Misheard Song Lyrics -> Stories -> Elton John
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!).
Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002 album at Amazon.com
Elton John's, "A Word In Spanish"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I got a road atlas for Christmas.
The Real Lyrics:
I got a romance we could christen.
The Story: This song came out when I was 10 years old, and I remember listening to it. I also remember hearing part of the song before the chorus where he really sings 'I've got a romance we could christen.' Anyway, I was looking at this road atlas with enthusiasm hoping to get it for a Christmas present when I was 10. In fact, the song 'A Word in Spanish' was running through my mind as I was paging through it. For years, while I hardly heard this song on the radio much after '88 was over, I kept thinking, he was singing 'I got a road atlas for Christmas,' just because I did. So the story goes... - Submitted by: Tim
Elton John's, "Amazes Me "
The Misheard Lyrics:
I'm drifting in your doodoo
And it amazes me.
or
I'm dripping in your doodoo
And it amazes me.
or
I'm drifting in your voodoo
And it amazes me.
And it amazes me.
or
I'm dripping in your doodoo
And it amazes me.
or
I'm drifting in your voodoo
And it amazes me.
The Real Lyrics:
I'm drifting in your hoodoo
And it amazed me .
And it amazed me .
The Story: I was in a store shopping, with this playing on the loudspeaker. I heard what sounded like 'I'm drifting in your doodoo', but I thought surely he must be saying 'voodoo' instead. I asked the cashier if she knew what song it was or who was singing it. She told me she thought it was called 'Amazes Me', and it was by Elton John. I quickly searched for lyrics on the computer before I would forget the title, and I found lyrics that way. Turns out neither 'doodoo' nor voodoo' was correct! - Submitted by: Edyth Bowen
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
B-B-B and his guests
The Real Lyrics:
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
The Story: It was a friend's little sister who sang this version; and we never let her forget it. - Submitted by: K Hawkins
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
B-B-B-Bennie and the checks
The Real Lyrics:
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets
The Story: A now defunct teen humor magazine called "Bananas", drew some parodies of album covers (wa-a-a-ay before Amiright started doing it). The one cover featuring Elton John (which they titled "Songs That Made Me Richer Than Anyone") had a song listed as "Bennie and The Checks". Naturally, I thought Elton was really singing this instead of "Bennie and the Jets", me being only 12 at the time of the magazine's issue. (On a related note, "Bananas" also did a mock album cover by Stevie Wonder, titled "Songs That Made Me Richer Than Elton John"). - Submitted by: Kid
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Daddy in a dress
The Real Lyrics:
Bennie and the Jets
The Story: I was in the car with my friend, Barbara and her older sister. I made the mistake of telling her sister what I thought the song said. She laughed so hard, she cried. I was thirteen at the time and was embarassed! - Submitted by: Leah Joseph
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hey, kids, welcome to the famous
Place in Atlanta, where Bennie makes his millions.
Place in Atlanta, where Bennie makes his millions.
The Real Lyrics:
Hey, kids, plug into the faithless
They may be blinded, but Bennie makes 'em ageless.
They may be blinded, but Bennie makes 'em ageless.
The Story: One of my favourite songs for 33 years, I only learned what he was really saying when I googled the lyrics this morning. It's weird to find out that what you were hearing wasn't really what was in the song, especially after singing along to it across four decades. - Submitted by: Eric Liming
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh Ben, she's Loretta King.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh Bennie, she's really keen.
The Story: I actually know a Loretta King, so the lyrics seemed really strange to me until I looked them up online. I still can't hear 'really keen' no matter how many times I listen to the song. - Submitted by: E.H.
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh Betty, she's a red arcade.
She's got electric boobs,
Come on Jesús
You know I read it in a magazine, oh oh,
B-B-B-Betty and the Jitz
She's got electric boobs,
Come on Jesús
You know I read it in a magazine, oh oh,
B-B-B-Betty and the Jitz
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots
a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
Bennie and the Jets
a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
Bennie and the Jets
The Story: My niece is OBSESSED with Elton John, and she is 6. So one day she was wandering around singing this, but no one was paying attention. Then, on Christmas, our whole family (roughly 50 or so people) was sitting around listening to the kids put on a karaoke contest, my fiance is a DJ, so he had the Elton John karaoke. When Aimee got up to sing Bennie and the Jets she sang the above lyrics and mouths started dropping. She wasn't looking at the screen, she was just singing. Hehe. It was too cute! - Submitted by: Ace
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh but the weird and the wonderful
Oh Betty she’s a ready cane.
She’s got electric boots a mohawk too.
You know it's redder than a pack of angels.
Oh Betty she’s a ready cane.
She’s got electric boots a mohawk too.
You know it's redder than a pack of angels.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie she's really keen.
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, whoa, ho!
Oh Bennie she's really keen.
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, whoa, ho!
The Story: My friends used to laugh at me when I sang these lyrics. I was the Clown of 8th grade goin around singing 'redder than a pack of angels' - Submitted by: Dan Bridge
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh, Betty is really clean
She's got electric boobs, a mohawk suit
You know away-eeeeeeeeen
She's got electric boobs, a mohawk suit
You know away-eeeeeeeeen
The Real Lyrics:
Oh, Bennie, she's really keen
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine.
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine.
The Story: cracking up about "electric boobs" once we found out the real lyrics. - Submitted by: Danni
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs and mohair tubes.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit.
The Story: This lyric was suggested to me by my mother. It was she who always thought the lyrics were when she was younger. - Submitted by: Sean Smith
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs, her mom does too.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit.
The Story: I was 13 years old when this song came out, My friend Tom thought that the 'electric boobs' thing was right. Back in 1973, what did we know???? - Submitted by: mark
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs
Her mom has two
or
She's got electric boobs, a mohawk too.
or
She's got electric boobs and mohair pubes.
or
She's got electric boobs, I know her do.
or
She's gotta let me booze, I know her too.
or
She's got electric boobs - I know, Jesus.
or
She's got electric boobs, I know her do.
Her mom has two
or
She's got electric boobs, a mohawk too.
or
She's got electric boobs and mohair pubes.
or
She's got electric boobs, I know her do.
or
She's gotta let me booze, I know her too.
or
She's got electric boobs - I know, Jesus.
or
She's got electric boobs, I know her do.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit.
The Story: My wife's friend used to sing this at the top of her lungs while the girls were riding in the car in high-school. She really thought the lyrics went that way. Must have been pretty funny to see! - Submitted by: Jeff Ream
Elton John's, "Bennie And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got eletric boots, my mom wears boots.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric blues, a mohair suit.
The Story: My mom's employer was listening to the radio and that song came on. All the sudden he started to sing it and she heard him singing that version. She immediately called me and told me. We laughed for ever! - Submitted by: callan
Elton John's, "Bennie and The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs, and mower shoes
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
The Story: I heard it on the Love 105 radio station in Minneapolis, MN. I was in the car with my dad, and when I heard the song lyrics that I messed up, I said "Electric boobs?!" And my dad turned around and looked at me like I was crazy! - Submitted by: Leigh
Elton John's, "Bennie and the Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got eleven boobs.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots.
The Story: Umm, I am not a prevert. I swear. I just heard a live version of this song and couldnt' quite make out (any of) the lyrics. I heard this and started cracking up. The mental image is disturbing, but interesting nonetheless. - Submitted by: ugar the unclean
Elton John's, "Benny & The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs, her mom has too
You know I read it in a magazine.
You know I read it in a magazine.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine.
You know I read it in a magazine.
The Story: This was from a girl I knew when I lived in San Francisco. She heard me singing the right lyrics, told me I was wrong and it took me an hour to convince her it wasn't electric boobs and her mom didn't have any either! - Submitted by: Eamonn Corbally
Elton John's, "Benny & The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots.
The Story: My friend Jessica was driving and I know and sing every word on a 70's& 80's radio station, and she heard this song and said 'this song is very weird, how do you have electric boobs?' - Submitted by: JESSICA
Elton John's, "Benny And The Jets"
The Misheard Lyrics:
She's got electric boobs, a molar suit.
The Real Lyrics:
She's got electric boots, a mohair suit.
The Story: It took singing it this way out loud, in front of my parents, before I learned I was wrong. - Submitted by: Katie
Elton John's, "Blessed"
The Misheard Lyrics:
You, me babe
The Real Lyrics:
You'll be blessed
The Story: - Submitted by: amiright
Elton John's, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?"
The Misheard Lyrics:
It's enough for the wide band underwear.
The Real Lyrics:
It's enough for this wide eyed wanderer.
The Story: My roommate has a very small modest music studio in our basement. Between projects, my 9 year old likes to ask him to record her singing, and he always says o.k. She wanted to do 'The Lion King Song', so he laid a quick piano track and let her sing to it. Most of the entire song was wrong, but this line was the funniest. - Submitted by: christine
Elton John's, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?"
The Misheard Lyrics:
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Leave their feathered beds.
Leave their feathered beds.
The Real Lyrics:
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best.
Believe the very best.
The Story: I never quite understood how a vagabond would have a feathered bed to leave in the first place. - Submitted by: Kira
Elton John's, "Candle In The Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
A voodoo liked to know you
But I was just a king.
But I was just a king.
The Real Lyrics:
I would have liked to know you
But I was just a kid.
But I was just a kid.
The Story: This is a song I first learned from hearing karaoke singers do it. Then when I first heard the original Elton John version, I found he doesn't enunciate a lot of the words as clearly as a lot of karaoke singers do! So phrases such as the above are ones I already knew the real lyrics to, but thought his own version sounded more like the misheard version that I cite! - Submitted by: Samantha Wayland
Elton John's, "Candle In The Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like an elf in the snow.
Like an elf in the snow.
The Real Lyrics:
And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Like a candle in the wind.
The Story: I've always thought they were the real lyrics (believe it or not). Then the song came on on the radio, and I sang along. Then all my friends started laughing and told me the real words. - Submitted by: Molly
Elton John's, "Candle In The Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Goodbye, enormous jeans
The Real Lyrics:
Goodbye, Norma Jean
The Story: I wondered for years why Elton was singing about weight loss, then I heard my wife singing along with the radio one day and realized. - Submitted by: Duke Ganote
Elton John's, "Candle In The Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
My poodle liked to own you.
The Real Lyrics:
I would have liked to've known you.
The Story: No wonder I had trouble hearing these lyrics amid all the confusion. I was in the little girls' room at a Barnes and Noble bookstore when this came on the sound system there. But my friend Gretchen in the next stall had me to where I couldn't help laughing. Between my laughter and the rest of the commotion, I guess I was lucky to come this close to hearing the right words. And I'm still intrigued by the thought of Elton John's poodle wanting to own somebody. - Submitted by: Karen Smith
Elton John's, "Candle In The Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
They said you were a treadmill.
The Real Lyrics:
They set you on a treadmill.
The Story: I used to play this song in a cover band, and our singer/keyboardist misheard the lyric as shown. Even though he was corrected by me, he continued to sing it the misheard way for years. - Submitted by: Doug Bracey
Elton John's, "Candle in the Wind"
The Misheard Lyrics:
It seems to me you lived your life like a sandwich in the rain.
The Real Lyrics:
It seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind.
The Story: My younger brother was convinced that everyone but he had the wrong lyrics. So when this sond would play on the radio, he would sit there and belt out at the top of his lungs 'It seems to me you lived your life like a sandwich in the rain' - Submitted by: Nick Smith
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Dreaming of my Chevy and my ol' 15.
The Real Lyrics:
Dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans.
The Story: I assumed that a '15' was some model of classic car from the 1950s. - Submitted by: John
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Got an aubergine and a place in my heart
The Real Lyrics:
Had an old Gold Chevy and a place of my own
The Story: This was actually misheard by my husband Russ for about 30 years - ever since the song came out. He only found out that these weren't the lyrcis when he happened to be singing them one day & I happened to overhear! - Submitted by: Russell Sharpe
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Had an oval Chevy and a drink of my own.
or
Had an Uncle Chevy and a trick of my own.
or
Had an Uncle Chevy and a trick of my own.
The Real Lyrics:
Had an old, gold Chevy and a place of my own.
The Story: I remember when rock was young, and I had so much fun listening to staicky songs on AM radios in old cars (Chevys or otherwise). I remember this song and trying to make it out. Above are some of my attempts. - Submitted by: Regina Haniger
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I never neutered a valentine
And I guess that I never will.
And I guess that I never will.
The Real Lyrics:
I never knew me a better time
And I guess I never will.
And I guess I never will.
The Story: This came out in the early 1970s, pretty much the very end of the 'hippie' era. When I heard it the way I did, I thought that 'neuter a valentine' must be some kind of 'hippie' jargon. But I puzzled without success to fathom what it might possibly mean. - Submitted by: Regina Olsen
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Sky rocket to Stop & Shop.
The Real Lyrics:
Croc rockin' is something shockin'.
The Story: It was actually my mom who misheard these lyrics. We were listening to this song on the radio and she says, 'It sounds like he's singing 'Sky rocket to Stop & Shop' Stop & Shop is a supermarket. I just started laughing, and then I sang it that way for fun. - Submitted by: fr4nc1n3
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Susie wore her leopard tights.
The Real Lyrics:
Susie wore her dresses tight.
The Story: I honestly thought that is what Elton John was singing and that the song was about a class reunion where Susie had kept those tights for 20 years and wore them to the reunion! - Submitted by: Sandra
Elton John's, "Crocodile Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
When Susie wore her dress last night
The Real Lyrics:
When Susie wore her dresses tight
The Story: We all told him they made no sense. But my high school buddy, Tom, insisted he was right and sang his lyrics loud and often. - Submitted by: Martin Novoa
Elton John's, "Crystal"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The nuts of friendship seem to be untied
...
And the long one, she's the one who must decide
...
And the long one, she's the one who must decide
The Real Lyrics:
The knots of friendship...
...
In the long run she's the one who must decide
...
In the long run she's the one who must decide
The Story: Well, this is not really a thing of 'misheard' lyrics in the strict sense - it is more of a homophone problem... - Words that sound the same are not so easy to handle for us non-native speakers of English... So after I had heard Elton John's 'Crystal' for the first time and being much more used to British English pronounciation, I spent some time wondering what 'nuts of friendship' might be... Elton John's lyrics are a constant source of confusion for me - later on I also heard '... and the long one, she's the one who must decide'.... - Submitted by: Tinarose
Elton John's, "Crystal"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Twister!
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do twister!
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do twister!
The Real Lyrics:
Crystal!
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do Crystal!
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do Crystal!
The Story: I thought it had something to do with the game, 'Twister' - Submitted by: Brett
Elton John's, "Daniel"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Daniel, my brother
You are, all bones and meat
You are, all bones and meat
The Real Lyrics:
Daniel, my brother
You are, older than me.
You are, older than me.
The Story: I thought Elton was saying that his brother was ill, and therefore was too skinny. - Submitted by: Mitch
Elton John's, "Daniel"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I can see the red tail lights
Heading for Spaggedy Ann.
Heading for Spaggedy Ann.
The Real Lyrics:
I can see the red tail lights
Heading for Spain.
Heading for Spain.
The Story: Still, I always liked the song even though it took me years to figure out where that plane was heading! - Submitted by: Andy
Elton John's, "Dirty Little Girl"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Well I'm gonna put pork chops in your pants
If you step into my yard.
If you step into my yard.
The Real Lyrics:
Well I'm gonna put buckshot in your pants
If you step into my yard.
If you step into my yard.
The Story: One day I was in the office listening my copy of 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and all of a sudden this song comes on. Well, right when it got to that song, I started laughing so hard because I really thought Elton was saying that he was goign to put pork chops in some girls's pants. So yeah, that's what it sounded like to me. - Submitted by: Jennifer
Elton John's, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
The Misheard Lyrics:
A hundred f***** wrestlers
The Real Lyrics:
Uh-honey, if I get restless
The Story: I heard this from a wrestler back in the '70's, who was initially offended. - Submitted by: Bill
Elton John's, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Don't let the sun fall down on me.
The Real Lyrics:
Don't let the sun go down on me.
The Story: My little sister thought the lyric was 'Don't let the sun fall down on me', thinking 'Well he must be sad if the sun fell on him' or something stupid like that. We can't listen to the song anymore without cracking up now thinking of that misheard line. - Submitted by: Gerri
Elton John's, "Friends Never Say Goodbye"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Still we are, have always been
We’ll never be as one.
We’ll never be as one.
The Real Lyrics:
Still we are, have always been
Will ever be as one.
Will ever be as one.
The Story: My hearing would seem to be very good. I can identify a person speaking on the phone before they ever give their name (once I've heard their voice). Elton John sings this with the Back Street Boys, and I know he says, 'never be as one.' There is a certain lady I want to share the 'right' lyric with. Depending on the time & cicumstance, we are, will ever be, or will 'never' be 'as one.' Funny, huh? - Submitted by: John Bishop
Elton John's, "Funeral for a friend"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I almost peed in my hand
The Real Lyrics:
Love lies bleeding in my hand
The Story: I was shocked at first and knew it could not be right but I couldn't figure out what it might be. One time, the song came on while I was riding around with a friend and corrected me. But, we both still sing it the misheard way because we think it's a better song that way. - Submitted by: Jack Velvet
Elton John's, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
The Misheard Lyrics:
My future lies beyond the elephant yards
The Real Lyrics:
My future lies beyond the yellow brick road
The Story: I was asing my friend, whose a big Elton John fan what the name of the song was with the elephants. He looked at me like i was insane. Especially when I burst out singing about elephant yards. - Submitted by: CC
Elton John's, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The cat's not being your pen pal.
The Real Lyrics:
You can't plant me in your penthouse.
The Story: I have always prided myself of my knowledge of music. I grew up on early Chicago, Eagles, Beatles, Blood Sweat and Tears, 3 Dog Night, Temptations, the Byrds, the Troggs, the McCoys, just a huge variety of really great music. I got 2 Elton John cds when I was about 7 and immediately fell in love with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.' I always thought the line was about these people kicking their kid out of the house without his cat and him retorting 'I'm going back to my plow.' I suppose I'm not the music guru I thought. - Submitted by: meds
Elton John's, "Honky Cat"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Get back on rehab.
The Real Lyrics:
Get back, honky cat.
The Story: I first heard this before I was familiar with the word 'Honky' (and I'm still not sure how a cat can be one, lol). Trying to make out the line, 'on rehab' was about as close as I came for a long time. - Submitted by: Kirsten Abercrombie
Elton John's, "Honky Cat"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Get back, honk your cab
The Real Lyrics:
Get back honky cat
The Story: I actually used to think this song was about taxicabs backing up and honking or something like that! - Submitted by: David Pratter
Elton John's, "Honky Cat"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Get back, hump your cat!
The Real Lyrics:
Get back, honky cat!
The Story: A few years ago, a much younger friend who wasn't familiar with the song was listening along to this Elton John classic with a bunch of us old farts. She was trying her best to like it, until it got to the 'Get back, honky cat!' part. She shot me the most horrified look, and said, 'Did he just sing what I thought he did? That is sick!' Of course, I was curious about what she thought she heard and after much prodding she sang, 'Get back, hump your cat!' I was hysterical with laughter! I knew she wasn't exactly an Elton John fan, but to accuse him of writing an ode to beastiality... - Submitted by: Michelle H.
Elton John's, "Honky Cat"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Get back, walk the cat
The Real Lyrics:
Get back, honky cat
The Story: I had this record in high school and was listening to it. My little brother was in there talking to me. He's nine years younger than me, so he was probably about 7 at the time. After the song was over, he went back to his room. I heard him singing 'Get back! Walk the cat!' I about fell over laughing. - Submitted by: Melissa
Elton John's, "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I don't want Rinoa to look like that.
The Real Lyrics:
I don't wanna go on with you like that.
The Story: That's what I thought he was saying, although I had no idea who Rinoa was. Then, in 1999, Final Fantasy viii comes out with a character named Rinoa! I wonder if someone at Square sang that to the character designer? - Submitted by: Larcen Tyler
Elton John's, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"
The Misheard Lyrics:
And I guess that's why they call it a loo
The Real Lyrics:
And I guess thats why they call it the blues
The Story: In England - a loo is a toilet or a restroom ... so I'd figured the song was about all the people who might use the loo ('like children, like lovers' ...) and I thought it was wickedly funny and believed truly that the song went this way .. and my mum agreed as well after she corrected the lyrics that the song should be this way instead. - Submitted by: Evelyn
Elton John's, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Cry in the night if it help
The Modern Elf.
The Modern Elf.
The Real Lyrics:
Cry in the night, if it helps
But more than ever.
But more than ever.
The Story: It wasn't until I heard another artist doing a version of this that I realised what the real lyrics are. Elton, your diction is appalling!! - Submitted by: Vikki Powles
Elton John's, "I Guess That's Why they Call it the Blues"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Rolling like thunder
under the clouds
under the clouds
The Real Lyrics:
Rolling like thunder
under the covers
under the covers
The Story: My mom was absolutely convinced those were the lyrics, and when I was little she tried to convince me, because she didn't want me listening to sex lyrics. But I finally got her to hear them correctly, as 'covers' rhymes with 'lovers,' and 'clouds' does not, and she still hates to admit that her dear Elton John would write a sex song! - Submitted by: Jabber
Elton John's, "I Want Love"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Oh man, I've seen so much tragic.
The Real Lyrics:
Oh man, I've seen so much traffic.
The Story: I just thought, 'Can you use tragic as a noun? or If you're Bernie and Elton, who cares? :) - Submitted by: Kimerly
Elton John's, "Island Girl"
The Misheard Lyrics:
He want to shave you, but the crack is lost.
The Real Lyrics:
He wants to save you, but the cause is lost.
The Story: I played this song for my third grade teacher in '75, singing the same misheard lyrics. When I was done singing I was laughed off the stage. When I got married, they played this song with the misheard lyrics above. - Submitted by: Liz Tigrett
Elton John's, "Island Girl"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I like girls.
The Real Lyrics:
Island girl!
The Story: My husband always thought that Elton was saying 'I like girls' and it wasn't until I corrected him that he finally understood what was really being said. His reply, 'Oh. I thought he was trying to convince everyone he was straight.' - Submitted by: Rachie O
Elton John's, "Island Girl"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Me want to take you
From the wrecking ball.
From the wrecking ball.
The Real Lyrics:
He want to take you
From the racket boss.
From the racket boss.
The Story: I also thought the song was "I Like Girls." But it just sounded interesting, finding a way to mention a wrecking ball in this song. The first and second times I heard this song was on a store's PA system, not the best sound quality....but a great source of misheard lyrics. - Submitted by: Ra'akone
Elton John's, "Levon"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Levon, Levon likes his Mommy.
The Real Lyrics:
Levon, Levon likes his money.
The Story: My aunt thought these were the words. So she named her son Levon, because she figured that if the guy in the song loved his Mommy, then so would her boy! - Submitted by: Pembee_Diva
Elton John's, "Love Lies Bleeding"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Love that feeling in my hand
I can tell by the things I can do with another man.
I can tell by the things I can do with another man.
The Real Lyrics:
Love lies bleeding in my hand
It kills me to think of you with another man.
It kills me to think of you with another man.
The Story: Riding around in a car using 'mood management' techniques, this song came on the radio. One guy swore this is what the lyrics were. I listened and had to agree. I listened closely every time I heard the song to make sure and each time I heard those same wrong lyrics. For years I went around telling people this was Elton John's coming out of the closet song. I didn't find out the real lyrics until after the year 2000, when I found an old vinyl album in a thrift store with the lyrics printed inside. Listen to the song and imagine my wrong lyrics. I swear you will hear them! - Submitted by: Flyingsod
Elton John's, "Philadelphia Freedom"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Filla, Daffy, and Freda
The Real Lyrics:
Philadelphia Freedom
The Story: I still remember my younger brother, at about 6 years old, singing 'Filla, Daffy and Freda' to this song in the car so many years ago. He's 33 years old now. - Submitted by: Christine Carlson
Elton John's, "Pinball Wizard"
The Misheard Lyrics:
That deaf dumb and blind kid sure had big big b***s.
The Real Lyrics:
That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball.
The Story: This was misheard by a friend at a concert. We were talking about the concert and he mentioned the song Elton has about the kid with big big, uh, appendages. - Submitted by: Lisa
Elton John's, "Rocket Man "
The Misheard Lyrics:
Burning down the streets of Oregon
The Real Lyrics:
Burning out his fuse up here alone.
The Story: - Submitted by: sal
Elton John's, "Rocket Man "
The Misheard Lyrics:
Rocketman
Burning all the shoes off everyone.
Burning all the shoes off everyone.
The Real Lyrics:
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse up here alone.
Burning out his fuse up here alone.
The Story: My girlfriend and I picked up these guys from Canada one summer night. We invited them back to my apartment. My girlfriend said to put on some music, and Elton John's album was the first LP I pulled out. As the song began to play, the guy I was sitting with started singing these screwed up lyrics. The idea of some guy burning all the shoes off everyone seemed so hysterical to me. We laughed for years about that. - Submitted by: Elizabeth
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Another man to take Iron Man home.
The Real Lyrics:
I'm not the man they think I am at home.
The Story: I thought, "What's with all these songs about Iron Man?!" (Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" was released around the same time, in '72.) - Submitted by: Rich F
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Burnin' all the Jews in Babylon
The Real Lyrics:
Burnin' out this fuse up here alone.
The Story: I seriously thought that what I heard were the original lyrics and sung it this way for years. My husband and his friend have a band. I was singing along to their cover of 'Rocket Man.' When I got to this verse, they accused me of being the Anti-Christ. - Submitted by: Lisa L3 Lislangsta
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Burnin' out his fuse, his hairs too long.
The Real Lyrics:
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone.
The Story: The funny thing was that for over 20 years, I've sang this song wrong and believed I really knew what he was saying. Finally driving home one night after going to the State Fair, my husband said, 'No way, that's not what he says'! Now we both know the truth. No one else ever questioned me. Ain't that always the way? One day, someone questions your bulls*** and you have to search for the truth. - Submitted by: Misha
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Burning hairs of Pelilome
The Real Lyrics:
Burning out his fuse up here alone.
The Story: My 8 year old was belting this lyric at the top of her lungs. When I told her what the lyrics really said, she still sang "Burning Hairs of Pelilome". - Submitted by: Holly
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse on everyone.
or
Rocket man
Burnin' up the fuse of everyone.
Burning out his fuse on everyone.
or
Rocket man
Burnin' up the fuse of everyone.
The Real Lyrics:
Rocket man
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone.
Burnin' out his fuse up here alone.
The Story: Misheard by yours truly, your editor, using the misheard line while posting a quiz thread on inthe00s.com's messageboard. (Thanks a lot, Feiticeira. That'll teach me to research on Google.) - Submitted by: Indy
Elton John's, "Rocket Man"
The Misheard Lyrics:
We packed my bags last night, we fight
Weirdo Coward, Auntie Em.
Weirdo Coward, Auntie Em.
The Real Lyrics:
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour, nine a.m.
Zero hour, nine a.m.
The Story: I was about 8. The album cover had a yellow brick road on it. Auntie Em, Cowardly Lion... I can see that. Curious too was the weirdo in the giant sunglasses. - Submitted by: LiSlangstress
Elton John's, "Rocketman"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Bars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
in fact its cold as hell
in fact its cold as hell
The Real Lyrics:
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
in fact its cold as hell
in fact its cold as hell
The Story: I thought those were the right lyrics for years. I know it is not a big change, but the message is totally different... Rocketman... mars... bars?? duh don't know how I misheard these lyrics for so long. - Submitted by: Will
Elton John's, "Sacrifice"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Into the foundry
Of each married man
With defeat come collies
And negativity lands.
Of each married man
With defeat come collies
And negativity lands.
The Real Lyrics:
Into the boundary
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes calling
And negativity lands.
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes calling
And negativity lands.
The Story: No story, just heard it over an AM car radio years ago. Now that I have a hearing aid and a mini-disk Walkman, I finally figured it out. - Submitted by: Kchula-Rrit
Elton John's, "Sacrifice"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Purple hearts
Are done by you.
Are done by you.
The Real Lyrics:
Cold, cold heart
Hardened by you.
Hardened by you.
The Story: I heard this song alot growing up and always imagined dark-purple heart. I also used to think this song was by Cher! - Submitted by: Trent
Elton John's, "Sacrifice"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Wee Lou's got an erection.
The Real Lyrics:
We lose direction.
The Story: I heard it in the car while on holiday in France. I had to ask my parents if Elton John was really singing about Lou's erection. - Submitted by: Sing A Long
Elton John's, "Sad Songs Say So Much"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Saint Saen say it so hard
The Real Lyrics:
Sad songs say so much
The Story: I remember from my early childhood (I was about 3 or 4 years old at the time) hearing this song on the radio a lot. I thought for many years that what I said I'd misheard was in the song. I vaguely mentioned the song 'Saaa Sawn', and my late mother (who died when I was 5) asked me if I meant 'Carnival of the Animals'? I didn't know what she was talking about, but I'd found out about the famous pieces of music used in 'Saint Saen's Carnival of the Animals' several years later! - Submitted by: David Pratter
Elton John's, "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We've had it with your Death Star plans.
We've had it with your Death Star plans.
The Real Lyrics:
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline.
We had it with your discipline.
The Story: I was listening to EJ's greatest hits last night driving home from seeing Clerks 2. All that Star Wars talk in the movie made it seem plausible someone could've sung about Star Wars. It sounded so much like 'We've had it with your Death Star plans' to me and my roomie I had to look up the real lyrics. - Submitted by: Erin
Elton John's, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Sanity, sanity, sanity
Sanity, sanity, sanity
Sanity, sanity
Sanity night's alright.
Sanity, sanity, sanity
Sanity, sanity
Sanity night's alright.
The Real Lyrics:
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday
Saturday night's alright.
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday
Saturday night's alright.
The Story: I thought that Elton John must have been very concerned about cleanliness, or could it have been mental health? - Submitted by: Larry
Elton John's, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
The Misheard Lyrics:
And someone saved my life tonight, Sugar Bear
You almost had your hooks in me, didn't you?
You almost had your hooks in me, didn't you?
The Real Lyrics:
And someone saved my life tonight, Sugar Bear
you almost had your hooks in me didn't you?
you almost had your hooks in me didn't you?
The Story: When I heard this song, I was pretty sure I heard Elton sing: 'Someone saved my life tonight, Sugar Bear'. I thought 'Well that's stupid. That can't possibly be what the real words are. What does the guy have shares in Sugar Crisp cereal?!' So I looked the lyrics up and found out. 'Golly gee, he does sing Sugar Bear!' - Submitted by: Shan
Elton John's, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
The Misheard Lyrics:
When I think of those eastern lights.
The Real Lyrics:
When I think of those east end nights.
The Story: I grew up in NJ and used to look at the skylight of Manhattan from my bedroom window thinking those were the eastern lights he was singing about! - Submitted by: Jamie
Elton John's, "The Circle of Life"
The Misheard Lyrics:
On the path of whining
The Real Lyrics:
On the path unwinding
The Story: This song was sung by a group of kids in my son's kindergarten class during an assembly. While my son was practising in the car a couple of days before, this was what he was singing. - Submitted by: Michael Schiedel-Webb
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Baby, darlin', she's so blended.
The Real Lyrics:
Lay me down in sheets of linen.
The Story: I found out a few years ago that he was counting head lights and not 'head lice' on the highway (My mom went and bought the record for me when I was in 4th grade (1990). But not until now did I know that 'she's not so blended!!' :) - Submitted by: JessicaRigg
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Climb on my hand, he makes her stand
In the auditorium.
In the auditorium.
The Real Lyrics:
Piano man he makes his stand
In the Auditorium.
In the Auditorium.
The Story: When I was a child, I thought this song was about a 'tiny' dancer about 4 inches tall. I pictured her sitting on the dashboard, counting the head lights on the highway. So it made perfect sense, that she would climb on his hand. - Submitted by: Kimerly
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Foldin' clothes with Tony Danza
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: Rainy day, doing laundry while watching "Who's the Boss?" with the sound turned down all the way, listening to the radio (getting some static from time to time). It seemed to fit! Then the DJ announced the artist as Elton John, and the title as 'Tiny Dancer', which is when I busted out laughing, and then called all my friends to giggle about it. - Submitted by: Mgw
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me close I'm tired of dancin'
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer tiny dancer
The Story: One evening while dancing in our kitchen, my husband belts out these lyrics to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer". He was absolutely serious about the lyrics. When I realized that he wasn't kidding, I fell down laughing. It's a wonderful moment in time to re-visit. - Submitted by: marlena
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me close like Ted Danson.
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: My nephew and I were simultanously singing this song on the ride home from work. He came out with 'Tony Danza', while I sang 'Ted Danson' at the same instant. Not a proud moment. - Submitted by: Johnny
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me close now, Tonya Dacer.
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: My wife thought the name of this song was 'Tonya Dancer.' She would sing along with pretty much the same lyrics except she would sing 'Tonya,' instead of 'Tiny.' We have a friend named Tonya. Tonya's & her husband recently bought a house with a room in the basement that has purple velvet walls and a purple rug. There is a pole in the middle of the room. My wife started singing 'Tonya Dancer' in the background, and I told Tonya's husband that she could practice her dancing and stripper routine around the pole. - Submitted by: John Quackenbush
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me closer, Tony Danza.
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: My friend assumed that Elton John, who is gay, was talking about his love for Tony Danza. - Submitted by: Krystle
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me closer, Tony Danza.
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: My older sister thought that these were the real lyrics, so our entire family sings our hearts out to Mr. 'Who's the Boss' himself. Hey, knowing Elton's sexual preference, the song works well! - Submitted by: Liz Fisher
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Hold me closer, Tony Danza.
The Real Lyrics:
Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
The Story: When I first met my 30-year old husband two years ago, he was singing these lyrics loudly in the car. I laughed so hard I almost wet myself. He thought that it was about Tony Danza, since "Who's the Boss?" was a new show at the time. He's a smart guy, too, so it made it even funnier. - Submitted by: Marie
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
L.A. lady, blue jean lady
sings just for the band.
I'm a close-up kinda dancer
sings just for the band.
I'm a close-up kinda dancer
The Real Lyrics:
L.A. lady, blue jean lady
seamstress for the band.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
seamstress for the band.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
The Story: My wife is the one who commonly missunderstands lyrics, so I cracked up when she sang the real ones in the bathtub one night. Of course I had to dry off before I could get the cd jewel and imagine my surprise when she was right! - Submitted by: Dave Lindee
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Tony Danza in my hand
The Real Lyrics:
Tiny Dancer in my hand
The Story: My boyfriend had no idea what the title of the song was and he wanted to know so he asked an older friend of his Mom's. He was like 'What song by Elton John says something about Tony Danza?' And then he was told right away that it was 'tiny dancer'. - Submitted by: Erin
Elton John's, "Tiny Dancer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
You had a visitor today.
The Real Lyrics:
You had a busy day today.
The Story: I had thought this is what Sir Elton said for years. It was not until I saw a Tim McGraw sing it live at a concert on NBC with the closed captions turned on that I realized what was actually being said. The next time I heard Elton sing it, I thought, 'Well duh!' - Submitted by: Dan Fletcher
Elton John's, "Too Low For Zero"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Too long for Vera
The Real Lyrics:
Too low for zero
The Story: I was taking part in a trivia quiz on the Internet. The question-mistress played 'Too Long For Zero' and asked for artist and title. I replied 'Too Long For Vera', which I have to admit is much closer to what I actually heard. Quick as a flash, someone (I wish it had been me) made the ribald comment 'So she's only little, then, this Vera?'. Much giggling ensued. - Submitted by: Phil
Elton John's, "Wrap Her Up"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Abu, there's a hole down near
Abu, she is out down near
Abu, Only get one chance
To deter you, they all can dance
Abu, there's a hole down near
Abu, she is out down near
Abu
It's faling near, Abu
or
Abu, there's a hall down near
Abu, she is boating near
Abu, Only get one chance
To deter you, they all can dance
Abu, there's a hall down near
Abu, she is boating near
Abu, It's calling near
Abu
Abu, she is out down near
Abu, Only get one chance
To deter you, they all can dance
Abu, there's a hole down near
Abu, she is out down near
Abu
It's faling near, Abu
or
Abu, there's a hall down near
Abu, she is boating near
Abu, Only get one chance
To deter you, they all can dance
Abu, there's a hall down near
Abu, she is boating near
Abu, It's calling near
Abu
The Real Lyrics:
Wrap her up, I'll take her home with me
Wrap her up, she is all I need
Wrap her up, I only get one chance
Beasts and beauties, but they all can dance
Wrap her up, I'll take her home with me
Wrap her up, she is all I need
Wrap her up
Give her to me, wrap her up.
Wrap her up, she is all I need
Wrap her up, I only get one chance
Beasts and beauties, but they all can dance
Wrap her up, I'll take her home with me
Wrap her up, she is all I need
Wrap her up
Give her to me, wrap her up.
The Story: This would rank as the first lyric my brother corrected for me. I assumed Elton was singing about some fictional place (Abu) that I myself imagined in my playtime from the days when the song was a hit. - Submitted by: zhu plantation
Elton John's, "Your Song"
The Misheard Lyrics:
If I was a sculptor, but then again, Gnome.
The Real Lyrics:
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no.
The Story: Sung at full voice by my 8-year-old daughter at a school talent show. Needless to say, she didn't win. - Submitted by: Nova Sambrook
Elton John's, "Your Song"
The Misheard Lyrics:
If I was a skeleton, but them again no.
The Real Lyrics:
If I was a sculptor, but then again no.
The Story: I thought thought he really said skeleton until I was about 29 years old. And he kinda laughs a little after he says the line, so I thought Elton was just joking with us. - Submitted by: Latecia
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