Heard it on slowed down recording: "N**** can't drive with a broken back; At least he can polish the fenders". I am pretty sure the song is Movin' Out. N-word comes through loud and clear. If you have a variable speed player, give it a try.
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Songs with misunderstood lyrics
- Thread starter Lowner
- Start date
Jeez, I'll have to remember to make sure that when I'm singing rock and roll, I annunciate clearly and pronounce all words perfectly lest I be labeled a bigot.
Just because it sounds like the N word to you, doesn't mean that he said that. If it sounds like the N word to you at full speed, then it's probably still going to sound like the N word to you slowed down. (only slower)
It doesn't even make sense in the song - The guy with the broken back is "Sergeant O'Leary" which sounds Irish to me. Why would he call an Irish guy the N word? Why would the N word be used in that verse at all, it wouldn't make sense in the context even if that verse was about a black man, which it's not.
Listening to a slowed down tape means nothing. You act like that somehow scientifically proves what you think you are hearing. It doesn’t, it's worthless. Proves nothing.
This is a thread about misheard lyrics. Just go ahead and admit that you, and maybe some other, misheard those lyrics.
Billy Joel is not a bigot, and there is no "n word" in Movin Out / Anthony's song. Period. If you want to go on believing it though, you do have the right to be wrong.
Just because it sounds like the N word to you, doesn't mean that he said that. If it sounds like the N word to you at full speed, then it's probably still going to sound like the N word to you slowed down. (only slower)
It doesn't even make sense in the song - The guy with the broken back is "Sergeant O'Leary" which sounds Irish to me. Why would he call an Irish guy the N word? Why would the N word be used in that verse at all, it wouldn't make sense in the context even if that verse was about a black man, which it's not.
Listening to a slowed down tape means nothing. You act like that somehow scientifically proves what you think you are hearing. It doesn’t, it's worthless. Proves nothing.
This is a thread about misheard lyrics. Just go ahead and admit that you, and maybe some other, misheard those lyrics.
Billy Joel is not a bigot, and there is no "n word" in Movin Out / Anthony's song. Period. If you want to go on believing it though, you do have the right to be wrong.
Matthew Bryson said:
First of all, I never labeled Billy Joel a bigot; he is an artist. Artists sometimes use unpleasant images to convey a thought or to provoke a reaction. Second, I don't pretend to understand what was going on in his mind when he wrote the song, that is a fool's errand. If you don't believe that, read some of the comments that Dylan has made regarding analysis of the meaning of his lyrics. Third, I heard what I heard. I'm making no value judgements. Why are you getting so excited?
For a long time I thought Whitney Houston was singing "Climb every mountain", not "I'm every woman".
mobax said:
Sorry, I'm not excited at all.
I should have used a few smilies, I can see how that sounded like I was taking it a bit seriously... I promise, I'm not. 
I'm just stuck at work and bored so I was just typing a lot. Not trying to attack you or anything. I'm just a bored Billy Joel fan with time on my hands and an opposing opinion on this matter.
One final thought on the subject (I'm still bored - and I do promise that this will be the last I say on the subject) you gotta remember how Billy Joel pronounces words, like in Scenes From an Italian Restaurant where the name Brenda is pronounced "Brender". The way Billy speaks, I'd expect the phrase "and if you can't" to come out something like "an-IF-yer can't"
Matthew Bryson said:
Your point is taken. By the way, I meant no disrespect to Billy Joel who is a great artist.
And I have to confirm Matthews' reading. The lyric is actually "And if you can't drive with a broken back, at least you can polish the fender."
The song is rotten with people working hard for a goal and then being disappointed with it for dome outside reason
Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door,
She said,
"Sonny, move out to the country."
Workin' too hard can give me
A heart attack
You oughta know by now
Who needs a house out in Hackensack?
Is that what you get with your money?
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatore's down
On Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
He's tradin' in his Checy for a Cadillac
You oughta know by now
And if he can't drive
With a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
You should never argue with a crazy mind
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with overtime
Is that all you get for your money?
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
The song is rotten with people working hard for a goal and then being disappointed with it for dome outside reason
Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door,
She said,
"Sonny, move out to the country."
Workin' too hard can give me
A heart attack
You oughta know by now
Who needs a house out in Hackensack?
Is that what you get with your money?
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatore's down
On Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
He's tradin' in his Checy for a Cadillac
You oughta know by now
And if he can't drive
With a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
You should never argue with a crazy mind
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with overtime
Is that all you get for your money?
It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
mobax said:
...and I'm sorry that I accused you of making Billy Joel out to be a bigot. I went back and re-read your posts, and you really did not say any such thing.
At least we're not having a heated debate over the meaning of the lyrics to My Life
we all know that one's about transvestites, right?
Invalid Link Removed
seriously though, back to the thread (because it's a good subject)
Primus, Groundhog's day
Real lyrics: When I woke up this morning I felt a pang, I was hungering for some apple pie. Stumble in the bathroom,
Hung my hog a little bit, Washed the sleep out of my eye...
I had heard: When I woke up this morning I found my pipe, I was hungry for some apple pie. Smoked up in the bathroom while I hung my hog a little bit, Washed the sleep out of my eye...
The lyric: "I like smoke and lightning"
What I thought: "I don't smoke at night man"
Derived from being told to not smoke, thus: "Do Not Smoke In Bed!"
What I thought: "I don't smoke at night man"
Derived from being told to not smoke, thus: "Do Not Smoke In Bed!"
In addition to the misheard lyric website www.kissthisguy.com I am told there is another, similar site named after a line in Blowin' In The Wind. Link Removed (Yes. I know the actual line is "the answer, my friends". That would kind of be the point. I haven't been to that site. But I'll probably go now.
edit: Well, now I've been there and it's not a misheard lyric site at all. So never mind.
edit: Well, now I've been there and it's not a misheard lyric site at all. So never mind.
Bachman Turner Overdrive...
Bakin' Carrot Bisquits...every day!
Bakin' Carrot Bisquits...every way!
Bakin' Carrot Bisquits...every day!
Bakin' Carrot Bisquits...every way!
slipknotz said:
No, I think "Creeping Death" really is what they are saying, you did hear right. (it's also the name of the song, that's how I know that is what they are saying)
I remember a chick band from the end of the 80's had a song
Alex the Seal . ( our lips are sealed )
Alex the Seal . ( our lips are sealed )
SOAD song, Science, had a repeated chorus line "spirit-moves-through-all-things" according to the cd jacket, but it sounds more like "staring holes through all things", which makes perfect sense with the title...
I always thought it sounded like "your pizza's burnin" and knew I was hearing it wrong, but until now, I never actually knew what was being said! hah, thanks, I guess!Lowner said:
those misunderstood lyrics websites have me laughing for hours! nice thread.
until a few years ago, i thought it was "one toke over the line," which still kinda makes more sense to me, and instead of "china grove" i honestly thought it was "gerronimo."
yeah i guess i am deaf. but it is funny anyway.
yeah i guess i am deaf. but it is funny anyway.
leanne said:
You mean it's not "one toke over the line"? I thought that too....so how does that song really go?
and here's another (courtesy of my friend) - Rage Against the Machine: With a random case of funk...
