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!).
Music From Big Pink album at Amazon.com
whenever my mind's on Louise
and as my mind unweaves
The Story: I've wanted to get a look at this "Louise" for decades (until I saw the real lyrics). - Submitted by: das
The Band's,
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
I swear by the boy below my feet
I swear by the mud below my feet
The Story: Makes more sense - Submitted by: Stan
The Band's,
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
I took the train to Richmond that fell
By May the 10th, Richmond had fell
The Story: Baez's misreading of this and a few other lines in this song has long grated on my ear. - Submitted by: Franacine Geraci
The Band's,
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
You can't raise the cane back up
When it's in the field
You can't raise a Caine back up
When it's in defeat.
The Story: It make more sense than the original or any of the other versions. IMHO. He's a farmer raising sugar cane. Dead bodies lie horizontal in the field. Duh. - Submitted by: Catherine MacLeod
The Band's,
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
You can't sprained the cane back up when it's in the feed
You can't raise a Caine back up
When it's in defeat.
The Story: It made sense at the time - Submitted by: Bonnie
The Band's,
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
you can't raise a Caine when he's in defeat..
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in the feed..
The Story: These are the lyrics if you open your ears, unless otherwise indicated on the original LP - Submitted by: John M
My bags are sinking, Lord
My bag is sinkin' low
The Story: I thought the line meant he was tired - Submitted by: Anonymous
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load off, Annie.
The Story: There is no "official website" while the writer is no longer with us his widow says it's Annie. - Submitted by: Stacey
Then I saw Carmen and Adele were walkin' side by side.
Then I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
The Story: I bet a guy in a bar $5 that I was right. Unfortunately, he had a laptop computer with him, with which he was able to look it up. - Submitted by: E. Stone
Wait a minute Chester, I'm a peaceful man
Wait a minute Chester, I'm a people man
The Story: The line makes more sense using "I'm a people man" referring to his concern of taking on a dog. The word peaceful is commonly used, but doesn't really make sense. - Submitted by: Steve
Please, notify my next of kin, this WILL shall explode.
Wheels on fire,
Rolling down the road.
Best notify my next of kin,
This wheel shall explode.
The Story: I always sang it like I see it in lyrics here online. "Best my next of kin, this wheel shall explode" BUT just singing in the shower I mistakenly (or did I) sing "Please, notify my next of kin, this WILL shall explode!" Think about it. It makes more sense. - Submitted by: BRIAN D YOUNG
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
