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!).
Another Page album at Amazon.com
All right, vote for Ronald Reagan
I think it might just work out right this time.
All right, think we're gonna make it
I think it might just work out right this time.
The Story: This song came out as Ronald Reagan was running for President. I swear, I thought that's what the lyrics were. I even had conversations with friends where I told them I couldn't believe they'd actually play that one the radio. They thought I was absolutely insane. - Submitted by: David Simpson
It's all right, Pingüino Rodriguez
Well, it's all right
I think we're gonna make it
The Story: Most of native hispanic speaker agree on that's actually what is heard, "pingüino Rodriguez" (peen-wee-noh-roh-dree-guess). - Submitted by: reaper
All of his life, he's mastered choice.
All of his life, he's masked his choice.
The Story: "He's mastered choice" or "his master's toys" and the like just make no sense and is ungrammatical. Can't believe so many go along with these. What I got is from Spotify and another credible site, and it makes a whole lot more sense and is grammatical. - Submitted by: Andrew Tan
All off his life his master's toys
All of his life he's mastered choice
The Story: I contacted Carole Bayer Sager through her IG account and asked her for the correct lyrics since she wrote them. It's definitely "All of his life he's mastered choice" - Submitted by: Albona
He's mastered choice.....
All of his life his master's toys.
The Story: Look at the sheet music it is masters toys.....additionally in the video there is a reason it shows the train set during that exact lyric. - Submitted by: RIch
When you get caught between the brew in New York City
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
The Story: Could have talked about beer! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Arthur, he does as he pleases
All of his life, his master’s toys
Arthur, he does as he pleases
All of his life, he’s mastered choice
The Story: Since the next line is “deep in his heart he’s just, he’s just a boy”, I thought the line before referred to Arthur playing with toys his father (״master”) got for him. - Submitted by: Mitch45
Ali Bhutto
I'll live alone.
The Story: I couldn't figure out what Ali Bhutto (then leader of Pakistan) was doing in this song. But try as I might, I couldn't make it not sound like "Ali Bhutto". Christopher Cross ran the words together the same way every time. - Submitted by: Mike Ransom
Knowing the land, touch me that way Way that you did that very first day
No one will ever touch me that way Way that you did that very first day
The Story: I thought with the song "Sailing" and with "Never Be The Same", I thought that Christopher Cross was trying to sound like Christopher Columbus!!! With "Knowing The Land, touch me that way" (or so I thought were the lyrics), and "Sailing", I thought he was trying to imitate Columbus. - Submitted by: Preston D.
Allez-vous-en
And try so hard to rise above.
I live alone
And try so hard to rise above.
The Story: The way he phrases it makes it impossible to understand. "Allez-vous-en" means "Go away" in French, so I thought it made sense. - Submitted by: Malbuff
And I've got such a long way to grow
(Such a long way to grow)
Connected to the border of Mexico
So I run like the wind
Run like the wind
And got such a long way to go
(Such a long way to go)
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I ride like the wind
Ride like the wind
The Story: The backing vocals, in parentheses, were provided by Michael McDonald, one of The Doobie Brothers. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
It was keeping time was all I had
Accused and tried and told to hang
The Story: I just keep hearing it that way. - Submitted by: Kerry
Naked to the border of Mexico
Make it to the border of Mexico
The Story: It seemed much more plausible to run like the wind if you were running naked ... - Submitted by: Ron Wilt
Oh, the Cavs can do miracles
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
The Story: I live in Cleveland, happen to be a fan of the local basketball team, and believe me, the Cleveland Cavaliers ('Cavs') cannot do miracles--especially this season! - Submitted by: Mark Speck
Sailing, takes me away to where I’ve always ribbit
Sailing, takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be
The Story: I was today years old when I learned the words “could be” were at the end of the line. They’re nearly impossible to make out without superhuman hearing. - Submitted by: Fred
When I'm sailing
All caught up in a web of lies
Every word is a symphony
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
The Story: Was listening to this on my iPod while waiting to fall asleep on Ambien, and this is what I heard! - Submitted by: John Wyncroft
'79
Say you'll be mine
The Story: It makes sense since he recorded this in 1979! - Submitted by: Cody Finke
Save your love for some n***er,
Some n***er'll come soon
Save your love for someday, girl,
Someday'll come soon
The Story: I had bought the "Best of" album, and didn't know about the song "Someday". I put it on in the car and didn't read the listing. Had to pull over to listen closely and check the title, as I couldn't believe anyone could write, let alone sell such a lyric. - Submitted by: David Conroy
Some n**** gon' sue
Someday'll come soon
The Story: I realize that the production values at the time lent themselves to lyrics being more easily misheard (Manfred Mann never being able to get "wrapped up like a douche" cleaned up better, for example), but... nobody thought to just re-record the whole thing with him taking extra care to sing the lyrics clearly? - Submitted by: Eric
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.