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!).
Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome album at Amazon.com
I've got a ??? big blue
or
I've got a ton of feet for you
I've got a toe to pick with you
The Story: None of the lyrics sites on the Web have this one right. Maybe it's an age thing, but it's a play on "I've got a bone to pick with you" and a reference to people picking their toes. This lyric has never been in question for me. - Submitted by: Huey Esquire
Just like the grinner
I need just a little more foot
Just like the drummer
I need just a little more foot
The Story: Virtually every lyrics site on the Web has this lyric wrong. Why would a grinner need more foot? I've always heard this lyric as "drummer," but then, I AM a drummer. Maybe I just intuited the lyric. - Submitted by: Huey Esquire
Mota, mota, mota boat
Help me find the boat.
or
Help me sing the song.
Most of all he needs the funk
Help him find the funk .
The Story: I was thinking he was trying to sing "motor boat". - Submitted by: Reggie Pillbox
Parliament's,
"Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)"
Now pick up the phone
Pick up the phone
Now pick up the phone
We gotta get the phone
Ow, we want the funk
Give up the funk
Ow, we need the funk
We gotta have that funk
The Story: Expanded version of the "Pick up the phone" misheard lyric on this website - Submitted by: Kristopher VerSteegt
Parliament's,
"Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)"
Ow, we want the bump
Give up the bump
Ow, we need the bump
We gotta have that bump.
Ow, we want the funk
Give up the funk
Ow, we need the funk
We gotta have that funk.
The Story: This song commonly used for the dance, "The Bump", in the 1970's. So mistaking "funk" for "bump" was not surprising. However, even when heard by itself such as in a recent TV commercial, the word is still often heard as "bump". - Submitted by: Brent Rehmel
Parliament's,
"Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)"
We got the fun
We got the funk
The Story: It could have easily sounded that way having to do with...well, you know. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
There are more Parliament misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.