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  • Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza – a guide to our favourite misheard lyrics


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A guide to our favourite misheard lyrics
Ever wonder what Kurt Cobain was singing about in the chorus of Smells Like Teen Spirit? "I'm a lotto, and a bad-o, a mosquito, jalapeno"... or maybe it's "Bob DeNiro in a speedo"? Hard to tell – sounds like a bunch of gibberish. The fact is, we are all victims of mishearing lyrics – we all have songs that we like to sing along to, only to find out that we have been wrong all these years… but sometimes we grow attached to our own interpretations: Evil Woman by ELO sounds much better when you sing the words, "burrito woman" in the chorus; when Celine Dion sings "I believe that the heart does go on" you could swear it sounds like "I believe that the hotdogs have gone"; and I am sure that in the Manfred Mann song Blinded By The Light, the singer is going on about being wrapped up like a feminine hygiene product (one that sounds a lot like deuce). These are examples of what are commonly referred to as mondegreens: misheard lyrics or aural malapropisms that tend to ‘stick’ and become absorbed into pop culture. Here is a list of some of our favourite misheard, misquoted and mis-sung-along-to songs:     
 
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ELTON JOHN - ''TINY DANCER'':
Actual lyrics: ''Hold me closer, tiny dancer''
Misheard lyrics: ''Hold me closer, Tony Danza”
You know, Tony Danza doesn't really get the respect he deserves. The guy is an icon – he was the real boss on Who’s The Boss – everyone knows that! Quite frankly, it’s too bad Sir Elton didn’t write more songs about him, or any other washed up TV stars for that matter... How about Doogie and the Jets? Or Daniel (Bonaduce)? Still, I love the thought of Elton and Tony Danza embraced in a big bear hug!!! (credit: Getty Images)
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Posted on 30/04/2010 at 3:44 PM
Misheard lyrics
mcawesome
I spent several years thinking the lyrics to "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood were "Bake/bring me a pie of love"
Anonymous
Posted on 01/05/2010 at 12:17 AM
Micheal Jackson song
Posted on 01/05/2010 at 12:22 AM
Wow!
Larry777
Very good list, but I cannot believe one of the all time best were omitted from it. A CCR classic....(actual lyrics: "There's a bad moon on the rise"....(misunderstood lyrics):"There's a bathroom on the right"!
Posted on 01/05/2010 at 12:29 AM
Papa Don't Preach
Anonymous
Back in the 80's my cousin kept singing "Coppertone Beat" instead of "Papa Don't Preach" (Madonna)... LOL!
funkeymonkey
Posted on 01/05/2010 at 12:36 AM
Misheard Lyrics
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