Today is National Name Yourself Day! Can you tell I’m paying a little too much attention to the weird and random holidays lately? This one reminded me of an episode of the TV show Friends. In it the principle character Phoebe decided to legally change her name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. The problem? She had no idea what a banana hammock actually was. Hilarity ensued.
A few years ago, I learned that I sang the wrong words to the 2005 song “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects. Apparently oblivious to the NAME of the song, I believed the lyrics to the chorus were, “And even when your hope is gone, mow the lawn, mow the lawn just to make it through.” Changes the meaning a bit. Just like Phoebe’s name of choice changed from whimsical to weird when she understood that Banana Hammock was more than just a funny word.
Following my realization, I threw up a post on Facebook asking others to share their best misheard lyrics. I’ll share a couple that made me spit coffee out of my nose. My Allie used to sing the praise song, “You are the everlasting God” as “You are forever asking God”. Might be some truth there. If pop music is more your thing, a friend’s grandson sang Maroon 5’s megahit “Moves Like Jagger” as “I’ve got to move like dragons, I’ve got to move like dragons.” And Princess Consuela herself thought Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” went “Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza”. I’m sure many Who’s the Boss fans relate. But one of my favorites, Billy Joel’s “Keeping the Faith”, has a whole new meaning when interpreted as “Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a kick in the face!”
A couple of weeks ago, the 23rd Psalm, Verse 6 reminded me of a misheard lyric of my own. I grew up singing the hymn based on this passage, “Surely Goodness and Mercy”. Even as a child, I had the words right – I held the hymnal with them in my hand. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” A cheery song that left me wondering what in the world surely goodness was.
I believe the word of God is without error, but a comma would have helped 2nd grade Lauren understand just what we sang about. Read this with a pause where I placed the comma. “Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Surely. A sure thing. Without a doubt, goodness and mercy follow me wherever I go. Because I belong to Jesus, goodness and mercy surround me. Always. In every way. Wow.
May a pause between two words encourage you today.
And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!
Jennifer Ross touched me with her sweet tribute to her daughter and a miracle working God in The Gift of a Rose… I have a baby girl (16 now) with the middle name Rose as well. Praise God for His precious gifts.
1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.
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We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.
MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
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LAUREN SPARKS
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This post had me giggling Lauren! What a lovely surprise to see my post featured here.
Thank you, blessings
Jennifer
It is my pleasure to send others to your page, Jennifer.
This is such a hilarious post! I laughed out loud about your mishap about mowing the lawn. I definitely understand the need for a pause here and there to understand the words of the Bible better.
Thank you, Astrid!
A comma can make all the difference in the world. I remember, though, a minister quoting from the King James version, saying “Those commas mean something.” Sadly, no – those commas in King James don’t. They were put there because they “sounded good” to be put there. I know I must have heard so many lyrics wrong growing up – and still do now, but I cannot think of a one! However, yours were just awesomely,endearly, entertainingly sweet ones! I hope there are many pauses in my week so I can get the full good meaning of it right! Shalom, Lauren! ~ Maryleigh
Thank you for your encouraging comments, Maryleigh!
Ha! Thanks for the smiles today, Lauren. I had to see what your post was about after I read the title! By the way…I used to think CCR’s Bad Moon on the Rise was “There’s a Bathroom on the Right”! 🙂
Have you ever read the book “Eats Shoots and Leaves”?
I have not read that book, but I’m looking it up now!
I’ve had lots of mis-sung lyrics through the years myself, Lauren. And misunderstood meanings even when I had the words right! lol. As an adult, I look back to some of the songs I sang as a teenager on the radio and NOW I understand what they mean. Oh my. 😉
I know exactly what you mean!
Lauren, what a fun post! There are songs that I know I’ve misunderstood (and hence sung wrong) the lyrics. Laurie’s above about the CCR song comes to mind, but also Elton John’s song, “Benny and the Jets” has some hilarious misquotes, though I can’t think of any off-hand (it’s too early in the morning here).
Thanks for starting my day with a smile!
I will have to look up Benny and the Jets misquotes now!
Lauren, this is a brilliantly entertaining post! A few years ago I was in a record store in North Carolina and they had drink coasters that shared funny lyrical misinterpretations and one of them had the Tony Danza/Tiny Dancer lyric. I almost bought them and I probably should have because they were very funny. So my misheard lyric story is this…when I was about 12 and just learning about sex things, my mom was listening to The Contours’ “Do You Love Me” from Dirty Dancing…when they sang the line “I can mash potato, And I can do the Twist”, I gasped out loud, asking my mother how they could say that in a song. She had no idea what I was talking about until I revealed that what I heard was, “I’m a masturbater and I can do the Twist.” OMG, how my mother laughed and laughed at me!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
OK. Two things. That is hysterical. And as I’m reading this, I’m sitting in a car service lounge and hearing, “She’s Like the Wind” over the loud speaker. Not same song but same soundtrack!
Sometimes it’s amazing what we think we hear! I got a kick out of your post today, Lauren. Thanks for the smiles.
I’m glad you liked it! I have two more posts coming up that are all quotes of misheard lyrics. So get ready to laugh!
Thanks for the laugh, Lauren! I used to sing “Bringing in the Cheese” with gusto–until I read the words and realized it was ‘Bringing in the Sheaves.’
I do like to bring the cheese into my mouth!
Thanks for the chuckles, as I came here to read! When our kids were young, their friend brought his Mom’s Billy Joel “tapes” to listen to, and they all danced around singing, “We won’t start the fire,” instead of “We didn’t start the fire.” That gave this babysitting Mom a lot of smiles for my day then, and a lot of smiles for my day now too! Blessings to you!
Didn’t and won’t are both sentiments a babysitter would like to hear from their charge regarding fire!
Loved these stories of misinterpreted songs. My mind is vaguely remembering the same type thing. But unable to think of a complete story to share.
Thanks for linking up at legacy linkup
So glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to check out today’s post and the one from last Friday. I was having so much fun gathering misheard lyrics that I got two full posts of them. Guaranteed to make you laugh! https://laurensparks.net/2021/04/misheard-lyrics-and-grace-and-truth-link-up/ and https://laurensparks.net/2021/04/misheard-lyrics-part-2-and-grace-and-truth-link-up/