When it comes to destroying lyrics there have been some real gems in the rock era. The aforementioned Jimmy Hendricks is a great example. Looking at the misheard lyrics I have formed an opinion on the subject. The mishearing is probably more hearing what the person wants to hear. Not I all cases, but in a good portion of the cases the misheard lyrics turn the lines into something more sexual than they are. I was right there in the sixties believing numbers two and three in this list. These are my five candidates.

1. Number one has to be from Credence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising. People easily went from “There’s a bad moon on the rise” to “There’s a bathroom on the right.” I have to say I didn’t get the line the first time I heard it but I was sure it didn’t have anything to do with a bathroom.
2. The Kingsmen made a ton of money on the mediocre song Louie Louie by virtue of a bad recording. It was so difficult to understand the lyrics that it allowed the teenagers of the late fifties and early sixties to let the imaginations run wild. They turned the line “Three nights and days I sailed the sea” into “Tonight at ten I’ll lay her again.” The thought that there is something dirty in the song made it a big hit.
3. Another song that enjoyed great fame because of destroyed lyrics was If You Want to be Happy by Gary US Bonds. I remember sitting by the radio waiting for them to sing the magic line and actually believing I was hearing it. They sang “Take it from me she’s a better catch” but I heard “She’ll always give you a piece of a**.”
4. One set of lyrics that could have only have been misheard on purpose was Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love. If you know the name of the tune, how do you go from “You might as well face it you’re addicted to love” to “You might as well face it you’re a d**k with a glove”?
5. Last but not least has to be R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion. To me these lyrics were very clear. I think someone heard this line when he was quite drunk and in need of a bathroom. The lines “That’s me in the corner. That’s me in the spotlight” were turned into “Let’s pee in the corner. Let’s pee in the spotlight.” Does anyone sober really think that’s what those lyrics are supposed to be?”

Misheard lyrics are fun; unless of course you are singing “Let’s pee in the corner” in your car, at a stop light with you windows down. At that point you may want to consider moving.