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!).
Faith & Courage album at Amazon.com
But a poodle ain't no dog.
But I do know Mandinka.
The Story: I had recently run across a hidden mural along a hillside walkway in San Francisco involving, and dedicated to the memory of, someone's apricot teacup poodle, so poodle imagery was haunting me at the time. But it really does sound like Sinead says "But a poodle ain't no dog." - Submitted by: Mark Laube
He said, 'Go to bed and try and have fun
Don't matter what you do.'
He said, 'Girl, you better have fun
No matter what you do.'
The Story: I've heard this song countless times - I even bought the single when it came out - yet only today did I find I'd got the lyrics wrong. - Submitted by: Chris M
Like a virgin and a song
Like a bird without a song
The Story: Sounded like she made a reference to Madonna. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
They think I'm pissed
Nothing compares
The Story: Clearly the song loses the gravitas and heartfelt lyrics Sinead sincerely intended but was ravaged by paranoia that those to whom she spoke thought she was drunk (pissed in the British English sense) and so frustrated by being misunderstood. While not consistent with the narrative of the song she felt her anguish needed to be expressed frequently. Sadly the producers thought something more romantic was suitable and what was her otherwise charming Irish accent, though oft leading to the mistaken conclusion she was inebriated, was a virtue and she was helped to corne to terms with the fact the it wasn't entirely paranoia that people thought she was pissed but a whimsical misunderstanding not to get too upset about and they were soon disabused of their judgement of her sobriety by the intelligence and coherence that came through later in this and other songs and subsequent interviews. - Submitted by: Tom Fraser
Thanks for science with me
Thanks for silence with me
The Story: Once again, why we mishear "science" as "silence" and vice versa. - Submitted by: Cody Finke
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
