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!).
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong album at Amazon.com
I got a party in my pocket and you know I just got laid
I party in my pocket and you know I just got paid
The Story: Jon kind of scream sings this one so that's low key what it sounds like - Submitted by: dayna
It's nothing but some peanuts.
It's nothing but some feelings.
The Story: Please understand English is my second language. - Submitted by: Scandia
Now the butcher's dead he left behind
Are just memories of a different life
Now the pictures that you left behind
Are just memories of a different life
The Story: I was singing along to this song at a party recently at the top of my voice, somebody heard me and corrected me but of course I wouldn't believe them. I went home and listened to the song and found that my word's were actually wrong. - Submitted by: Taliah
Well, there ain't no love in these loaded thighs.
Well, there ain't no luck in these loaded dice.
The Story: I just kept hearing it over and over. I thought it was kind of risque for Bon Jovi, but that's what I kept hearing. My boyfriend bought the album and looked up the real lyrics. I felt like a dork! - Submitted by: Mandy
Bad venison is what I mean.
Bad medicine is what I need.
The Story: I was in the car listening to my sister's When I sang 'bad venison' instead of 'bad medicine', everyone cracked up. - Submitted by: Mandy
Cuddle!
Come on!
The Story: It was meaning to say, "Come On! It's like bad medicine!" but it was "Cuddle! It's like bad medicine!" - Submitted by: Bailey
Van Helsing
Bad medicine
The Story: I was sure about it when in a car going to a Bon Jovi concert. - Submitted by: Max S
Yellin' is like bad medicine.
Your love is like bad medicine.
The Story: My friends and I would sing along at the bar and didn't discover until years later that we all misheard the lyrics! But Bon Jovi was great for YELLIN'! LOL - Submitted by: Holly
Your love is like Les Nessman.
Your love is like bad medicine.
The Story: Yes, I'm old and yes, my teenager kids at the time laughed hysterically. (Les Nessman was played by Richard Sanders on 'WKRP in Cincinnati'.) I mishear a lot of lyrics. I see now that I am not alone and feel a bit better. - Submitted by: Darby Thorpe
Your love is like bad Monessen. Bad Monessen is what I need.
Your love is like bad medicine. Bad medicine is what I need.
The Story: Monessen is a town in Pennsylvania and I thought that was what they were saying. - Submitted by: The Mother of Three Ferrets
I laughed so hard i think i died
I laughed so hard, I think I cried.
The Story: wow no wonder i was confused about laughing to death!i knew it wasnt possible i just found out now through here LMAO! - Submitted by: Sharleen
As I still watch movies
They won’t make of me while I’m there
(later)
Still I remember the time
When it’s time to get you
As I dream about movies
They won’t make of me when I’m dead
(later)
Still I run out of time
Or it’s hard to get through
The Story: It sounded like it had to with watching movies and looking back. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Norma Rae, you're down on a Bed of Roses
Want to lay you down
On a bed of roses.
The Story: Like the old movie Norma Rae - Submitted by: Shutterbug
I've got an old colt for a pillow.
I´ve got an old coat for a pillow.
The Story: I've always thought that was the lyric, until after I watched 'American Idol'. I saw Phil Stacey point to his old coat. So I came out here to see who was right. I was wrong for all these years. - Submitted by: Geoff Wiley
And maybe I was made to be your man
And baby I was made to be your man
The Story: Again, why we hear "maybe" instead of "baby", and vice versa. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Little boy blew up the man on the moon.
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
The Story: I felt so embarassed when I sang the wrong lyrics in a drama session. - Submitted by: Kelli n JEss
Night before, 500 more had succumbed to this disease
Not before, 500 more had succumbed to this disease
The Story: I think that Jon’s New Jersey accent chops up that word a bit and it is about COVID in all fairness. - Submitted by: Dayna Morris
Standing on the ledge, I show the world how to fly
Standing on the ledge, I show the wind how to fly
The Story: The actual words make no sense but i doubt you can show the entire world how to fly - Submitted by: Dayna
Don't got a reason
We've both got our reasons
The Story: Actually, I had the CD book with the lyrics, but it was plagued with mistakes. I sang it for years, till someone told me it was wrong. - Submitted by: Donnie Brasco
Fee, Fi, Fo, I swear to you.
These five words I swear to you.
The Story: Our idiotic friend Drew seriously though these were the lyrics. What, like Bon Jovi was the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. Good lord, what an idiot that guy was. - Submitted by: Jason Reeher
Steal this gum from some guy for you.
Steal the sun from the sky for you.
The Story: When I heard this song, I thought that Bon Jovi must be a real tough guy -- stealing a stick of Big Red for his sweetheart? Then I realized what the real lyrics were...and that Bon Jovi sucked. - Submitted by: Jason Reeher
When you get jumped,
I'll be on time
When you get drunk,
I'll be the wine
The Story: My wife mentioned how romantic she thought it was that Bon Jovi would stand up for his babe in a fight... Huh?? So we broke out the lyrics, and it has never been the same song... - Submitted by: kevin hudson
I frickin' said I did it my way.
Like Frankie said, I did it my way.
The Story: My sister and I were sitting in the car singing this song. When it got to this line, she belted out, 'I frickin' said I did it my way.' I told her the correct lyrics, and we laughed for an hour. We still laugh about it. - Submitted by: Maggie
I friekin said I did it my way
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
The Story: Listening to our favorites on a road trip, both belting it out and my husband started cracking up then told me what he really says!!! Hilarious but you probably had to be there! Lol - Submitted by: Sharon
Like Frank and Sid, I did it my way.
Like Frankie said, 'I did it my way'.
The Story: My brother and I were arguing about it after Bon Jovi played at the Superbowl. I said it was 'Frank and Sid' because there are the two versions of the song (Frank Sinatra and Sid Vicious), and he said it was 'Frankie said.' He was right. - Submitted by: madeline
Like Frankenstein, I did it my way.
Like Frankie said I did it my way.
The Story: I could have sworn my sister told me that this was the real lyric. Apparently, she said something else, because when I corrected her the next time the song was on, she looked at me like I was nuts. - Submitted by: Dana K.
Like Frankenstein, I'm dead my own way.
Like Frankie said, 'I did it my way.'
The Story: I misheard it this way, but it actually made 'dead' sense. - Submitted by: John Metz
Like Freddie said, I did it my way
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
The Story: Not me but my brother. He thought that they were giving a shout out to Freddie Mercury. - Submitted by: dayna
This is a song for the broken hearted
A guy Leno prayer for 50 parties.
This ain't a song for the broken hearted
No silent prayer for the faith departed.
The Story: I first heard this song at a concert at my church in the rain actually. My sister and I were just listening and when we could we would sing along. At the end they did an encore and let everyone sing the first few lines of the song and we sang, 'This is a song for the broken hearted, a guy Leno prayer for 50 parties' as loud as we could. And that was pretty loud for a couple of 7 and 8 year olds. Ah, old memeories. - Submitted by: Yuuga
Listen, a song for the broken hearted.
Said a prayer for their departed
This ain't a song for the broken hearted.
A silent prayer for their departed
The Story: I always listened to this song because I thought it was touching although a bit confusing. Now, I think it's kind weird and I don't like it as much. And I would've never found out if I hadn't visited your site. Thanks alot! - Submitted by: rachel
Lets sing a song for the broken hearted,
A silent prayer for the faith departed.
This ain't a song for the broken hearted,
A silent prayer for the faith departed.
The Story: At the time this song came out I was really on a downer, and a little bit broken hearted, and I started listening to it frequently. I had a live version of the song, so it wasnt very good quality and I couldnt really hear. However, when I got the cd, I listened to it carefully and realized what a mistake I had made. I don't really care, because it really lifted my spirits when I need it. - Submitted by: Bobby Bissonnette
Like a favourite pair of torn in jeans
Like a favourite pair of torn blue jeans
The Story: I know it doesn't make sense with the rest of the words but I'm not going to argue with Jon and the boys - Submitted by: Dayna
Play your hand, Zombie.
Lay your hands on me.
The Story: A good reason why overblown, slick production values on most 1980s songs often obscured just exactly what bands were saying. It is hard to tell if this is a romantic come-on song, or a salute to a real dead man's hand. - Submitted by: Eric Andrews
It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
The Story: I heard this song when Bon Jovi, I heard, say "Naked or Not" in one of my road trips. - Submitted by: Noah William Johnsen
It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not.
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
The Story: I knew the right words but I thought it would be funny if I sang them this way. Well I was singing it around the house this way & my mom goes 'Eww, that's disgusting!' But I reassured her they weren't the right words. - Submitted by: Amy
Ohhhh, easy on the bear!
Ohhhh, livin’ on a prayer
The Story: Our son will always sand this lyric in the back of our car on road trips 😂 - Submitted by: Mason D
She crapped in her nuts.
She cried in the night.
The Story: When my husband told me he and a friend would sing this as kids, I had to pull the car over! They still sing the same words to this day. - Submitted by: jen
She cries with her lights on for Christmas, Baby it's okay!!!
She cries in the night, Tommy whispers, "Baby, it's okay!"
The Story: Haha it seemed logical - Submitted by: Franklinson
Whoa, I hate play there
Whoa, we're halfway there
The Story: First I just thought what is wrong with that guy who sings. - Submitted by: hubert13888
Whoooa, bla bla bleurgh
Whoooa, sitting on the stairs
or
Whoooa, yeah, yeah, yeaaah
Whoooa, livin' with bad hair.
Whoooa, we're halfway there
Whoooa, livin' on a prayer.
The Story: My friends and I were listening to music and singing along. This one came on and we both tried to sing the chorus - both singing different but equally wrong words. Pretty funny when we found out the real words. - Submitted by: Helena
Goddess used on a mountain top
Tommy used to work on the docks
The Story: I'm not too embarrassed... just surprised I could be that wrong like in the song "Venus". - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
Johnny's used to workin' on dogs.
Johnny used to work on the docks.
The Story: Johnny only hit on ugly girls, until he met Gina. - Submitted by: Pete
Living on square
Living on a prayer
The Story: My family finds great humor in that I had been singing this incorrectly for 30 years. I thought it meant they living an honest life. - Submitted by: Dan
Take my hat
Take my hand
The Story: Sounded like they would take their hat! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Take my pants, we'll make them underwear
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
The Story: I just couldn't understand why in the world this beautiful song would involve this utterly strange lyric, and I looked up and all was at peace in the world. - Submitted by: Johnny R. Smithonson
Tommy's got his sex dream in heart
Tommy's got his six-string in hock
The Story: Once again, why we mishear "six-string" as "sex dream". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
We'll make it a square
We'll make it I swear
The Story: I've heard the story about my sister singing that when she was little about 1000 times - Submitted by: Ashley
Take my hair, and we'll make it out square.
Take my hand, and we'll make it, I swear.
The Story: My best friend Lorraine and I used to dance to this when we were 11. We even made a dance routine that involved us standing facing each other and drawing a square shape with our hands lasting four beats. I only realised the truth when I was 25 and heard it playing in a shopping centre. - Submitted by: Dawn W
And I don't need no creature
And I don't need no preacher
The Story: Why do we hear "creature" instead of "preacher", and vice versa? That's what we hear in songs such as "Father Figure" and "Son of a Preacher Man". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Gina wants to die of old age
Gina works the diner all day
The Story: My brother sang this part all the time. He thought it was "Gina wants to die of old age, working for the man she brings home her pay for love". I had to show him the lyrics on the record sleeve. - Submitted by: Melanie
Livin' on a chair
or
Living surrounds chairs
or
Living on a bear
or
Kitchen Underwear
or
Living doesn't care
or
Kitchen's comfy sweaters
Living on a prayer
The Story: listened to this song and each time the line comes on we sing something different lol - Submitted by: NayNay
Tommy goes to work on the dots
Tommy used to work on the docks
The Story: I can't unhear this and knowing that Jon has a working class New Jersey upbringing, I thought they we singing about a guy who always arrives at work on time - Submitted by: dayna
We got each other and that's enough for love
We got each other and that's a lot for love
The Story: It does sound like what it's "enough" and not "a lot" but it's not the words they wrote. - Submitted by: dayna
We live in Eau Claire
We're living on a prayer
The Story: I live in Eau Claire, wi. This song was played at my sister's wedding and everyone sang the misheard lyrics. - Submitted by: John McNamara
I want to know the danger of the chimpanzees at midnight.
I want to know the danger of a kiss at midnight.
The Story: Absolutely hilarious. I found this pretty funny because I wouldn't imagine the chimpanzees as being harmful animals. And I can imagine the boys in the forest, camping out at midnight, with the campfire burning and the guys asleep in their tents. And then, all of a sudden, these chimpanzees come pouring into their camp and begins attacking them tearing down their tents and stealing everything...almost. - Submitted by: leelee
Creole Lady Marmalade
She's a little runaway
The Story: It took me wondering how the New Jersey rock band had anything to do with Philly soul. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
She won't let me bite her children.
She won't let me buy her jewelry.
The Story: I had been singing this for months before my wife caught the mistake and cracked up!!! - Submitted by: Chris Longhurst
For the party on my hips, when I couldn't breathe
For parting my lips, when I couldn't breathe
The Story: I grew up listening to Bon Jovi, and never understood why they would have a party on their hips and what they had to with breathing, but singing it in the car with a bunch of friends heard me sing that and just died laughing at me I was so embarrassed and they still pick on me because of me - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
These days the foxes are under the sea
These days the stars seem out of reach
The Story: When I was 11 years old I sang like this until my mom said it was wrong. Bon Jovi quotes from The Little Mermaid - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
Bon Jovi's,
"This House Is Not for Sale"
Dammit on the dirt where they'll dig my grave
Standing to the dirt where they'll dig my grave
The Story: Who are they and what did they do in order to have Jon Bon Jovi curse them out like that? - Submitted by: dayna
I crawled in with my p***s.
I called her and my demons.
The Story: My friend played me this song. Since it was burned copy, she didn't have the lyrics. She was the first to hear the misheard line, then pointed out to me. Well one night, she was over my house and looked up the lyrics. To our surprise, Bon Jovi isn't as much of a perv as we thought. - Submitted by: Donut Whisperer
I got her with my penis
I called her and my demons
The Story: My wife and I have wondered what the real lyrics were for years now but never sat down and looked them up until now. Every time I hear this song it sounds like he saying this and I'm always confused. Even when I listen to the song now that I do know the real lyrics it still sounds like he is saying something about his penis. My wife even agrees that it doesn't sound like "demons" at all. I still laugh at this lyric every time I hear this song, it never gets old. - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
Thought we'd be met as liberators in a thousand heroes fight
Thought we'd be made as liberators
In a thousand year old fight
The Story: This is what happens when you're half listening to songs and while I don't know about the US, all the bodies of the soldiers killed in action here in Canada are carried down the Highway of Heroes (Highway 401) so it made perfect sense in my head - Submitted by: dayna
I'm a cowboy
Gonna steal hosira.
I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride.
The Story: I really thought it was this until about a month ago when I heard my girlfriend sing the tune- I sang my 'lyrics' aloud and she laughed her head off thinking I was joking! - Submitted by: Matt Bennett
I'm a cowboy
On a porcelain bus I ride.
I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride.
The Story: A comedian had just been on T.V. the night before I first heard this song and the comedian was talking about being sick and 'riding the porcelain bus'. So when I heard 'Wanted Dead or Alive', I laughed having misunderstood the lyrics! - Submitted by: Dan
A loaded sex dream on my back
A loaded six-string on my back
The Story: This is what would happen when you hear "sex dream" instead of "six-string". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
And I'm wanted, edel good time.
And I'm wanted, dead or alive.
The Story: I just could never understand what he was saying, so I thought he was trying to say Edelweiss, but then just stopped saying it and then just said good time. So I never knew the title of the song for a while. - Submitted by: Mads
Like a cowboy, on a steel horse high rise
Like a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
The Story: Belted this out on a first date with a girl, after going on and on about how much I love Bon Jovi and knew every word to every song. She was nice enough to call me out on it right away and save me further embarassment. - Submitted by: Joel Gerring
On water (water)
Dead or alive.
I'm wanted (wanted)
Dead or alive.
The Story: This misheard was actually on the closed caption stream for a "Deadliest Catch" intro! - Submitted by: Nathaniel Lind
Bon Jovi's,
"Who Says You Can't Go Home"
It's Ore-Ida
It's all right
The Story: Another round of confusion and similarity, thanks to the slogan "When it says Ore-Ida, it's all-righta". - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Bon Jovi's,
"Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Pooh says you can't go home
Who says you can't go home?
The Story: Silly old bear... - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Bon Jovi's,
"Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Wasting dimes, spending too much time on the telephone
Saving dimes, spending too much time on the telephone
The Story: I don't know why I thought that's what it was - Submitted by: dayna
Through the kid's parade,
'Cause this is my Jean Valjean
Through the kid's parade,
'Cause this is my hometown
The Story: Bon Jovi quotes from Les Misérables - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
You don't walk in vain, through the kid's parade 'Cause this is my Jean Valjean
You don't walk in vain, through the kid's parade 'Cause this is my hometown
The Story: Bon Jovi quotes from Les Misérables - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
You don't walk in vain, through the kid's parade
'Cause this is my Jean Valjean
You don't walk in vain, through the kid's parade
'Cause this is my hometown
The Story: Bon Jovi quotes from Les Misérables - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
Jabba the Hutt
Attacking your name
You can run a bad thing
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
The Story: When my sister was 12, we listening to a radio that was staticky, so these were the lyrics she was able to make out. - Submitted by: Sullivan Reed
Shot through the heart, but I'm okay
All I need is a Band-Aid.
Shot through the heart, and you're too blame
You give love a bad name.
The Story: I have two little brothers who are twins, and they both misheard these lyrics. The song came on the radio, so I cranked it up to listen to the awesome guitar rift right after this first line. To be heard over the radio, my brothers both sang louder. After singing it (correctly) myself, I realized someone in the backseat had said the incorrect words. Looking the the rearview, I asked the twin I could see, Samuel, what he had sung. The answer I recieved simultaneously from both him and Thomas was this humerous misinterpretation. - Submitted by: Kelsey
You give love a band-aid.
You give love a bad name.
The Story: I was little. Like maybe 5 or 6. So sue me! Lol. I would sing this song when it came on the radio, and my Mother and my Aunt would tell me, 'Those aren't the right lyrics. He says, 'You give love a bad name,' Well, me being little, I kept singing the wrong lyrics, because I didn't care. I thought my Aunt and Mother were wrong about the lyrics. - Submitted by: Mandy
Chuckie the heart and you're to blame
Shot through the heart and you're to blame
The Story: I heard my then 5 y/o son singing "Chuckie the heart" and it took me a while to figure out what he was trying to sing. - Submitted by: Timi Zhuo
Shock with your heart, and you're to blame
Shot through the heart, and you're to blame
The Story: I got the inspiration for the misheard lyrics when I saw an empty Big Red chewing gum wrapper. When I saw the words "Artificially flavored" it reminded me of a song called "Artificial Heart," and then THAT song reminded me of the misheard lyrics, and the misheard lyrics remind me of the driver of a car sounding a car horn by first holding the horn button down for a second, pausing for a second, then repeatedly tapping the horn with several short beeps. - Submitted by: Isac
Shot through the heart and your'e to late
Darling you can't go for Band Aid
Shot through the heart and you're to blame
Darling you give love a bad name
The Story: My mother was a Bon Jovi fan, and was listening to this song when I was 6 or 7 years old. One time after listening to it in the car, I started singing my lyrics. Alas, that's when I found out the real lyrics, and the song just isn't the same to me anymore... - Submitted by: Wade
You call love a bad name
You give love a bad name
The Story: My son was 5 and learning about using bad language and calling people bad names. He mistook Bon Jovi's song as a lesson in etiquette. - Submitted by: Mary Lucas
You give love a Band - Aid
You give love a bad name
The Story: Someone I worked with at a camp a few years ago thought it was the right words! - Submitted by: dayna
You give love a band name
You give love a bad name
The Story: Bon Jovi gives themselves their own band name. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
There are more Bon Jovi misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.