‘Money for nothing and your chips for free’: 17 of the most commonly misheard song lyrics

We’ve all been there — singing along to a song with our friends when suddenly, we realize we’ve been belting out the wrong lyrics.

A few years ago, Starkey Hearing Technologies surveyed 2,000 people to determine the most commonly misheard song lyrics, and the results were quite amusing. It seems our brains have a knack for creating some truly bizarre interpretations. So, sorry to disappoint, but “Sweet Dreams” are indeed not “made of cheese.” OK, maybe cheese is indeed part of your sweet dreams, but it’s certainly not part of The Eurythmics’ hit song.

Here are 17 of the most hilarious misheard lyrics of all time.

Misheard lyric: “I like big butts in a can of limes.”
Correct lyric: “I like big butts and I cannot lie.”

One can only imagine how anyone would think this makes sense.

Misheard lyric: “Sweet dreams are made of cheese”

Correct lyric: “Sweet dreams are made of these”

Who are we to diss a brie?

Misheard lyric: “Take your teeth out, tell me what’s wrong.”

Correct lyric: “Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong.”

Luckily, ABBA’s unsolicited dental advice is just your mind playing tricks on you.

Misheard lyric: “We’re working for peanuts.”

Correct lyric: “We’re heading for Venus.”

Working for peanuts? Nah, we’re aiming for an interstellar vacay!

Misheard lyric: “I’m Terry Wogan.”

Correct lyric: “I’m every woman.”

Terry Wogan, are you there? Are you listening?

Misheard lyric: “We’re caught in a trout.”

Correct lyric: “We’re caught in a trap.”

Aren’t we all caught in a trout at some point?

Misheard lyric: “I remove umbilicals.”

Correct lyric: “I believe in miracles.”

These misheard lyrics would make for a catchy OB/GYN advertisement.

Misheard lyric: “Here we are now, in containers.”

Correct lyric: “Here we are now, entertain us.”

Well, it seems like Kurt Cobain’s lyrics took a wrong turn and ended up at the Container Store. Who knew Nirvana was all about organizing clutter?

Misheard lyric: “Blue seal in the sky with diamonds.”

Correct lyric: “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.”

When you think about it, “Blue Seal in the Sky with Diamonds” actually makes even more sense, considering the trippy arrangement of the song.

Misheard lyric: “Kicking your cat all over the place.”

Correct lyric: “Kicking your can all over the place.”

Please don’t kick your cat when listening to this song. Or ever.

Misheard lyric: “I can see clearly now, Lorraine is gone.”

Correct lyric: “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.”

Good riddance, Lorraine!

Misheard lyric: “Excuse me while I kiss this guy.”

Correct lyric: “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”

Love is love, Jimi. Love is love.

Misheard lyric: “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen.”

Correct lyric: “See that girl, watch that scene, diggin’ the dancing queen.”

Is it wrong to prefer the misheard version of the lyrics?

Misheard lyric: “Sue Lawley.”

Correct lyric: “So lonely.”

Who is Sue Lawley and why is Sting singing about her?

Misheard lyric: “Poppadom Peach”

Correct lyric: “Papa don’t preach” from Madonna’s

“Poppadom Peach” sounds like a restaurant we’d love to visit.

Misheard lyric: “Money for nothin’ and your chips for free.”

Correct lyric: “Money for nothin’ and your chicks for free.”

Free chips? Yes, please!

Misheard lyric: Hold me closer, Tony Danza”.

Correct lyric: “Hold me closer, tiny dancer.”

This misheard lyric even made it onto “Friends” back in the day, when Phoebe Buffay made us all feel a little better for our mistake.