Misheard Song Lyrics -> Stories -> Rush
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!).
The Spirit Of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 album at Amazon.com
Rush's, "Bastille Day"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Ooo A**hole Breath
The Real Lyrics:
Ooo there's no bread
The Story: I've never been a big Rush fan myself, so I only heard the song a few days ago. My brother-in-law actually pointed out to me that the lyric sounded a lot like 'A**hole Breath', so much so that he, nor my sister, nor I could figure out what the lyric really is. (We were laughing too much.) I looked it up myself just a few minutes ago so that the next time I see them I will be able to say that I've solved the Rush A**hole Breath mystery. - Submitted by: Stephanie Burkhart
Rush's, "Limelight"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Living in the Fish Islands
The Real Lyrics:
Living in a fish-eye lens
The Story: Mike and his wife Tina, both Rush fans, are listening to Rush cd 'Signals' while painting their living room; and this song 'Limelight' that they both have heard a million times is playing. After hearing that line, Mike says to Tina, "Where the **** are the 'Fish Islands'?" and Tina responds, "What?" Mike says, "You know, he just said, 'Fish Islands'." Tina snaps, "You retard! It's fish-eye lens! Why would you be in the 'camera eye' if you are on the 'Fish Islands'? Are they such popular islands??" - Submitted by: Mike Reggie
Rush's, "Limelight"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Living in the Fish Islands
The Real Lyrics:
Living in the fish-eye lens
The Story: I thought Geddy Lee added this line in appreciation for a notable Long Island, New York fan base. In pre-British colonial Long Island history, the island itself was called 'Fish Island,' either by the Dutch or the Native Americans, I'm not so sure. Nevertheless, this is what the line sounded like to me, and that was why I thought it was there. - Submitted by: The Skuz
Rush's, "Red Barchetta"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Real Lyrics:
Red Barchetta
The Story: This isn't really a misheard lyric, but a misheard song title. I was playing this on my bass for a friend and he said, 'I know that song; that's Uncle Tom's Cabin by Rush.' - Submitted by: Jeff Z
Rush's, "The Camera Eye"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The folks, well they shop in the city.
The Real Lyrics:
The focus is sharp in the city.
The Story: I was sitting in traffic thinking how cool it was to hear someone else listening to Rush. And then the guy screams at the top of his lungs in time with the song, of course, 'The folks, well they shop in the ci-ty!!!!' I thought I'd die laughing. - Submitted by: n8rhythm
Rush's, "The Spirit Of Radio"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Ripe and tender gristle with the energy
The Real Lyrics:
Bright antenna bristle with the energy
The Story: A few friends and I were on a road trip some 10-odd years ago, and this song came on the radio. We were singing along when one of the other guys sang this lyric. We laughed are asses off at him, and I still can't help but hear his interesting intrepretation every time the radio plays it... - Submitted by: the man
Rush's, "The Spirit of Radio"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
'God D*** All!'
'God D*** All!'
The Real Lyrics:
The words of the profits are written on the studio walls
'Concert Hall'
'Concert Hall'
The Story: Being 13 at the time and knowing my parents wouldn't approve of what I thought the song said, I actually recorded over that phrase on my tape of it! - Submitted by: Cassie Nielsen
Rush's, "The Trees"
The Misheard Lyrics:
The maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just s*** their pants.
And the oaks just s*** their pants.
The Real Lyrics:
The maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads.
And the oaks just shake their heads.
The Story: At first, it caught me off guard that Rush would have lyrics like that. But I didn't pay any mind to it. I was checking lyrics for another part of the song and realized the real lyrics. I felt pretty stupid. - Submitted by: Cam Peckham
Rush's, "Tom Sawyer"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Although his mind is not for rent
Don't put down his surrogate
He's hopelessly quite content
Writing down the day's events
"The River".
Don't put down his surrogate
He's hopelessly quite content
Writing down the day's events
"The River".
The Real Lyrics:
Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river.
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river.
The Story: The first time I heard this song, I thought it was a tribute to Mark Twain, by what I misheard as "writing down the day's events". It wasn't until I heard this at a karaoke bar, years later, with the lyrics on the screen, that I realized my hilarious error. - Submitted by: Christi
Rush's, "Twilight Zone"
The Misheard Lyrics:
Boy, the boogy man sure is cross.
The Real Lyrics:
Where the fourth dimension is crossed.
The Story: I was taking my new girlfriend (at the time) to a Rush concert. She had about a month to get to know the band and their music. I've been a fan of theirs since '76, and I've never been asked, 'What did he say about the boogy man?' (until she asked me that night) It caught me way off guard, woah. But that was ten years ago, and she hasn't missed a show yet. - Submitted by: Curtacus Anubis
There are more Rush misheard lyrics available.
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