Discussion Mistaking song lyrics for something maybe better.

[Forever Sleep]

Has anyone had this experience? A song you know pretty well and probably like but you've been mishearing the lyrics for years?

In this song: (Baz Luhrmann: 'Everybody's Free (to wear Sunscreen.)



I always misread:

'Be kind to your KNEES, you'll miss them when they're gone'

as:

'Be kind to your NEEDS, you'll miss them when they're gone.'

It used to puzzle me what it meant (even though I'd misheard it!) Like surely- we'll always have needs? But then, having depression, anhedonia, ideation- I think a person does start to lose their needs. Not the basic ones- obviously- they still get hungry, thirsty but, a lot of the other things we once looked forward to/ felt we needed in life, don't even appeal. Like socialising, hobbies, sexual drive etc.

I used to mistake: 'I'm a soul man' for something else too but, I can't quite remember now.

Have you had this experience? Do you still prefer the version you thought you heard? The other one is where there are slight variations of the same song and it just throws you when it sounds different at some points- they've added or taken parts away. It's funny how songs/ music can mean so much to us. I think it's probably my favourite art form in a way. I listen to music everyday- do you?

 

[yellowjester]

yeah, it happens all the time when i listen to shoegaze. i think it's done on purpose though to give it some ambiguity and create that hazy effect. i always regret it when i look up the lyrics, it's better to give it your own meaning.

 

[NoPoint2Life]

Has happened my whole life, can't think of any actual example examples right this second. I have always been horrible at deciphering song lyrics.

These days, my issue is more than I know I am getting old because I use that same line parents use about their kids music. - "I can't understand a word they're saying!"