Gavin Edwards (1)

This book is a collection of misheard song lyrics -- lines people wrongly think they have heard in English- language rock, pop, and folk songs of the 1960s through 1990s.

For example, consider the line in Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind", when he apparently sings: The ants are my friends, they're blowin' in the wind..., and as reflected in the book's title, when Jimi Hendrix sings 'scuse me while i kiss this guy ("kiss the sky")

Likewise, in "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane), Grace Slick's soaring vocals remind us Remember, what the doorknob said... while Paul Simon complains that he . "gets no offers... just a come-on from the horse on 7th Avenue...".

As another example, Creedence Clearwater's "Bad Moon Rising", asserts there's... a bathroom on the right , while "Down on the Corner" advises You don't need a pinhead, just to hang around .

Some wrong lyrics are sung by people who know they are wrong, but who find amusement in what they sound like. For example, when Kenny Rogers sings "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille", who can resist singing along With four hundred children and a crop in the field... Likewise, there's the Beatles' Will you still feed me, when I'm six feet four... and their famous phrase about Lucy: the girl with colitis goes by...

As yet another example: to most English speakers, the refrain "Guantanamera" sounds just like One ton Tomato...; and if you've not heard it that way before, you'll never be able to sing the song correctly again. As another culinary offering, there's the Eurythmics Sweet dreams are made of cheese... Or in a social venue, in a gathering that's cheering on a jolly good fellow, you can amuse yourself by singing He's a delicate fellow...

With 275 misheard lyrics included, there are plenty to choose from. An especially amusing aspect is that most of the misheard lyrics are accompanied by clever, hand-drawn cartoons that illustrate the misinterpretation.

I cheerfully grant that this book is rather puerile, but I found it quite amusing. My copy now has plenty of turned-down corners to mark my favorites.… (altro)