The noun malapropism, first recorded between 1840 and 1850, is defined as “an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.”
A malapropism probably develops because we hear the words a certain way, and while what we hear is close to what is being said, it isn’t quite right. For example, a chest of drawers is a piece of furniture. However, it is often pronounced as chester drawers because that is the way it rolls off the tongue. Sometimes, perhaps a malapropism is created because the “correct” phrase actually makes less sense to someone than the phrase they hear: butt naked instead of buck naked, or nipped in the butt instead of nipped in the bud.
Well, I have a whole book containing commonly confused words and malapropisms, and this post isn’t about those. This post is about the malapropisms that arise in popular songs. You have probably heard someone singing at the top of his or her lungs—the wrong words to a song that make absolutely no sense and are ridiculous, yet actually do sound like what the performer is saying.
With some songs, it is a miracle anyone can understand any of the words. Perhaps you are old enough to remember “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen from the 1960s. Rumors were rampant about how the lyrics were “dirty,” yet no one really knew what they were. People would play the 45 (I am dating myself here) at 33 speed to try to figure out the words. I happened to see the Kingsmen in person in my hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts—at City Hall, no less. They played “Louie Louie” three times—I will never forget it— but I still couldn’t figure out any of the words. Of course, now with the internet, you can look up the lyrics to any song. I have looked up the words to “Louie Louie,” and although I don’t remember what they were, what was on the internet wasn’t “dirty” at all.
Here are some humorous “lyrical malapropisms” you might know . . .
Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”: Excuse me while I kiss this guy. Nope. It’s Excuse me while I kiss the sky.
Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”: Hold me closer, Tony Danza. Nope. It’s Hold me closer, tiny dancer.
Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man”: Secret Asian man. Nope. It’s Secret agent man.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising”: There’s a bathroom on the right. Nope. It’s There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”: The ants are my friends, they’re blowin’ in the wind. Nope. It’s The answer, my friends, is blowin’ in the wind.
Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now”: I can see clearly now Lorraine is gone. Nope. It’s I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
Starship’s “We Built This City”: We built this city from sausage rolls. Nope. It’s We built this city from rock ‘n’ roll.
ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”: See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen. Nope. It’s See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen.
Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”: I like big butts in a can of limes. Nope. It’s I like big butts and I cannot lie.
The Fifth Dimension’s “Aquarius”: This is the dawning of the Age of Asparagus. Nope. It’s This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
Yup. It’s pretty funny until you’re the one merrily singing the wrong words at karaoke.
Oh, by the way, websites disagree (of course) on the “Louie Louie” lyrics, but I just looked it up again. This version does have one four-letter word, but they could have been saying anything there. Click here to check it out.
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It’s “Digging the dancing queen” not “Dig in the dancing queen”. You made a malapropism trying to correct a malapropism! LOL
LOL! And thank you for the correction.
Hi, This is very good. Thank you
Thank you!
In “Louie, Louie” there is a lyric we swore (as 12 year old boys will) said, “Every night at ten I laid her again.” Please don’t scream, it’s their words, not mine.
I probably heard the same translation of those words…and it certainly does sound as if it could be that.
Ach! I wish I would have posted this sooner.
Jefferson Airplane in Somebody to Love:
“When the truth is found to be lies…”
My 17 year old brother:
“When the turkeys come to be realized…”
I love JA but given their body of work, I think my brother’s lyric could have filled the bill.
I like your brother’s words better!
John Lennon’s Beautiful Boy: “The monster’s gone. He’s on the run and your daddy’s here.”
My son as a little guy: “The monster’s gone. He’s on the run in your daddy’s hair.”
Thanks! Good one!
The word ‘Malapropism’ developed from the character Mrs Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 comedy-of-manners The Rivals.
There are literally hundreds of misheard song lyrics. So many, in fact, there are actually websites dedicated to them.
Right, you are. I knew that, but I had forgotten the origin. Yup, I know there are websites devoted to the song lyrics. Where do think I get my info??? 🙂
Okay. So, maybe it’s because I was in the music business, but I never mixed up those lyrics. I can sort of see how people can, but for me, it’s just easy, I guess.
Still, I think you’re funny.
I think some people do. I confused one or two of them myself!
My daughter was singing the lyrics to a song one day many years ago and I had to listen twice. She was singing “go go Jason’s waterfall”. (Don’t go chasing waterfalls). I had forgotten about that until I read your post. Thanks for the laughs and the remembered past.
Ha! I can see that one too!
What is the difference between a malapropism and a mondegreen?
Excellent question! I actually did not know what a mondegreen was, so thank you! It appears that a mondegreen is more what these song lyrics represent. The two words are close, but it seems that a malapropism isn’t always caused by mishearing, but a mondegreen is.
Good morning Arlene, read your post first thing this morning and was laughing out loud. I too am from that generation that grooved on the song but not quite so clear on the lyrics. Maybe the sixties didn’t help either. Glad to see you are still writing with such wit. Take care. John
Hi, John! Glad you liked the post….yes, I am from the same generation! I was recently thinking that I hadn’t heard from you in a long time. Hope all is well!