mondegreens

Here's a word history that should be music to your years. If you've ever wanted a word to name misheard song lyrics, you now have one. Mondegreen names a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung — and the word mondegreen is itself a mondegreen.

The word comes from a story told on herself by writer Sylvia Wright, in an article published in Harper's Magazine in November 1954. When she was a girl, wrote Wright, her mother sang her the ballad The Bonny Earl of Moray. One verse goes like this:

Young Sylvia heard the last two lines this way:

They hae slain the Earl Amurray And Lady Mondegreen.

After learning she mourned in vain for poor Lady Mondegreen, Wright's chagrin changed into amusement and inspired the neologism. Mondegreen has since caught on.

Bob Dylan, “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Wrong lyric: The ants are my friend, they’re blowin’ in the wind
Right lyric: The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind

Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Bad Moon Rising”
Wrong lyric: There’s a bathroom on the right
Right lyric: There’s a bad moon on the rise

The Rolling Stones, “Paint It, Black”
Wrong lyric: I see a Renoir and I want to paint it black
Right lyric: I see a red door and I want to paint it black