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Why do I have so much trouble with song lyrics? More about my "lazy ear syndrome"

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Austin Texas Homes, LLC 453249

 

I was 9 years old when I started listening to the Beatles.  My mom bought me some of their albums, and others I purchased with lawn-mowing money.  I would study the lyrics as I played the records over and over again, since precision was important to me for some reason.  Even difficult and intricate lyrics like this one from "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" remain a part of my memory vault:

Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties,
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile,
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes...

 

As a side note, yes, this song is about LSD.  Don't let anyone convince you differently. 

At some point, lyrics must have become less important to me, or they stopped providing lyrics to read along with while listening.  For example, R.E.M. used to be notorious for never putting any lyrics with their CD's. 

Recently, I realized that there are some other tunes that I have enjoyed for many years, even though the lyrics in my mind don't mesh with reality at all.  In fact, while I was writing this post, I even discovered some new ones that I didn't even know about before.

One example comes from my junior high days, from Van Halen's exceptionally popular "1984" album.  Yes, I said album, not CD or even cassette tape.  I have the vinyl album (somewhere).  So, the song "Jump" came out when I was 13 or 14 years old, and it was among my favorites.   However, I later realized that one portion of the song had utterly eluded me, and it seriously changed the meaning of the verse in question.  Here's the real lyric, which appears just before the chorus:

Oh can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean ?

And here's the Jason Crouch version:

Oh can't you see me standing here,
I've got my back against the record machine
I eat the worst things you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean ?

As you can clearly see, this is a bit different from the original.  I always wondered why in the heck that line was in there, since it was such a cool song.  I learned the real lyric later, but I still stubbornly sing along about eating junk food.  Incidentally, I just learned TODAY that in "Hot for Teacher", they are singing "I've got it bad" rather than (my version) "I've got it made".  Just another example of my auditory ineptitude.

With apologies to my friend Paul Slaybaugh, who is a big-time fan of reggae and Bob Marley, I must admit that over the last couple of days I learned that Marley was actually singing "Stir it Up" in his early 70's hit rather than "Still in Love".  I even managed to mess up the title in this instance! 

I actually like my version better, so I think I'll just stick with it rather than changing.  I guess I am getting more set in my ways as I age.  As the reader, you have the benefit of knowing the lyrics already, but here's the song I am referring to:

 

I wrote another post back in October about my "lazy ear syndrome", if you are interested:
MORE song stuff - Am I hard of hearing? My Lazy Ear Syndrome

P.S. I still maintain that the most widely misunderstood song ever written is Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light", and even though I included this link back when I wrote on this topic in October, I think it bears including it again, partially because I have more people reading my blog now, and partly because it is hysterical.  I won't go into all of the variations that I have heard, but these guys did, and it is probably one of the funniest and most memorable sketches that I have EVER seen (give it time - the funny part starts at around 0:50 on the video):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6U29S--wn8

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If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can also visit my primary website at www.austintexashomes.com.  Thanks!

Comments (28)

Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

That cracked me up - I eat the worst things you've seen.  Hysterical. 

My baby nephew is obsessed with Bob Marley.  He's only 16 months and he walks around pointing at tvs and saying "bob".  My sister lost her Bob Marley DVD and tried to show him a tribute DVD where other artists were singing Bob's songs and even that wasn't good enough.  Gotta be "bob"!!

 

Feb 20, 2008 05:41 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

PAUL - I am not surprised that we would both mess up the same song.  I like the idea of David Lee Roth with his back against a wrecking machine eating sloppy joes and sauerkraut for lunch, perhaps on a construction site?  As for the lyrics, we will have to agree to disagree. :-)

Feb 20, 2008 06:14 AM
Elaine Hanson
Coldwell Banker Realty - Malibu | Topanga - Malibu, CA
REALTOR - Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded by the Light"  from his earliest, Dylanesque heavy lyric period.  Ok, that's out of the way.   

Paul, Cub Scouts?  Way to make me feel my bones creak.

Jason -Try to decipher these songs:
"Brass in Pocket"  The Pretenders
"Wooly Bully"  Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs
"Because the Night"  Patti Smith version -- originally written by Springsteen, lyrics altered by Smith, then altered by Springsteen again.

 

Feb 20, 2008 08:39 AM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD
I could go on and on messing up the lyrics, one that makes me laugh is when I was in Jr High and Saturday night fever, I am showing my age, was out my girlfriend thought the Bee Gees were saying "4 letter woman," instead of" More than a woman! " She would sing it like she was on stage, we used to laugh.
Feb 20, 2008 08:58 AM
Danny Thornton
R & D Art - Knoxville, TN
WordPress Guru

Jason, as I started to read this, I wanted to joke you. 1984 you were in JR High as I was in my Jr Year? Am I really that old????

And then, taking me down memory lane. oh boy. 

Feb 20, 2008 09:00 AM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

jASON:

Congratulations. I noticed you are number 3. I could not be prouder if you were my broker. Wait a minute you are my broker. Hey stop making me feel old with these posts. Ha

Feb 20, 2008 10:37 AM
Kristin Small
RE/MAX Southern Shores - Myrtle Beach, SC
REALTOR -GRI, Myrtle Beach Real Estate
Jason,
I have to agree with Paul on this one!  Marley's version is best!  Man, that guy was talented.
Feb 20, 2008 10:37 AM
Jolynne Photography, Creative Wedding Photography, Family Portraits, Bar Mitzvahs
Jolynne Photography - Hemet, CA
Bat Mitzvahs, Senior Pictures, Event Photography

Jason...That youtube video on "Blinded by the Light" killed me.

You are WRONG WRONG WRONG about Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Come on...the guys were very open about their drug adventures, their adultery...why would John be coy about that one silly song? When you say don't let anyone convince you otherwise, does that include John Lennon?

I just said my favorite lazy ear lyric to Jolynne the other night and now I can't remember it...if I think of it I'll return.

Feb 20, 2008 01:03 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Hilar Jason.  That cracked me up for sure.  How 'bout Hollaback girl by Gwen Stefani.  My son used to sing this in the car, "ooh-ooh, that's my shoe, that's my shoe".

 

My most detested lyrics:  "Objects in the rearview mirror may be closer than they appear", by Meatloaf.  Are you kidding me?  They actually made money from this song?

My fav picks- Smashing Pumpkins, The Police and Prince.

I'll throw some props to Marley too. Used to have a tie-dyed cloth poster of him on my bedroom wall in high school.

Feb 20, 2008 01:29 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Jason...Thanks for "Steeeering the Pot".  I'm lousy with lyrics.  Never have been able to remember them but my daughter and her two daughters learn them immediately.  They were all little kids when they developed that ability.  My daughter laughs at me when I sing along with a recording.  I'm always half a word behind.

I mentioned in a comment on your latest post that I was looking for a laugh.   Picturing myself singing did it.

Thanks,

Kathleen

Feb 20, 2008 03:18 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

RICH - Dude, I LOVE that commercial.  It is right on the money for me, too.  Good stuff - thanks for the link!

CHRIS - Your nephew apparently has impeccable taste in music already.  I don't dig tribute stuff either.  By the way, is that his actual picture?  What a great-looking kid!

ELAINE - Great trivia, my friend!  As for "Wooly Bully", I was in Cub Scouts when that one came out!  :-)  Actually, it reminds me of "Louie Louie", which always seemed a bit more self-aware in this department, as though they were TRYING to slur and make it harder to understand.  Springsteen is one of my all-time favorites.  I saw him in Dallas in 1985 or 1986 for the "Born in the USA" tour.  It remains one of the best shows I have seen.

Feb 20, 2008 03:25 PM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Jason,
I see absolutely nothing wrong with having your own versions....maybe it's because I have the same affliction.  LOL!  People  occasionally point out to me that my lyrics are incorrect but that does not stop me from singing "MY Way"
Feb 20, 2008 09:49 PM
Adam Waldman
Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY
Realtor - Long Island
JASON - I've owned the book Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy (mentioned above) for several years.  There was actually a comedian named Eddie Brill that did a whole bit on this.  My wife and I have seen him live a few times, and this one is always a crowd favorite. 
Feb 21, 2008 01:32 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

lol Gwen Stefani... my daughter's was This shiP is bananas... b a n a n a s.

Lucy in the Sky...LSD or no LSD, great song either way.

Feb 21, 2008 04:15 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Thanks - He is pretty cute in my humble opinion.  And yes, it's all "bob" all the time.  : )

www.stagingwebsites.com

Feb 21, 2008 04:21 AM
Eric Kodner
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Jason, I don't think it's so much caused by a "lazy ear" as it is the fault of a "lazy singer".

It ain't cool if your listener doesn't have to spend hours deciphering the lyrics!

Remember Bad Moon Rising ?... lots of folks thought the lyrics were "There's a bathroom on the right".

Feb 21, 2008 04:24 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

AUDREY - I love several of the songs from that movie, and I actually have that one on my iPod.  Great stuff!  I don't think I will be able to hear that song the same way again!

 

Feb 21, 2008 06:29 AM
Jan Wood
None - Gallatin, TN
Jason:  I made up my own words to different songs for years because I couldn't understand the singers.  Some of my lyrics are ridiculous.  But, hey, if it works, who really cares.  It takes the fun out of the song if you gotta get it right.  My husband said he made lemonade without lemons when he was a kid.  His sister made fun of him because he didn't have any lemons and was calling his drink lemonade... then they got in a fight and duked it out.   Drink your own brand of lemonade and sing your own lyrics... it's more fun.
Feb 21, 2008 02:57 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Jason, I don't hear well so I'd always had trouble with lyrics. Maybe it is lazy ear syndrome. I think it runs in the family because my kids used to say "Pokes Office." I'll let you guess what they meant.

One of my favorite stories about screwed up lyrics was some celebrity I saw interviewed saying she thought the song "Living on Tulsa Time" was "Living on Toast and Wine."

Bill Roberts

Feb 23, 2008 04:24 AM
Sharon Filbig
Prudential California Realty - Escondido, CA
San Diego County Real Estate
You ever get those songs stuck in your head that drive you nuts cause you don't know the words?Sometimes curiosity gets the better of us and we break down and look up the lyrics on the internet.  We now keep a file with song lyrics.  We have an amazing collection; everything from Orinoco Flow (Enya) to the Modern Major-General to the real original Spiderman Theme.  It's the End of the World as We Know It (R.E.M.) is much more fun to sing along with now that I actually have somewhat of a clue as to what the words are.  I caught my husband singing along with Sting the other day . . . "I'm an alien, I'm an eagle alien . . . ".  Seriously! Guess he needs to see the printout on that one!
Feb 25, 2008 03:56 PM