Have you ever listened to a song and heard some lyric that made you go – “say what?”
Photo courtesy Google Images
When I first heard the song Royals by Lorde, I was like “WTF?” In my ears the chorus sounds something like this “And we’ll never be royals, it’s a wooden ob a long.” I hear that song a lot (unfortunately) and I have no idea what most of those lyrics are. I suppose it’s because she’s British. Anyway, I finally looked up the lyrics and my first thought was “WTF?” I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh? I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies? Seriously, WTF? I still don’t understand the lyrics.
And it’s not just pop music, the latest song by country sensation Dierks Bentley, Drunk on a Plane, same deal. I hear, “The stewardess is salt and sexy.” Salt and sexy? What does that mean? Turns out, the stewardess is somethin’ sexy. That makes more sense, but I still hear salt and sexy. And, Mr. Bentley, it’s no longer socially acceptable to refer to female flight attendants as stewardesses. Perhaps that’s what threw me off.
And David Nail’s song Let It Rain, has a lyric that sounds like “sled it come down on me.” Come on people – diction. So – let – it – come- down – on – me. When sung properly, it makes more sense. I understand if you’re Bob Dylan, then slurring is expected, but otherwise, let’s enunciate so we’re not misunderstood.
Photo courtesy Google Images
Another example is from the Eagles hit, Hotel California. I always thought they said “she lit up a Camel.” Turns out what she lit was a candle. She’s not smoking unfiltered cigarettes, she’s lighting the way. It’s craziness I tell you.
I am glad to know that it’s not just me, though, who has this trouble. There are quite a few YouTube videos about misleading song lyrics, but here’s one I found particularly amusing. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out this link. It’s really funny. I promise you’ll smile. The one about the Rolling Stones is especially humorous.
What song lyrics have you listened to over and over again trying to figure out what was being said? What song have you been singing wrong for a very long time? Please share, I’d love to know that I’m not alone in this mish mash of misunderstood song lyrics.
Word of the Day: Verasion
Fun fact about me: I can sing both alto and soprano so just put me where you need me in the choir.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, July 2014. Video courtesy YouTube. Photos courtesy Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
I hear things that sound wierd, too. I think it is because I am not really listening or it could be the vocalist… I worked in a record store as a teen in the late 70s. Grown ups (my current age) would come in and sing a song or hum the tune and try to find the song to purchase. Most of the time I could figure it out – and I vowed I would never become a grown up like that – but guess what? I did!
LikeLike
Oh Clay, drat that fate and the cursed growing up! I remember thinking many times as a youngster that I would never be like my parents, yet here I am, practicing what they preached.
It’s not uncommon for vocalists to slur. As a trained vocalist, we were hammered with diction exercises daily so I think I’m a little more in-tune with the “others” who should know better but don’t. Sometimes what we hear is really funny when we find out what was actually said.
Thanks for stopping by today, Clay. Have a wonderful week.
Patricia
LikeLike
I so agree with you, Patricia. I don’t enjoy a song when I strain to figure out what they are saying. You know me, I have no idea what the names are to the ones that irritate me. I don’t remember titles, barely remember my name sometimes. 😉
LikeLike
Ah Paisley so nice to see your lovely face again. I hope you’re getting settle in up there in Tomahawk. I miss you but am happy to see you over here at the Edge of Eternity.
Song lyrics can be challenging in certain genres, but artists really need to pay attention when they are performing. Especially in the recording studio. If ever there is a time to speak clearly, it’s when the track if being laid down for the world to hear. Concerts are a little different because acoustics can mess up the sound, but in the recording studio – get it right.
Thanks for stopping by today. So good to see you.
Patricia
LikeLike
Great post, Patricia! My cousins and I used to argue over the lyrics of “You’re the One that I Want”–you know, the song from Grease. My cousins believed wholeheartedly the chorus was “Doo wab a doo, do wab a doobie doo”. Granted, they’re from Nebraska where pop music isn’t the norm, but please. It’s in the freakin’ title, boys!
LikeLike
Well CJ, your Nebraska kin need to clean the wax out of their ears. When the lyrics are the actual song title, it’s easier to understand, but not always. In that particular case, I’d have to really squint hard to not hear the title.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic week. I shall miss not being able to meet you at the RWA conference, but one of these days we’ll hook up. Even if I have to drive to Oregon to do it.
Patricia
LikeLike
Yes! Enjoy the RWA conference doubly for me! I’m tentatively planning to go next year in NY.
LikeLike
When I was little, I thought Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” was “Running Down a Drain” and I could not be conviced otherwise until I was much older. I’m glad I’m not the only one that doesn’t always know what artists are singing. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a good one, Jessica. I’ll bet you were wondering what the heck that song was about. You are not the only one that’s for sure.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
LikeLike
Oh man, some of these are really funny! One on my favorite band’s newest album has been bugging me for a while – it sounds like they’re saying “chuck, charge.” I just looked it up and it’s actually “depth charge.” Who knew? (Yeah, I listen to weird stuff LOL).
LikeLike
I kind of like chuck, charge. Let’s my imagination go on a fantastic journey trying to figure out that one.
I enjoyed that video. I like the Lion King one alot. I snicker just thinking about that. And I’ll never be able to listen to the opening of that show in the same way again.
Some singers have terrible diction, especially at concerts. That’s one of the reasons I don’t go to concerts. I’d prefer listening to the better quality recordings.
Thanks for stopping by, Jennette.
Patricia
LikeLike
Another thing we have in common! I mishear lyrics all the time–and am completely comfortable singing something that makes no sense. Like I sang Fiona Apple’s lyric, “Feeling like a criminal” as “Feeling like a gribbon.” 🙂 I also thought your word of the day, Veraison was Verizon at first glance. Oh well.
LikeLike
“Feeling like a gribbon?” Nice. How does a gribbon feel?
Thanks for sharing Coleen. I love that I am not the only one with this problem.
Patricia
LikeLike
I have this same problem with Brittish movies. I can’t understand a bloody word they’re saying! You’d think, since I’m English on all 4 sides of my family, I would somehow have inherited the ability to understand “proper” English. Sadly not.
LikeLike
I hear ya Suzanne. Those Brits have a cute accent, but you have no idea what they’re saying. Let alone what they’re singing.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope things are good in your world.
Patricia
LikeLike
First, Susie sent me. Second, it cracks me up reading misheard lyrics!
LikeLike
Hi Emily and welcome to The Edge of Eternity. Susie has a way of making everyone feel like a friend.
Is is amusing to find out what is really being said sometimes, especially when you’ve been singing it wrong for years.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
LikeLike
So funny! We all do this! I so rarely look them up even though all lyrics are online.
“PENNSYLVANIA!!!!”
Thanks for coming to the party! They always become ragers so you’re never too late.
LikeLike
Hi Susie. Wasn’t the video funny? I loved that Lion King one and the Rolling Stones Yugoslavia one. They killed me.
Thanks for throwing another fun party. It’s nice to step out an meet new folks once in a while.
Patricia
LikeLike
Tanya Tucker is one of my favs, since I’m a classic country fan. In her song “Delta Dawn,” she sings about a man of “low degree,” but it always sounded like “low reprieve” to me, which made no sense. I had to look up the lyrics to find what the word was.
BTW, thanks for following Susie Lindau’s link to my blog. I’m subscribing to yours.
LikeLike
Hi Dave and thanks for visiting and subscribing. I love new followers. I hope you’ll find something amusing or helpful when you visit.
Tanya Tucker is classic old school country, which I too love. That twang can make understanding hard though. I’ve had to look up some lyrics on occasion because I couldn’t understand why the artist chose a particular phrase. Then when I found out what they were actually saying, it all became clear. Funny how that happens.
Thanks again for visiting and I look forward to seeing you again. I usually blog on Mondays and try to include games and prizes at least once a month. You could win an Amazon or i-tunes gift card just for participating. No special skill required.
Patricia
LikeLike
Thanks, Patricia. I’ll be back to your site.
LikeLike
A friend of mine once called me on my cell phone. When I clicked over to answer, she was singing along to my ringback tones….”Mustang salad!” I asked her what she’d just said & she told me she was singing along to the song I had playing…”You know, Mustang Salad.” My response, “What the hell’s a Mustang Salad?” I was cracking up as I explained that the actual lyrics were “Mustang Sally.”
LikeLike
OMG that’s too funny! We’ve all had those moments I guess, where we just sing what we hear even though we know that can’t possibly be what the artist meant. So we don’t know what the heck a mustang salad is but we sing it loud and proud anyway. Love it!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing. I’m going to remember this one for a while.
Patricia
LikeLike