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!).
16 Biggest Hits album at Amazon.com
While my wife is making 'music' with my friends.
All my life is making music with my friends.
The Story: I just figured ole' Willie was a swinger. - Submitted by: Gregory Costa
Troll the ancient Yuleside carol.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.
The Story: This should be an entirely legitimate misheard lyric to cite, as the first time I heard this sung by Willie Nelson, it sure sounded like he said 'Yuleside'. I must have misheard that, I told myself. It wouldn't make sense, and 'Yuleside' isn't even a word, is it? But on listening to it again and again, I have increasing trouble believing that he didn't actually SING 'Yuleside'. If so, it reminds me that Willie is a well-known pot-smoker and makes me wonder if he might have had just a bit too much of it when he sang this. But still, this has the form of a misheard lyric, and we should give him the benefit of any doubt and assume it really IS a misheard lyric, not a missung one! - Submitted by: Rachel Blattington
Willie Nelson's,
"Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."
I burned up my child one day.
I burned up my childhood days.
The Story: I was listening to this song with my 4 year old son in the car. He heard this line and became disturbed that somone would burn up their child (one day). I had to explain it. - Submitted by: Michael Turner
It's like my love is making music with my friends.
The life I love is making music with my friends.
The Story: Even though I'd heard this song many times before, I guess I hadn't listened closely to all of it before. Tonight I heard it on my car radio, and this line sounded just like the misheard version above. - Submitted by: Donna Gelpigi
While five others making music in my head.
The life I love is making music with my friends.
The Story: That's how I sung it for a long time until I read the book, "The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes" by Willie Nelson, and the lyrics were in there. :P - Submitted by: Leah
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
