By Caroline Gentile ’13, News Section Editor, and Avery Maier ’13, News Section Editor

There are few things more awkward than being called out for singing the wrong words to a song.  Whether you’re in the car by yourself or at a school dance, learning that the lyrics you’d been proudly belting out are wrong is flat out embarrassing.   On the other hand, sometimes learning the right lyrics opens up a whole new level of understanding to the song (ie. “Ohhhh I guess it makes sense that she wasn’t actually singing about hot dogs!”).  To save you from uncomfortable situations and to help you decode confusing lyrics, here is a list of a few songs whose lyrics are commonly—or not so commonly—misheard (real lyrics are included as well).

Bennie and the Jets by Elton John-

What We Hear: She’s got electric boobs, below her shoes. Nanana I saw it’s greeeen…

The Real Lyrics: She’s got electric boots, a mohair suit/ You know I read it in a magazine/ Ohh…

***What the heck is a mohair suit? Sounds like some painful piece of clothing from the 70s. Most Elton John songs are difficult to understand anyways. As long as you get the melody, it’s okay to throw in random words. Nobody else knows the difference either…

Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC

What We Hear: Now it’s time to leave here, naked, alone

The Real Lyrics: Now it’s time to leave here, make it alone

Marry You by Bruno Mars

What We Hear: Is it the look in your eyes? Or is it the dancing Jews?

The Real Lyrics: Is it the look in your eyes? Or is it the dancing juice?

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

What We Hear: You better run, better run, faster than my puppet

The Real Lyrics: You better run, better run, faster than my bullet

*** Aside from parts of the chorus, it takes a lot of effort and commitment (and maybe a few trips to lyrics.com) to know the right lyrics to this song.

Drops of Jupiter by Train

What We Hear: Now that she’s back in the atmosphere/ with drops of Jupiter in her ear

The Real Lyrics: Now that she’s back in the atmosphere/with drops of Jupiter in her hair

(Personally, we think it makes more sense to put drops in your ear.   But that’s just us.)

Tiny Dancer by Elton John-

What We Hear: Hold my clothes and tie me down sir

The Real Lyrics: Hold me closer, tiny dancer

And a song for the recent holidays:

What We Hear: O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum/You come from every garden.

The Real Lyrics: O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum/ Du kannst mis sehr gefallen.

You May Be Right by Billy Joel-

What We Hear: You made the rice, I made the gravy, But it just may be some tuna fish you’re lookin for…

The Real Lyrics: You may be right, I may be crazy, But it just may be a lunatic you’re lookin for…

My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion-

What We Hear: I believe the hot dogs go on

The Real Lyrics: I believe that the heart does go on

Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan-

What We Hear: The ants are my friends, they’re blowing in the wind

The Real Lyrics: The answer my friends, is blowing in the wind