I know a lot of people who love to sing along to their favorite songs, but they just don’t know the lyrics. I really don't mind that they are horrible singers, if it makes them happy, but they really stand out when the exact words are definitely not what they are singing, and they don't even know it. It turns out that there is a word for this phenomenon. It's called "mondegreen," and it means "the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase, typically a standardized phrase, such as a line in a poem or a lyric in a song." I picked my favorite misheard lyrics from Getback.com, KissThisGuy.com, and, of course, that great SNL "Wayne's Wolrd" skit from the 90's.
10. MADONNA - Like A Virgin
Misunderstood lyric: "Like a virgin touched for the thirty-first time."
Correct lyric: "Like a virgin touched for the very first time."
9. PETER GABRIEL - Shock the Monkey
Misunderstood lyric: "Jacque the Monkey."
Correct lyric: "Shock the Monkey."
8. THE CLASH - Rock the Casbah
Misunderstood lyric: "Sherri don't like it. Rockin' the casbah."
Correct lyric: "The Sharif don't like it. Rockin' the casbah."
7. ELTON JOHN - Benny & The Jets
Misunderstood lyric: "She had electric boobs."
Correct lyric: “She's got electric boots.”
6. MICHAEL JACKSON - Billie Jean
Misunderstood lyric: "But tu quieres una manzana."
Correct lyric: "But the kid is not my son."
5. BON JOVI - Livin' on a Prayer
Misunderstood lyric: "It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not."
Correct lyric: "It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not."
4. ALANIS MORISSETTE - You Oughta Know
Misunderstood lyric: "It's not fair to deny me of the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me."
Correct lyric: "It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me."
3. This one is a classic, and I'm definitely guilty. I spent my whole childhood singing it like this.
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - Bad Moon Rising
Misunderstood lyric: "Don't go out tonight, or it's bound to take your life. There's a bathroom on the right."
Correct lyric: "Don't go out tonight, or it's bound to take your life. There’s a bad moon on the rise."
2. This one the granddaddy of misheard lyrics.
JIMI HENDRIX - Purple Haze
Misunderstood lyric: "Excuse me while I kiss this guy."
Correct lyric: "Excuse me while I kiss the sky."
1. But my all around favorite has to be this one from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready
KISS - Rock & Roll All Night
Misunderstood lyric: "I wanna rock and roll all night and PART of everyday."
Correct lyric: "I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday."
10. MADONNA - Like A Virgin
Misunderstood lyric: "Like a virgin touched for the thirty-first time."
Correct lyric: "Like a virgin touched for the very first time."
9. PETER GABRIEL - Shock the Monkey
Misunderstood lyric: "Jacque the Monkey."
Correct lyric: "Shock the Monkey."
8. THE CLASH - Rock the Casbah
Misunderstood lyric: "Sherri don't like it. Rockin' the casbah."
Correct lyric: "The Sharif don't like it. Rockin' the casbah."
7. ELTON JOHN - Benny & The Jets
Misunderstood lyric: "She had electric boobs."
Correct lyric: “She's got electric boots.”
6. MICHAEL JACKSON - Billie Jean
Misunderstood lyric: "But tu quieres una manzana."
Correct lyric: "But the kid is not my son."
5. BON JOVI - Livin' on a Prayer
Misunderstood lyric: "It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not."
Correct lyric: "It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not."
4. ALANIS MORISSETTE - You Oughta Know
Misunderstood lyric: "It's not fair to deny me of the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me."
Correct lyric: "It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me."
3. This one is a classic, and I'm definitely guilty. I spent my whole childhood singing it like this.
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - Bad Moon Rising
Misunderstood lyric: "Don't go out tonight, or it's bound to take your life. There's a bathroom on the right."
Correct lyric: "Don't go out tonight, or it's bound to take your life. There’s a bad moon on the rise."
2. This one the granddaddy of misheard lyrics.
JIMI HENDRIX - Purple Haze
Misunderstood lyric: "Excuse me while I kiss this guy."
Correct lyric: "Excuse me while I kiss the sky."
1. But my all around favorite has to be this one from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready
KISS - Rock & Roll All Night
Misunderstood lyric: "I wanna rock and roll all night and PART of everyday."
Correct lyric: "I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday."
