Who dadee, woo dadee

I learned a new word today: mondegreen. It's the term used to describe when the lyrics of a song are misinterpreted because they sound like something else (yes, someone actually went a created an official term for this sort of thing; you can read about it here).

Reminds of the Lionel Richie song "All Night Long" which I always thought started with:

Well my friend, the time has come. Grab the woman have some fun.

Hey, the song is called "All Night Long", right? So taking that into context, the 'grab the woman" line makes sense. But actually, the line is "Raise the roof and have some fun". On paper, the line looks worlds apart, but I dare you to listen to the song and not hear my interpretation.

Anyways, it's funny that I should stumble across this word now because lately I've been listening to a lot of old Michael Jackson songs (I picked up the Thriller 25th Anniversary Album last month) and to me, Michael is the King of Mondegreen. It's amazing that MJ managed the level of success that he did when you consider that so many of his songs are incoherent. If you've heard his sing, you know what I'm talking about; only Mikey could away with warbling, hiccuping, howling and Hee-heeing his way through a song.

Thank goodness for the internet because I can finally look up the official lyrics to all the songs I could never decipher:

Thriller
You feel the cold showl, and wonder if you'll ever see the sun

What's a showl, some kind of monster name? Nope, according to the official lyrics, the line is "You feel the cold hand..." Showl...hand, good one Mikey!

Heal the World
Heal the world, make it a better place. For you and for me and the Anti-Human Race

Anti-human race? Sounds like Mikey was calling for the extermination of man to heal the world. But the actual lyric is "For you and for me and the entire human race"

Smooth Criminal
Ah...I won't even bother. I don't think ANYONE can claim to know the words without access to the official lyrics.

And finally, my favorite Michael Jackson Mondegreen song: Man in the Mirror. Let's look at some choice lines.

As I turn up the color phone
My baby's winter cold
This thing is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the street
Without enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see them eat

(As I, Turn Up The Collar On
My Favourite Winter Coat
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To Seen Their Needs)


A sighless disregard
A broken bottom town
And a one man store
They follow each other on the way to work
Coz they go no where to go

(A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On The Wind Ya' KnowCause They Got Nowhere To Go)

And no moustache, could've bend any clipper

(And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer)
Hell, that'd be a serious case of facial hair it if could bend a clipper

I've been a victim of
A selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
There is up with no hope
Not a nika to love (???)
Who dadee, woo dadee (????)
Pretending that they're not alone
A widow deepless God
Somebody's broken heartAnd a washed out jeans
They follow the pattern of the windless seaCoz they got no place to be

(I've Been A Victim Of
A Selfish Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home
Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone

A Willow Deeply Scarred
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' SeeCause They Got No Place To Be)

Ha, good stuff. But regardless, I gotta say that "Billie Jean" still kicks ass after 25 years. Listen to the first 20 seconds of that bass line intro and tell me you don't have urge to bust a move. Ow!!! Hee hee hee, hic!