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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 120 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Misheard Lyrics
Bryan Ferry. "Let's Stick Together" was a hit for Bryan Ferry (sans Roxy Music) in 1976. The film clip featured his then fiancee Jerry Hall in a tiger costume!
Simon & Garfunkel. From the song "Scarborough Fair", the partial chorus "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" is the subject of this mis-heard lyric. Whilst the tune was popularised by Simon & Garfunkel, it has also been covered extensively, by such artists as Sergio Mendes, Queensryche, Roger Whittaker, Nana Mouskouri and Marianne Faithful.
The song is not written by Simon & Garfunkel, as many think, but rather, is an adaptation of a traditional English ballad.
Fifth Dimension. Perhaps better known for ""Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and "Up, Up And Away", the Fifth Dimension's last major chart hit was 1972's "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All". The Fifth Dimension featured the beautiful vocal talents of Marilyn McCoo.
Herman's Hermits. Shades of Lola! Herman's Hermits' "A Must To Avoid" was one of a string of hits for the group in the 60's.
| "I guess Lorraine's found the Paprika" sounds like an answer to a kitchen-based problem! The original was sung more correctly by which group? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics
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Toto. Good old Lorraine! From the album Toto IV, Toto's "Africa" was a hit in early 1983. The song was featured in the movie "Ed" in 2000.
Bobby Fuller Four. "I Fought The Law", perhaps best known for the version by The Bobby Fuller Four, has also been covered by such notables as Johnny Cash, The Greatful Dead, Waylon Jennings, Tom Petty, John Cougar Mellencamp, Green Day, Bryan Adams and the Clash.
According to en.wikipedia.org : "In 1989, when the U.S. Marines had Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega confined to a a church and were attempting to flush him out, one psychological tactic they used was to play "I Fought the Law" loudly and repeatedly from loudspeakers. When presidential press secretary Marlin Fitzwater was asked about the appropriateness of this at a press conference, he replied to the effect that it was a refreshing illustration of Americans' sense of humor".
| "As Weirs Go Dry" could be a song about a drought. The group that sang the original song certainly didn't suffer from any drought of talent. Who were they? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics
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Rolling Stones. "As Tears Go By" by the Rolling Stones was also a hit for Marianne Faithful.
| "I've Hedgery That's Shaped, I Have" is a cutting little number. No, it was not done by Billy Shears! Who sang the correctly named version? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics
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Herman's Hermits. "I'm Henry The 8th, I Am" by Herman's Hermits. Hmmm. A nice little number if you hear it once every ten years but easily grates on your nerves if heard more frequently. It was used to exactly that effect in the movie "Ghost", when Patrick Swayze sung it repeatedly until he convinced Whoopi Goldberg to give in and listen to him. If you thought Peter Noone (Herman) was irritating singing it, try Patrick Swayze attempting a quasi-British accent!
This song, along with "Mrs Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" were reportedly highly disliked by the band from a musical standpoint, so much so that they did not release either tune as a single in their home country.
| "Have You Dreamed Of Udders Lately, Handling All The Cattle?" is a parenthetical mish-mash of the original title by which British band? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics
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Rolling Stones. "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?" is a Rolling Stones song which appears on their 1966 album Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass).
It was the first Stones song to include brass and like The Beatles' "I Feel Fine", it incorporates guitar feedback .
Eagles. "Take It Easy" was the first hit for The Eagles in 1972, reaching number 12 on the U.S. charts.
Of course, with the twisted title above, it would sound something more like this:
"Well I'm runnin' to the shop
Tryin' to purchase some pop
I got chips and salsa on my mind
Standing in the check out
Think my brains'll fall out
Lookin' at Enquirer headlines
Make it sleazy, make it sleazy
Don't add a modicum of truth
Keep it hazy"
Alice Cooper. "I Never Cry" was a hit for Alice Cooper in the mid-70's, from his album "Alice Cooper Goes To Hell". It was a departure for him at the time to release a single that was a ballad. He enjoyed such success that when he released his next album "Lace And Whiskey", he released another ballad, "You And Me". Both of the songs were big hits.
The alternate lyrics:
"I have a fear of airspace
It makes me shiver, quake and groan - it freaks me babe
It makes my heart race to get caught way up high
So you know I never fly
I never fly"
Bonnie Tyler. "It's A Heartache" - Bonnie Tyler
I can just hear Bonnie Tyler warbling with that gravelly voice of hers, singing:
"Oh, it's a charred steak
Beefy, I can't par-take
Stuff it - I'll have corn flakes
Jett'son this Mad Cow...
Oh, it's a hard steak
Wish instead, I'd hotcakes
Coupled with a clambake
Hot and golden brown"
Rolling Stones. "Angie", by the Rolling Stones, is from their album "Goat's Head Soup". Who can forget the film clip for this song where the boys sat still and played and sang, with red roses threaded through the strings of their guitars? I was left with the distinct impression that that not all of them thought it was the greatest idea...
Change it to "Ganges" and all of a sudden the love is gone:
"Ganges, Ganges
When was your water crystal clear?
Ganges, Ganges
Wending, it breeds stuff severe"
America. America's 1975 hit "Sister Golden Hair" was their second number one hit in the U.S. following "A Horse With No Name" in 1972.
Perhaps America considered lyrics such as these before coming up with their final version:
"Well I pried this shaky lawn chaise
But I guess the hinges stressed
And it’s left me kind of stunned, hey?
‘Cus it happened while undressed
It was made down in Gibraltar
Shoddy workmanship’s a crime
Now this furniture attacks me all the time"
| A jump back into the 60's for this one. "Little Harrows" sounds a little too agricultural. The original was essentially a love song, with a comic twist. Who sung it? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics - Part 2
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Leapy Lee. "Little Arrows" was Leapy Lee's biggest hit, making it to number one in no less than 18 countries in 1968. Although not a genuine one-hit wonder, very few people can recall anything else he did. Leapy had two other number one singles in South Africa and Australia.
"Little Arrows" was kept from making number one in Britain by some obscure band who released a song named "Hey Jude"!
"Little harrows numbers growing
Little harrows plowed in pairs
When viewed above you'll spy
There's little harrows everywhere
Little harrows that will split the grass
On it, our crops depend
Little harrows that are neat, not shoddy
Every plowman's zen!"
Beatles. Truth be known, I am responsible, after all, I came up with the alternate words!
A 1965 Beatles release as a double A-sided single with "We Can Work It Out", "Day Tripper" was a song about a girl who advertised more than she was perhaps willing to provide.
Alternately, the subject of "Grey Stripper" is perhaps willing to provide more than the average consumer would prefer:
"She's an old geezer
She took it off, laid it bare
She's into wheezing
Started to cough, I got scared now"
Carole King. Carole King's "It's Too Late" is from her wonderful album "Tapestry".
With the alternate version, it demonstrates the potential perils of choosing whether to get out of bed on the left side, or the right side...:
"Woke up with a warning buzzer in my mind
Sensed something wrong here, or my day planner's lying
Did some misarranging, 'cus two names are popped on one line"
Uh oh! This is a problem!
The Police. "Message In A Bottle" by The Police is a song about loneliness, isolation and anonymity. The alternate title listed in the question looks like it is more about people who want to stay anonymous!
| "I Want To Be Given All Of My Coke Free" is a great concept, but it is nonetheless a mis-heard title (it's sad, I know). The singers of the correct 1973 song is which group? | Mis-heard Song Titles or Lyrics - Part 2
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Tony Orlando & Dawn. "Tie A Yellow Ribbon (Round The Ole Oak Tree)" by Tony Orlando & Dawn, about an ex-convict returning to his wife/girlfriend, has since become part of popular culture. In the 1980's yellow ribbons were placed around trees in the U.S. in remembrance of the Iran hostages. Since then, many causes have adopted the 'ribbon' (albeit not necessarily yellow) as a symbol of unity.
Contrastingly, my changed version is totally based on my own experiences and selfish desires:
"I want to be given all of my coke free
Drinkin' it for years
I think they owe me (they owe me)
If they don't end up givin' me that ole Coke free
I'll say it's unjust
Curse and I'll cuss
Chuck a huge wobbly
But you won't see me drinkin' from a can of that Pepsi"
| In the ever popular Jimi Hendrix hit "Purple Haze", is this line correct: "Excuse me while I kiss this guy"? | Say What? Misheard Lyrics
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No. "Purple Haze" was arguably Hendrix's best hit. Legions of fans believed this to be the correct line. Actually, it was "Excuse me while I kiss the sky".
I was a high school loser, never made it with the ladies. "Walk This Way" was from Aerosmith's third album "Toys In The Attic". It is about high school romance, or lack thereof.
Queen. The correct line from Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was "Beezlebub has a devil put aside for me". Another often misunderstood lyric from the song was "Scaramouche".
| Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" was one of the most misunderstood songs of all time. Which lyric from this song is correct? | Say What? Misheard Lyrics
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If there's a bustle in your Hedgerow don't be alarmed now. The correct lyrics to this super power ballad are as follows: "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold", "'cause you know sometimes words have two meanings". "And as we wind on down the road". Another frequently misheard line in the song is "There's a feeling I get when I look to the west".
I went to church incognito, when everybody rose, the Reverend Smith he recognized me, and punched me in the nose. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" was from Alice cooper's 1973 album "Billion Dollar Babies".
I watched with glee while your kings and queens fought for ten decades for the gods they made. The correct lyrics were as follows: "Killed the czar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in vain". "Just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints". "Use all your well learned politesse or I'll lay your soul to waste".
| In Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", I used to sing,
"Sends shivers down my spine
And I'm aching all the time"
What should I have been singing? | Have Fun with Misheard Lyrics
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Body's aching all the time. "Bohemian Rhapsody" was written by Freddie Mercury of Queen, and it was released as a single in 1975. An interesting feature of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is that it has no chorus.
In 1977, "Bohemian Rhapsody" was named "The Best Single of the Last 25 Years" by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
"Bohemian Rhapsody" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
| "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John is another song that I didn't understand properly. What are the proper words to this song? | Have Fun with Misheard Lyrics
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Hold me closer, tiny dancer. "Tiny Dancer" was released as a single in 1971. Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics for many of Elton John's songs, wrote the lyrics for "Tiny Dancer". The song was written about one of Elton John's dancers, who later married Bernie Taupin.
| Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville" is a fun song, but for some reason, Jimmy's words are hard to understand at times. Do you know the correct words to this line? | Have Fun with Misheard Lyrics
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"Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt. "Margaritaville" was released as a single in 1977. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Alan Jackson did a cover of "Margaritaville" on his 1999 album entitled "Under the Influence", and Jimmy Buffet sang on the last verse of the song with Alan Jackson.
| This song by Queen is sometimes sometimes played as a joke at weddings. If you sing along, be sure to sing the proper words. What are the proper words, which are also the title of the song? | Have Fun with Misheard Lyrics
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Another one bites the dust. "Another One Bites the Dust" was released in 1980. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song also reached number two on the R&B charts. Over seven million copies of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" have been sold.
| This song by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons caused an ongoing argument between my sister and me. She kept insisting that they were singing, "Requesting Quiet". What were they really singing? | Have Fun with Misheard Lyrics
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Big girls don't cry. "Big Girls Don't Cry" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November of 1962 and stayed there for five weeks.
"Big Girls Don't Cry" was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. Gaudio apparently got his inspiration for the song from a line in the 1955 movie "Tennessee's Partner", which featured Ronald Reagan.
There's a bad moon on the rise.. "Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise."
"Bad Moon Rising" was released by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1969, and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The lyrics for this song, written by John Fogarty, were inspired by a 1941 movie entitled "The Devil And Daniel Webster", in which a hurricane wipes out most of a town.
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