltrey just reference Kermit the Frog?!?" "It's no easy way to be FREE," said my boyfriend, who proceeded to laugh. Oh well. - Submitted by: Cat
Slinky, slinky
Slip kid, slip kid
The Story: I heard this song in the background at work one time and thought he was singing about a slinky toy. - Submitted by: Mason
There's no easy way, there's no easy way
No easy way to be free
The Story: A mondegreen that is funny to hear. - Submitted by: Clinton
He never gets to go west
He never gets no rest
The Story: Could have been that he was never going west--not even in L.A.! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
I was born with a plastic 'shroom in my mouth.
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth.
The Story: The other day I was listening to The Who when 'Substitute' came on. My roommate, who had never heard the song before, suddenly asked, 'Did they just say shroom??' I thought it was absolutely hilarious, although I had to listen to it again just to make sure it was something else! - Submitted by: Cindy
Substitute, me for him
Substitute, my coat for Jim's
Substitute you for my mom
Now please go get my washing done.
Substitute, me for him
Substitute, my Coke for gin
Substitute you for my mom
At least I'll get my washing done.
The Story: I was a backing singer in a pub band and sang this for years. - Submitted by: Her
I asked Bobby Dillon
I asked Bobby Dylan
The Story: I thought he was talking about the Pro Football Hall of Fame player! - Submitted by: Tommy
The Who's,
"We Don't Get Fooled Again"
We don't get food again
Don't get food again
No, no!
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!
The Story: My nine-year old little sister was listening to this song as the opening theme for "CSI:Miami", and she really enjoyed it. So, the next time it came on the radio, she pumped up the volume and screeched (extremely off-pitch) that "We don't get food again!" I asked her to explain what the heck she was singing. She said that obviously the song was about poor people living on the streets, having a really hard life, and starving to death. If you listen to, and read, all of the real lyrics, but simply use the ones my sister sang, the song really does make sense that way, too. - Submitted by: Jubilee
The Who's,
"We're Not Gonna Take It"
We're a Golden Ticket
We're not gonna take it
The Story: How did the Who get into Willy Wonka? - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Blue oink
Blue-blue, blue-blue
Who are you?
Who-who? Who-who?
The Story: My mother was the one that thought they were saying "blue oink" until my father and I informed her differently. I mean, I can see thinking they were saying that and knowing that you must have misheard something, but she was completely convinced that the lyrics were actually "blue oink". Uh-huh. So consequently, every time "CSI" comes on ("Who Are You?" is the show's theme-song), we say, "hey, the blue oink show is on". As little sense as that makes. - Submitted by: linda
Blue orange, blue, blue, blue, blue
Who are you, who, who, who, who?
The Story: I was pretty young and I was left in ignorance for a long time. I really liked the contridiction of colours though! - Submitted by: hamner
Blue water
Blue, blue, blue, blue
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
The Story: My husband had never heard this song before it was the theme for the TV show CSI. In the show's opening sequence, it features a helicopter flying over a body of water, hence, 'blue water.... blue blue...' (I nearly fell off the couch laughing) - Submitted by: Karen
I felt a little like a dying clown
In a streetcar in Tangiers
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin.
The Story: ...and even though I know what they really are, this is still what I hear - Submitted by: Rob Stackley
I felt a little like a dying hound
Went to stick-up Rin Tin Tin.
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin.
The Story: I'd heard this song but not paid too much attention to it, and not recognized it as by the Who, though I was much more familiar with them, by some of their other songs. Then I heard a Sunday sermon in which the preacher said he'd thought of this in considering his sermon and the words were still ringing through his ears. I went home and listened to the song on YouTube. I still can't imagine what connection the song has to his sermon. But on listening to it I first heard the lines quoted above as my cited misheard version. On looking up the real lyrics, I expected somehow that the reference to Rin Tin Tin would be the part I most misheard. But surprisingly Rin Tin Tin is in the actual lyrics! - Submitted by: Karen Smith
I want my penis so hard, no way
A policeman knew my name.
I woke up in a Soho doorway.
A policeman knew my name.
The Story: When I checked this song on YouTube, I misheard the opening lines as quoted above. I was checking it because I heard a preacher claim that somehow this song was involved in his inspiration for his Sunday sermon. Needless to say, I was astonished that a song that started out the way I heard the first line would provide inspiration for a sermon, or astonished AT LEAST that the preacher would ADMIT that that was the case. On looking up the real lyrics, I still don't know what connection the song really has to the sermon. - Submitted by: Karen Smith
New Orleans
New New
I really wanna go
Who are you
Who Who
I really wanna know
The Story: I always sang this song with the misheard lyrics until an adult. At that time a friend caught me singing along and laughed hysterically… - Submitted by: Sunny Alexander
New Orleans
New ooo, new ooo.
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
The Story: My sister Debra keeps me laughing. We were watching CSI and singing the opening song for the show. She started singing 'New Orleans', and I cracked up. That's not all. A friend of my sons, Josh, sang the same thing. - Submitted by: Gina
New Orleans
New, new, new new
Who are you?
Who? Who? Who? Who?
The Story: My mother started singing this in the car one day. - Submitted by: eileen doran
New Orleans
Woo hoo! Woo hoo!
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
The Story: I heard it on the radio 10-20 times and never heard the song title or band name. I thought it was a great song about New Orleans. Now I know why I only sing when I'm by myself in the car. - Submitted by: David
Roo, Roy
Roo, roo, roo, roo.
Who are you
Who, who, who, who?
The Story: I seriously used to think they were barking at some guy Roy or cheering him on or something, and I had no idea what for. Then, I found out who sang the song... lol - Submitted by: flipside
Who are you? Poo Poo, Poo Poo
Who are you? Who who, who who
The Story: This happens when you're in the bathroom listening to a song and the bathroom changes your thoughts. - Submitted by: James
blue bayou. blue blue, blue blue new orleans. new new, new new
who are you? who who, who who
The Story: the opening song for csi, both my mom and i misheard this line repeatedly for some time before noticing until my mom started singing it out loud (new orleans, new new, new new) and though i was also wrong thinking it was blue bayou, i still pick on her cuz i thought mine was closer :) - Submitted by: john doe
Blue Olive
Whooooooo are you
The Story: My mom is German and when she met my dad he was really into The Who. She didn't speak English very well and always wondered why he liked the song that kept singing about a blue olive. After she told me that story I always hear the words blue olive. - Submitted by: Jen Rosas
The Who's,
"Won't Get Fooled Again"
And the beards of thought no longer roll the dice
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
The Story: I thought it was this profound lyric about how the war-hawks had taken over the revolution from the philosopher-types. Nope. - Submitted by: Fishpants
The Who's,
"Won't Get Fooled Again"
And the marching on the left is now marching on the right.
Spin the wheel, roll the dice.
And the parting on the left is now parting on the right.
And the beards have all grown longer overnight.
The Story: Oddly, in this case I think what I thought I heard makes more sense than the actual. - Submitted by: Mark R.
The Who's,
"Won't Get Fooled Again"
We were liberated on a poet's song.
We were liberated from the fold that's all.
The Story: - Submitted by: Greg M.
The Who's,
"Won't Get Fooled Again"
We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children and our meat
And tomorrow Cindy Merchant will be gone
And the men who sang the song
Said the judge-men all are wrong
They decide that the shotgun sings the song.
We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song.
The Story: This was my favorite song when I was about 7 years old. My dad had the 8-track (ah, those were the days) of the 'Who's Next' album and unfortunately, the song lyrics weren't included. I am proud to say, that it took me only about 25 years to finally figure out the correct words and to realize that Cindy Merchant doesn't exist. (thank you, www!). I still have tapes of me singing my version back in the 70s. I just wonder why my Dad never corrected me... - Submitted by: andy
I showed up late one night with a neon light for a visa
I showed up late one night with a neon light for a Beezer
The Story: Clowns have those big red beezer for noses and that's what he is talking about - Submitted by: Sal
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.