Misheard Song Lyrics -> Stories -> Elvis Presley
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!).
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Elvis Presley's, "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Anne-Marie's the name
Of his latest flame.
Of his latest flame.
The Real Lyrics:
And Marie's the name
Of his latest flame.
Of his latest flame.
The Story: I heard this one on a radio phone-in quiz. The lady on the phone was asked, 'What was the name of his latest flame in the hit by Elvis Presley?' She replied, 'Anne-Marie'. The DJ did award her the point---once he'd stopped laughing! - Submitted by: Paul J
Elvis Presley's, "All Shook Up"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Almond sugar (ah-mond shu-ga)
The Real Lyrics:
I'm all shook up.
The Story: A French woman at work quite often gives us a good laugh, due to her accent. (eg, 'we need a s*** (sheet) on that bed.') etc. I heard her singing this Presley classic one day and couldn't believe that she actually thought the lyric said 'almond sugar'. I didn't even know there was such a thing. - Submitted by: J Simmonds
Elvis Presley's, "All Shook Up"
The Misheard Lyrics:
My lid eyes are shaken like a sea-green booty
The Real Lyrics:
My insides are shakin' like a leaf on a tree
The Story: Well I did this for a talent show, and sang 'my lid eyes are shakin' like a sea green booty', and was humiliated - Submitted by: Amander
Elvis Presley's, "Blue Suede Shoes"
The Misheard Lyrics:
You can do anything but don't step on my lose weight shoes
The Real Lyrics:
You can do anything but don't step on my blue suede shoes
The Story: We had this misheard lyric while producing a short feature about Elvis in a German TV studio, and the whole crew was rolling in the aisles -- especially those who wished they had a pair of "lose weight shoes". - Submitted by: Ariane Boeckler
Elvis Presley's, "Don't Be Cruel"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Don't be cruel
To a heartless Jew.
To a heartless Jew.
The Real Lyrics:
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true.
To a heart that's true.
The Story: My then 3-year-old cousin walked around the house singing those misheard lyrics at the top of his lungs one day. He was quickly corrected, but it has been a long-time joke told at his expense to every new girlfriend. - Submitted by: Erinn
Elvis Presley's, "Don't Be Cruel"
The Misheard Lyrics:
If you can't fool around
Stay off my telephone.
Stay off my telephone.
The Real Lyrics:
If you can't come around
At least, please telephone.
At least, please telephone.
The Story: This is how my six year old nephew was going through the house singing it after hearing an old Elvis record of mine. - Submitted by: Ricky
Elvis Presley's, "Don't Cry Daddy"
The Misheard Lyrics:
With force inside my covay cook kept crying out.
The Real Lyrics:
A voice inside my coffee cup kept crying out.
The Story: As a youngster around eight or so, I would listen to that song all the time on an old vinyl. I couldn't really get to grips with what it was all in aid of at first, until my mother informed me it concerned a man and his two kids who are grieving over the untimely death of wife/mother. Before she explained that, I remember wondering why the eldest kid talked of finding a brand new mommy. Anyhow, I listened to the line about a million times, then trying desperately to make out the words. But it continually sounded to me like 'With force inside my covay cook", which doesn't make sense. So I always knew it had to be something else. Trouble was when I eventually found out the real words, that didn't make sense either. One wonders what he'd laced that coffee with. - Submitted by: The Big Guy
Elvis Presley's, "Hound Dog"
The Misheard Lyrics:
They said you was white trash
But, that was just a line.
But, that was just a line.
The Real Lyrics:
They said you was high class
But, that was just a lie.
But, that was just a lie.
The Story: Unfortunately for several patrons at a roadhouse bar, I sang it this way by mistake. Oops. - Submitted by: Christin
Elvis Presley's, "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)"
The Misheard Lyrics:
With arms wide open, he'll fart on you.
The Real Lyrics:
With arms wide open, he'll pardon you.
The Story: My friend's four year old daughter was singing her version loud and clear in church! My friend and I were embarrassed, but the pastor, thank goodness, got a huge chuckle out of that one! - Submitted by: Arashi
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Everbody in all say, 'Oh, Bob!'
We're dancing to the jailhouse rob.
We're dancing to the jailhouse rob.
The Real Lyrics:
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The Story: These lyrics were on a Brazilian Elvis Presley album cover and were printed in Guitarist Magazine in the UK for a giggle! There were more classic lines like these, but I can't remember the rest. - Submitted by: Mick
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Everybody in the wholesale block
Was dancing to the jailhouse rock.
Was dancing to the jailhouse rock.
The Real Lyrics:
Everybody in the whole cell block
Wwas dancing to the Jailhouse Rock.
Wwas dancing to the Jailhouse Rock.
The Story: I was 7 or 8 years old when I heard this song. My father was in retail jewelry sales. Of course, a common phrase used in that day was 'I can get it for you wholesale.' - Submitted by: Jackson Wolffe
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Everybody you know, except Pop
The Real Lyrics:
Everybody in the whole cell block
The Story: I thought the lyric referred to an old 'lifer' in jail who was too weak to dance. - Submitted by: Bruce Long
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
If you can't find a partner, use a whirlpool chair.
The Real Lyrics:
If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair.
The Story: I never gave it a second thought, but when you think about it, it's highly unlikely that inmates would have access to a whirlpool. On the other hand, what the heck is an inmate supposed to be doing with a wooden chair?? - Submitted by: Charlie Buttrey
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Sure would be delighted with you accompanying me or
Sure would be delighted will you accompany me
Sure would be delighted will you accompany me
The Real Lyrics:
Sure would be delighted with you pumping me
The Story: My mom is an Elvis fan from way back. She said that when she first heard this song (at maybe 10 years old) she was shocked at the raunchy lyric. Even as a kid myself (in her all-Elvis household) I thought it was 'accompany me.' Either she was an extremely jaded 10-year-old or I am a very naive 30-year-old, because we both swear with our dying breaths by the version we each 'heard'! - Submitted by: Eve
Elvis Presley's, "Jailhouse Rock"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The drummer Buzz Anelli went a crash boom bang.
The Real Lyrics:
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash boom bang.
The Story: I thought the name Buzz Anelli was really a good rocker name, so I used it as a stage name for my character in the 60's music tribute band 'King Grease.' We're getting together for a tour sometime soon, so watch out and 'Don't talk back!' - Submitted by: T M Turner
Elvis Presley's, "Kentucky Rain"
The Misheard Lyrics:
In the golden turkey rain
The Real Lyrics:
In the cold Kentucky rain
The Story: It was actually my niece who misheard this, one of my favorite Elvis songs. I was playing it on a cd and my niece heard it. Later I heard her singing, 'In the golden turkey rain...In the golden turkey rain'. - Submitted by: Kimberly Townsend
Elvis Presley's, "Polk Salad Annie"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Polk salad Annie
Ate it with her granny.
Ate it with her granny.
The Real Lyrics:
Polk salad Annie
'Gators got her granny.
'Gators got her granny.
The Story: Saw the movie 'Elvis - That's The Way It Is!' the other day: onstage in Las Vegas in '70 Elvis introduces this as a song of the South, and explains what 'polk salad' is (a plant). Well, I really felt he was singing about the stark, rural dinners of Annie and her mom, but I hadn't figured them to be _that_ grim. :-) Only when I looked up the lyrics did I notice the alligators... - Submitted by: Debbie
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Reefer in December
The Real Lyrics:
Return to Sender
The Story: I'd thought that as a little kid in the 70's, even though I didn't know what 'reefer' was....or did i?? I may have been getting 2 different things mixed up. - Submitted by: Emdooey
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Return Lucinda
The Real Lyrics:
Return to sender
The Story: My daughter was only three years old when she heard this song on the radio. Her name is Lucinda, and she thought it was someone (Elvis, maybe?) singing to her alone. - Submitted by: Margaret Hendry
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Return to Cinder
The Real Lyrics:
Return to sender
The Story: First heard the number when I was about twelve. I initially thought that Cinder was the name of a town or something that he was returning to get reaquainted with a girlfriend. Owing to the king's singing style at times, I couldn't make out much of the other lyrics of the number back then. - Submitted by: The Big Guy
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Return to center.
The Real Lyrics:
Return to sender.
The Story: What on Earth was the center Elvis wanted people to return to? A shopping center? A sports center? A military center? Or did he people to return to the middle of something they had left, and get their lives back on track? I was forty one when I heard Clint Eastwood use the phrase 'return to sender' when he gets an unanswered letter back from his daughter in 'Million dollar baby' And suddenly in the dark of the cinema the horrible truth hit me and I understood after all these years that it must have been what Elvis sang. How stupid I had been. What a wasted life!!! But if you don't live in an English speaking country, you are not so familiar with the phrase, and easily mistake 'd' for a 't'. - Submitted by: Christian
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Return to sender
That dreadsome note
No such number
No such hmmmph.
That dreadsome note
No such number
No such hmmmph.
The Real Lyrics:
Return to sender
Address unknown
No such number
No such zone.
Address unknown
No such number
No such zone.
The Story: I always, for years thought it was 'that dreadsome note' and wasn't particurlarly sure of the last line. It was only when I got married, and was singing it one day my wife told me how wrong I was. - Submitted by: Fred
Elvis Presley's, "Return To Sender"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Three times December
The Real Lyrics:
Return to sender.
The Story: Our friend Suvir was singing this lyric at the top of his lungs one morning on a trip to Mexico. He was making breakfast in the condo, and we all overheard him and laughed ourselves sick! - Submitted by: Suvir Hiranandani
Elvis Presley's, "Suspicious Minds"
The Misheard Lyrics:
They call me a tramp.
The Real Lyrics:
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: It was my mother who misheard these lyrics. She'd thought for years the first line of the song was 'They call me a tramp'. Last Christmas, it came on the radio. She'd had a bit to drink, so belted out the line during a family gathering. At which point, the whole room froze. As one we shouted 'you what?'. My mother now has the rather unflattering nickname, 'Tramp', which confuses occassional visitors to the house. But they're never brave enough to ask for the origin of the name. - Submitted by: Rob
Elvis Presley's, "Suspicious Minds"
The Misheard Lyrics:
We can't make tea together
With suspicious ice.
With suspicious ice.
The Real Lyrics:
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds.
With suspicious minds.
The Story: This is what my niece heard when she listened to the song. And even when I tried to tell her the correct lyrics, she argued with me. - Submitted by: Jennifer
Elvis Presley's, "Suspicious Minds"
The Misheard Lyrics:
We caught him a trout
I can't walk out
I can't walk out
The Real Lyrics:
We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
I can't walk out
The Story: I never could figure out why Elvis sang a song with 'trap' rhyming with 'out,' especially when trout is something people really do catch. I think someone was begging to have the fly fishermen of the world hooked on this song. - Submitted by: Sam
Elvis Presley's, "Suspicious Minds"
The Misheard Lyrics:
We cornered a tramp.
The Real Lyrics:
We're caught in a trap.
The Story: In a cover band several years ago, I used to deliberately use the wrong lyric. It took the other guys in the band years to twig it. Then one day the guitarist realised what I was saying, and p***ed himself so hard he had to stop playing. - Submitted by: Mick Synnott
Elvis Presley's, "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I spilled tea all over your BLT.
The Real Lyrics:
I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
The Story: When my father first heard this song, he thought it was the stupidest he'd ever heard. He thought, 'Why would anyone write a song about spilling a drink on a sandwich?' - Submitted by: Opie_nick
Elvis Presley's, "Treat Me Nice"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Cream and ice
The Real Lyrics:
Treat me nice.
The Story: When I was a kid I always thought Elvis said, 'Cream and ice.' We were listening to him in the car one day when my mom and my friends realized what I was saying and told me what the real words were. I had no idea he was saying 'Treat me nice.' - Submitted by: Elizabeth
Elvis Presley's, "U.S. Male"
The Misheard Lyrics:
I'm the U.S. Mail 'Cause I was born
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
The Real Lyrics:
I'm the U.S. Male 'Cause I was born
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
In a Mississippi Town On a Sunday mornin'
The Story: When I asked my father about this song at the age of maybe 4 or 5 years he told me that Elvis was a postman of the U.S. Mail ... Uh, I guess he was joking ... I believed in that until I grew up, learned a little more English and finally came across the word 'male' that sounded absolutely the same as 'mail'. Somehow I thought that would maybe fit a little better into that song, hehe ... - Submitted by: Claudius Reiter
Elvis Presley's, "Viva Las Vegas"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Bebo Las Vegas
The Real Lyrics:
Viva Las Vegas
The Story: My old horse-back-riding instructor would always sing 'Bebo Las Vegas' because my horse's name was Bebo (I don't know what it means, I bought him when he was 6 and I didn't want to change his name). Then I heard it when I was in the car with my dad and I told him about how it had Bebo's name in it...yikes, I was embarrassed when he told me what it really was! - Submitted by: Anna
Elvis Presley's, "Viva Las Vegas"
The Misheard Lyrics:
People love bagels.
The Real Lyrics:
Viva, Las Vegas.
The Story: I'd always thought the song was called 'People Love Bagels' until the age of 11. I started singing 'People Love Bagels' in a friend's car. Needless to say, everyone found it hysterically funny! - Submitted by: Caitlin
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