Poll: Bless or Miss? (and any other debates about lyrics)

[Andy Shandy]

Without getting into too much details (lest it influence your decision), I was just having a friendly "debate" with someone in one of the user groups about the lyrics of Toto's Africa (don't ask how this came about XD) or specifically one of the main lines "I [word] the rains down in Aaaaaaaaafrica!"

One of us believes it to be bless, the other miss. So to settle this debate, what do you hear? Bless, miss, or something else completely?

Here's the video for you to listen to, and decide.


And to add a bit more discussion that just finding out which one of us the majority believes to be right...have they ever been any times like these you've had with someone before, and with what song/lyrics?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I said it in the usergroup, and I'll say it here.

How else is the joke hilarious?

 

[DoPo]

I always thought it was "I guess it rains down in Africa". But I haven't looked it up or listened if it makes sense in context, though.

EDIT: Now I looked up the chorus (I'll not share what the word was, though) and I must say...I don't think either of the options or my version make any sense in context.

 

[IndomitableSam]

I used to think that in "In the Air Tonight" (love that song, one of my favorites) that is was "Hold on" as in "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on" .. but it's actually "Oh Lord"... I still like my version better.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I think people "hear" miss because it makes more sense, even though they are definitely saying bless.

 

[Professor Lupin Madblood]

I think people "hear" miss because it makes more sense, even though they are definitely saying bless.

Yeah. They're definitely saying bless, but miss makes more sense in the context of the song.

Personally, I always thought that the line in this song


at around the 1:24 mark went "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common herd" and I was always astonished that the second line was "Limitless is the power of will as it yields to his command" instead of "his every word."

Imagine my surprise when I looked up the lyrics and discovered that the first line in fact reads "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common man," despite that not sounding even a little bit like what the guy is singing.

Also, I love this band. Shameless plugging.

 

[shrekfan246]

I used to think that in "In the Air Tonight" (love that song, one of my favorites) that is was "Hold on" as in "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on" .. but it's actually "Oh Lord"... I still like my version better.

Huh, I always thought it was "hold on", too.

You've shattered my world, I hope you're happy.

Also, it's totally "bless the rains". That chorus is pretty weird.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I think people "hear" miss because it makes more sense, even though they are definitely saying bless.

Yeah. They're definitely saying bless, but miss makes more sense in the context of the song.

Personally, I always thought that the line in this song


at around the 1:24 mark went "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common herd" and I was always astonished that the second line was "Limitless is the power of will as it yields to his command" instead of "his every word."

Imagine my surprise when I looked up the lyrics and discovered that the first line in fact reads "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common man," despite that not sounding even a little bit like what the guy is singing.

Also, I love this band. Shameless plugging.

Seen them live. They were awesome. I prefer their older stuff, but that's probably just because that's when I saw them.

 

[Professor Lupin Madblood]

I think people "hear" miss because it makes more sense, even though they are definitely saying bless.

Yeah. They're definitely saying bless, but miss makes more sense in the context of the song.

Personally, I always thought that the line in this song


at around the 1:24 mark went "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common herd" and I was always astonished that the second line was "Limitless is the power of will as it yields to his command" instead of "his every word."

Imagine my surprise when I looked up the lyrics and discovered that the first line in fact reads "Immersed in arcane secrets so ghastly to the common man," despite that not sounding even a little bit like what the guy is singing.

Also, I love this band. Shameless plugging.

Seen them live. They were awesome. I prefer their older stuff, but that's probably just because that's when I saw them.

Yeah, Kiuas have always had trouble following up successful albums. They're really capable of greatness, but it's the consistency of it that's screwing with them.

I mean, there's a lot to like on Reformations, and I adore Lustdriven, but they're not quite as memorable as The Spirit of Ukko or The New Dark Age.

 

[Queen Michael]

I thought it was "blessed" the rains.

 

[Blunderboy]

I always though it was bless.
Also this.


You know it was coming.

 

[Vuliev]

Had a friend once that thought the eponymous line in AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was "Dirty deeds, and a dun-der Jeep."

I have no idea what the fuck a "dunder Jeep" was supposed to be.

 

[Xarathox]

Another greatly misheard lyric is Manfred Mann's Blinded by the light. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWVL4B-4pI] Specifically the line "revved up like a deuce". Most people hear "wrapped like a douche", which is hilariously wrong, and makes no fucking sense.

 

[Images]

I always thought it was watched the rains...

 

[thejackyl]

EDIT: It's "When Two Are One" by Atreyu

There's a line that's screamed three times throughout the song "... Painter's Brush Stroke", and me and my friend always hear it as "...Penis Mushroom".

It's around the one minute mark

 

[MMSouthpawVIII]

Had a friend once that thought the eponymous line in AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was "Dirty deeds, and a dun-der Jeep."

I have no idea what the fuck a "dunder Jeep" was supposed to be.

I once had a girlfriend who legitimately believed that it was "Dirty deeds Done to sheep"

It would have been one thing if she just thought she was trying to be funny, but she was stubborn and argued until I made her look it up. Glad that's over.

OT: The main example of this I can think of is my own from The Offspring's Pretty Fly. I think I was 7 or 8 when this song came out and up until about 2 years ago I thought the line "At least you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake" was "At least you'll know you can always go out and get laid."

 

[Reginald the Butler]

Well, when I was younger I thought that U2's Sunday bloody Sunday was saying "someday buddy someday". I look back on it and shake my head now.

 

[game-lover]

Bless. That's my vote. It's what I'm sure I heard when I heard on those infomercials about ordering mixed CDs with greatest hits of the 80s and shit. In any case, it sounds better to me.

To answer your other question... I'm sure plenty of times it's happened. It's even happened without a debate and I've needed a correction. Michelle Branch's "All You Wanted" has a line:

"If you want to... I can save you and..."
When I heard it, I always thought it was "If you want to, I can take you in." I sang it in my junior high Algebra class and someone politely corrected me. I still went to researched the lyrics myself but there you go.

I used to think that in "In the Air Tonight" (love that song, one of my favorites) that is was "Hold on" as in "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on" .. but it's actually "Oh Lord"... I still like my version better.

Serious?? I thought it was "hold on," too. I don't hear the D at the end. Why don't I hear the D?

 

[smithy_2045]

Yeah, it's gotta be bless. Doesn't really sound like miss.