Mondegreens

[ksmith]

Mondegreens as defined here are misheard words, often song lyrics or prayers or such. Stephen King mentions an instance in Danse Macabre in which a child's transmutation of the phrase "grim reaper" into "green ripper" led to a few sleepless nights .

I think they're still trying to figure out the words to Blinded by the Light.

Comments

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Actually, I read an essay about this, and I can't remember if the woman created the name "Mondegrin" or found it through someone else. It comes from a song where she thought the chorus was finished off by the line "and Lady Mondegrin" implying she was a mourner for those who died, or some such.

Turns out the words were "and laid them on the green."

"Blinded by the light" is a great example. I know people who start singing Guantanamera (sp?) with "One ton tomato!"

By the way--this LJ style doesn't work correctly in FireFox--the black field to the right overlaps the Message box.