We’re all guilty of this. Here are some of my infractions (along with ones I know about and wish I were guilty of).

Song: Rock the Casbah (Clash)
Lyric as I sing it: Sharif don’t like it, Rocking the Casbah
Actual: Sharia don’t like it, Rocking the Casbah
I admit, this makes more sense. I spent a lot of time wondering who Sharif was. Imaginary, as it turned out.

Song: Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty)
Lyric as I sing it: It’s been a long day, giving and receiving
Actual: It’s been a long day, living in Reseda.
I told my mom about my perception of the lyric and then told her what the actual lyric was, and as an original LA native, she said, “Well, yes, it would be.”

Song: Somebody That I Used to Know (Goyte)
Lyric as I sing it: But you treat me like a stranger, and that feels so wrong.
Actual: But you treat me like a stranger, and that feels so rough.
So the real one rhymes better. Get a real band name.

Song: Down on the Corner (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Lyric as I sing it: Doritos can’t be beat!
Actual: Bring a nickel, tap your feet!
Didn’t know this until I looked it up for this post.

Song: Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Lyric as I sing it: There’s a bathroom on the right.
Actual: There’s a bad moon on the rise.
I know the way I sing it is wrong, but I’ve long enjoyed the wrong lyrics. And I will continue.

Song: Barbara Ann (Beach Boys)
Lyric as I sing it: Bob and Ann! Bob, Bob, Bob and Ann!
Actual: Barbara Ann! Barb- Barb- Barbara Ann!
As if I know any other lyrics to this song.

Song: Send Me on My Way (Rusted Root)
Lyric as I sing it: Simeon the Whale (this one isn’t actually mine, but really – this is great)
Actual: Send me on my way.
Easy mistake.

Song: It’s the End of the World as We Know It (REM)
Lyric as I sing it: The other night I took a nice continental trip to France, Mountain Sintan, Leonard Bernstein.
Actual: The other night I dreamt of knives, continental drift divide. Mountains sit in a line. Leonard Bernstein.
I could have picked basically any other part of the song and been as equally wrong. Like, “Lenny Bruce is not to blame” is really “Lenny Bruce is not afraid.” I mostly just sing “It’s time I had some time alone.” I get that part right.

Song: Dream On(Aerosmith)
Lyric as I sing it: Sing women, sing for the year.
Actual: Sing with me, sing for the year.
Actual lyric is less sexist. Nice going.

Song: The Joker (Steve Miller Band)
Lyric as I sing it: Some people call me Maurice, cause I speak of the pompitous of love
Actual: No, that’s right.
Hats off, Steve Miller. Hats off.

Also, despite being a fan for, like, 15 years, I still don’t know probably half of what Dave Matthews is going on about. There are too many examples of this to list here.

I bet tonight while I’m falling asleep I think up like 9 more of these.

EDITED TO ADD

Already remembered one.

Song: Time (Pink Floyd)
Lyric as I sing it: Pinking around a piece of ground in your home town.
Actual: Kicking around a piece of ground in your home town.
I like “pinking” better. Fits with “Pink Floyd” better.