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!).
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits album at Amazon.com
If you wanna run cool
You got to have
A very early funeral.
If you wanna run cool
You got to run
On heavy, heavy fuel.
The Story: The song's lyrics are about smoking, drinking, and overeating. So it was natural for me to think that the song suggested that dying early (and thus, having a 'very early funeral') was cool. - Submitted by: J.c.j.p.n
Money for nothin' and your chips for free.
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free.
The Story: My sister and I caused my parents years of fun in the car by singing the wrong thing. The sadistic people never corrected us. :D - Submitted by: Clare Dennison
Cheques for free
Chicks for free
The Story: In my 6 year-old innocence, I asked my mom what the big deal was about getting cheques for free. Exasperated, she explained that the correct lyric was 'chicks'. Puzzled, I asked her if 'chicks' weren't always free. - Submitted by: Andrea
Get your money for nothing,
and potato chips for free
Get your money for nothing,
and the chicks for free
The Story: When this song came out, I was about 3 or 4, and I loved it so much I would sing along. My mom decided it would be cute (and more appropriate) to teach me 'potato chips for free' instead of 'chicks for free' and I didn't actually find out what the real lyrics were until I was 10. Thanks mom ;P - Submitted by: Justine
And masturbating makes you strong.
The man's too big, the man's too strong.
The Story: I first heard this song from someone's home-made cassette tape. Sound quality left something to be desired, the person didn't copy any song titles or lyrics, and Mark Knofpler is notorious for mumbling anyway. Funny how the first thing you think you're hearing can stick in your mind and turn you deaf to what is really sung. Although I realized I'd probably heard it wrong, it took a while before I got to read the actual lyrics. - Submitted by: Leon
Twistin' Podoboo
Twistin' by the pool
The Story: A Podoboo is a fire creature that jumps out of lava pits in Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers. I first heard this song when I was very young and at that time I was very big into Nintendo games. - Submitted by: Alex Lawrence
Here comes Johnny saying 'Go Leafs Go'
You gotta hear it baby what I say
Here comes Johnny saying I got a woman
Down in the corners trying to make a play
He got the action, he got the motion
Oh yeah, the boy can play
Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies
Be-Bop-A-Lula, Baby What I Say
Here comes Johnny singing I Gotta Woman
Down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay
The Story: I'm from Toronto, and a huge fan of the Leafs, especially the real heart and soul guys like Dougie and Wendel, and chances are I leapt to this odd little conclusion somewhere around playoff time. Seriously though, the song starts out with organ music, and where are you going to hear an organ anymore other than at a hockey game? Who talks about dedication and devotion more than coaches or hockey commentators? I just figured it was about some old time Leaf legend, some true blue and white hero of decades past. I figured 'the walk on by' must be this Johnny guy's patented bit of stick-handling. Not even sure I like the song now that I know the true lyrics. Well, at least I have the Rheostatics 'Ballad of Wendel Clark' to keep me happy. - Submitted by: Ed C
I don’t know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your lips drip.
I don’t know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick.
The Story: I had a recording of this song when I was a student and did not know it's title. That is, until some years later when my wife burst out laughing when I asked her if she knew the lips drip song. - Submitted by: Glen Warburton
There are more Dire Straits misheard lyrics available.
New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Karen. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.
Disclaimer: amIright.com makes no claims to the accuracy of the correct lyrics.
All correct lyrics are copyrighted, amIright.com does not claim ownership of the original lyrics.
