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I'm A Pool-Hall Ace, With Every Step You Take

Posted at 10:41 AM on July 8, 2009 by Steve Seel (5 Comments)

Fewer installments of our 9:30 Coffee Break have been as popular as today's, when we invited you to share your favorite mis-heard song lyrics, also known as mondegreens. You're aware of the most well-known ones, such as "'scuse me while I kiss this guy" from Hendrix's "Purple Haze," or Manfred Mann's notoriously misunderstood rendering of "revved up like a deuce" from Sprinsteen's "Blinded By the Light." One of my favorites is the line "how my poor heart aches" from The Police's "Every Breath You Take," mis-heard and mis-quoted in the headline above.

Jill and I were falling on the floor laughing at many of your submissions today. Again, there were just too many to do the subject justice. What we decided to do was play a less commonly known one, followed by a classic. So:

1) Fleet Foxes, "Quiet Houses" (the repeated phrase "don't give in" mis-heard as "donkey man")
2) Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Bad Moon Rising" (you probably know "there's a bathroom on the right")
3) The Ramones, "I Wanna Be Sedated" ("I want a piece of bacon" or "I want a piece of Elliot," neither of which we'd heard)
4) The Beatles, "Ticket to Ride" ("she's got a chicken to ride")
5) The Pretenders, "Middle of the Road" ("I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me" as opposed to "my pains behind me")
6) Jimi Hendrix, "Purple Haze" (the papa of them all, mentioned above)

Thanks so much to everyone. Like we said on the air, this was so popular, we will definitely do it again. Wanna share more? Feel free to do it in comments.

Comments (5)

"Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman: Eventhough it makes no sense and would be vitually impossible, at least while driving a car, I thought the line, "Your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder" was "Your arms and legs wrapped 'round my shoulder". I knew it was silly, but that's the only thing I could hear..

Posted by wellst | July 8, 2009 11:21 AM

Remember that one-hit wonder band from 2000, The Corrs? Their single was called "Breathless" and the chorus went "Go on, go on, come on, leave me breathless". I always misheard the lyrics, singing along with "come on, feed me breakfast".

Posted by Caitlin | July 8, 2009 12:36 PM

I'm embarrased to say that I STILL hear the chorus of Gear Daddies "Stupid Boy" as "you're just another stupid who**". The fact that the lyric is the title of the song makes it even worse.

Craig

Posted by Craig | July 8, 2009 12:42 PM

The first line of Gorrillaz song Feel Good inc. says "City's breakin' down on the camels back", but my nice pointed out that it sounds like "Santa's breakin' down on the camels back" I thought that one was pretty good.
Another one from a long time ago, on the album KISS ALIVE, at the end of the song "She" where Ace Frehley has a guitar solo, Paul Stanley shouts "Ace Frehley, lead guitar!". A friend used to think he said "Ace man, Cheech & Chong!" My all time favorite!

Posted by Drew Brosi | July 8, 2009 1:46 PM

I know the title is "I Wanna Be Adored", but I've always heard The Stone Roses sing "I Wanna Be Your Dog". I love it paired with The Stooges actual "I Wanna Be Your Dog".

Posted by Janice | July 9, 2009 9:04 AM

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I'm A Pool-Hall Ace, With Every Step You Take

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July 2009
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