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You Got the Lyrics Wrong


Has anyone here experienced realizing that you completely misunderstood the lyrics of a song only after singing them out loud in front of someone else?

Case in point: I was driving around with my wife today listening to Radiohead's "Sulk." I sang out loud what I thought were the lyrics from the song, "sometimes you suuuucccck, sometimes you blooow," looked at her and said that sounds like you honey. She rolled her eyes and said, "ha ha. Funny." Knowing that these gestures on her part sometimes indicate she's annoyed, I defended myself and said I was just singing the song.

That's when she pointed out that Thom Yorke was actually saying, "sometimes you sulk, sometimes you burn." Mind blown. I've listened to The Bends for about 30 years now and thought that's how the song went the entire time.

Anyway, I thought I'd share that experience here. Has anyone else had a similar circumstance where you didn't realize you misunderstood lyrics until you said them in front of someone and had it pointed out to you?

Radiohead's Sulk for reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SLb6BdCHlE

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Who could forget the unforgettable ballad: "Hold me closer, Tony Danza"!

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Classic Tiny Dancer. I'm still convinced that's what he actually says there.

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MY FATHER...AN EX SINGER AND HIPPIE...SWEARS THE LYRIC IN BLINDED BY THE LIGHT IS WRAPPED UP LIKE A DOUCHE UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT.

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I had to look that up for a refresher, but if I heard that song without access to the lyrics I'd probably agree with him.

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I've certainly misheard lyrics, but not having a decent singing voice (quite awful actually) I don't think I ever was caught out like that.

I could never figure out these [bolded] lyrics to Tin Man (America) until I read them, and even then, sources differ. https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-tin-man-by-america/

When I say I'm spinning round, round, round, round
Smoke glass stain bright color
Image going down, down, down, down
Soap suds green light bubbles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGl4PP9xaaQ&t=65s

I hear sud not suds, but according to the article it is plural
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I must be they only one who ever misheard
"Keep on with the force"
as
"Keep on with the post office"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURRmWtbTbo&t=71s

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Sound of Music, Do Re Mi:
Tea, I drink with German bread
I've been singing it that way since a child.
Actual lyrics, "Tea, I drink with jam and bread"

Taylor Swift, Blank Space:
Calling all the Starbucks lovers
Actual lyrics, "Gotta long list of ex lovers"

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Mine was: Every body plays the flute...

When I first heard the song in the 90s, as a kid, my sister started playing flute in the school band.

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https://youtu.be/H87yGvoCNHU?si=Mg71EE7hV63GZ40p

Bananarama - Robert De Niro's waiting.

For years I thought they were singing "Robert De Niro's waiting, told me to tell you"

The line is actually "talking Italian".

It seems so obvious watching the the video, but on the radio I always heard it wrong.

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Self Control by Laura Brannigan I always thought it was "city light, painted gold". It's really painted girl.


Also Helicoptero by Grupo BIP...I thought it was "Sorry better kill me". It's really Sorry pero excuse me.

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When I was a kid I would say “painted squirrel.” Lol

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That's awesome

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Close to the end of the Spandau Ballet song “True,” the chorus says “this much is true, this much is true.” I heard that song under the perfect conditions once, and I thought they were saying “this guy is trippin, this guy is trippin.”

That one has always stuck with me. :)

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