We would all like to think through the years we’ve mastered the lines to our favorite holiday songs, but sometimes those lyrics are confusing or not as recognizable as we believe. This leads us to confidently blurt out substitute phrases. The dictionary calls this a mondegreen, a series of words that results when someone mishears lyrics. Amazon has pulled together a list of holiday mondegreens for your entertainment. Which carol have you been misquoting?
“Auld Lang Syne”
Misheard lyrics: “Should all acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mine, should all acquaintance be forgot in the land of old man time.”
Real lyrics: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days o’ auld lang syne?”
“The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Misheard lyrics: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your toes”
Real lyrics: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose”
“Winter Wonderland”
Misheard lyrics: “Later on, we’ll perspire”
Real lyrics: “Later on, we’ll conspire”
“Deck the Halls”
Misheard lyrics: “Don we now our day of peril”
Real lyrics: “Don we now our gay apparel”
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”
Misheard lyrics: “Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walkin’ home from outhouse Christmas Eve”
Real lyrics: “Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walkin’ home from our house Christmas Eve”
“We Three Kings”
Misheard lyrics: “We three kings of porridge and tar”
Real lyrics: “We three kinds of Orient are”
“Winter Wonderland”
Misheard lyrics: “In the meadow we can build a snowman and pretend that he is sparse and brown”
Real lyrics: “In the meadow we can build a snowman and pretend that he is Parson Brown”
“White Christmas”
Misheard lyrics: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card arrived”
Real lyrics: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write”
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
Misheard lyrics: “To touch their hearts of gold”
Real lyrics: “To touch their harps of gold”
“Sleigh Ride”
Misheard lyrics: “Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, ‘You fool!’”
Real lyrics: “Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, ‘You hoo!’”
“Good King Wenceslas”
Misheard lyrics: “Gath’ring wine and gruel”
Real lyrics: “Gath’ring winter fuel”
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
Misheard lyrics: “Oh come holly faithful”
Real lyrics: “Oh come all ye faithful”
“Joy to the World”
Misheard lyrics: “Let men their sins enjoy”
Real lyrics: “Let men then songs employ”