Thursday Hymn “Stuff” : Misheard Lyrics

August 26, 2010 in Hymn Reflections with 26 Comments

Each Thursday on the blog we “reflect” on a hymn. Today, though, we thought we’d stay with the hymns, but do something a little fun.

Most people have heard a song sung in church or a devotional and thought, “Is that REALLY what it says?” only to find out later that you have misheard the lyrics.

For example, when I was a kid, people used to sing the song “Never Grow Old.” That is a wonderful song about heaven, and I love leading it now. But when I was a kid, I didn’t hear it right and it made me want to avoid heaven. Why? I thought they were singing, “In a land where we’ll never GROW!” When you’re a small kid, not growing isn’t something worth singing about.

Now it’s time for you to tell your favorite stories. What are some songs you have misheard?

About Adam Faughn: Adam Faughn preaches for the Lebanon Road Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. He is happily married to Leah, and they have two children: Mary Carol and Turner. Adam enjoys writing, reading, and sports, and hopes to help as many people as possible go to heaven.

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Claire

“Tis midnight and on Olive’s brow…” always gave me a visual of Olive Oil from the cartoon Popeye with a star on her forehead.
http://gravelhillchurchofChrist.com Bradley Cobb

These are all ones that Either I or one of my friends/family misheard during our childhood.

“The angels PECKED ON ME from heaven’s open door” (this made a kid desperately scared of angels, especially the statues of them).

“Low in the GRAVY lay Jesus my Saviour”
“Up from the GRAVY, a rose” (this one absolutely made no sense until I learned how to read and saw that it wasn’t gravy.”

“we shall come rejoicing bringing in the cheese”

“FATHER Along WILL know all about it” (who is this Father Along, and why haven’t I heard about him in the Bible if he will know everything?)

“ERNEST LEE, TENDER LEE, Jesus is calling”

And my personal favorite….

“Are you sowing the seed of the KING, DUMB BROTHER?” I loved to sing this song as a kid while standing next to my little brother… But I digress…

Brad
Claire

Also, “Night with Ebon Pinion, brooded o’er the vale / All around was silent save the night wind’s wail” made me think of an endangered species of whale that we were supposed to save, and he was a pretty noisy whale at that.
http://scottmccown.wordpress.com Scott

From trust an obey “we will walk by His side in the way.” As a younger brother, I was always in someone’s way, I did not want to get in God’s way too.

A classic is “Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear.”
Ponna Mahan

As a child, my daughter thought it was, “Are you sowing the seed of the king, dumb brother?” (Could it be she was referring to Todd?)

This World Is Not My Home was the favorite song of our grandson Jeffrey Clippard, but as a little boy he would sing, “Oh Lord, you know I have no friend look like you!”

Not a song, but we actually heard a gentleman who was leading a public prayer say, “Father, we thank Thee that we are able to assemble here without fear of molesting anyone.”
Sandy Puckett

My uncle told me once that he also used to think Jesus was laying in the gravy.

My oldest son used to sing with vigor, “He punched me to victory beneath the cleansing flood! (Victory in Jesus)

Speaking of prayers, I always snicker when I hear, “Lord, please bless those who are sick of our congregation.”
Jason J

I always heard my name in lyrics of “Who at the Door is Standing?”
“…Though he rebuke and chasten…”

I remember as a child looking up at my parents with a big smile when I heard that.

Oh and prayers… I remember a young teen praying one time for a family in the hospital having a baby. “…please help everything come out alright for the Jones family…”
http://dwhitsett.wordpress.com Dwight Whitsett

When we lived in Australia our children sang, “Here we are, Australian pilgrims, here our path is often dim…”
And…
“I heard and old, old story, how a Savior came in glory….He socked me and bopped me with his redeeming blood…”
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http://fumblingtowardseternity.theobloggers.com nick gill

Alright, y’all owe me a new netbook. I spewed coffee all over this one.

“Though He rebukin’ Jason…” that’s just too awesome!

“Socked me and bopped me???” I love it!

I guess one good thing about being converted as a young adult is that I learned all the songs from the hymnal!
http://Mitchellskelton.com Mitchell Skelton

My best friend’s name growing up was Hope. She hated “Whispering Hope”. So of couse I requested it EVERY singing night! Ahhhh good times. . . Good times!
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Joe Adams

My niece tells about one Sunday during a particular hymn she noticed her three year old daughter, in her own little world, singing a different tune: “Now momma don’t dance and daddy don’t rock and roll”.
Jim Faughn

Then there was the guy who thought God’s name was Andy — Andy walks with me; Andy talks with me…
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Rachel

I always thought it sounded like a snake when we sang…”The BleSSed goSpel iS for all, the goSpel iS for all. Where Sin haS gone muSt go hiS graCe. The goSpel iS for all.”
http://www.yettobestudios.com/blog Heather Wamble

I know it’s already been mentioned, but it was one of the funniest things EVER!

We were in the van when our boys had a huge meltdown. Our oldest son was singing, “Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother”… we’re delighted that he’s picked up a new “church song” to sing. Our middle son just abruptly starts sobbing quietly, then becomes very upset with us for not chastising Son 1. Son 2 says weepily: “He’s calling me names and you DON’T EVEN CARE!!” (Son 3 is very tickled by now, by the way!) We say, “Oh, honey! What are you talking about? We didn’t hear anything but singing! What’s wrong??” He replies with, “He called me a DUMB BROTHER!”

It was SO funny, and we tried so hard not to laugh, because Son 2 was SO upset. And Son 1 was indignant and Son 3 is still giggling.

A week or two later, we were at my parent’s congregation. My dad, being a minister in need of cute content for the bulletin, added this story to it. Sons 1 & 2 were reading the bulletin, and neither of them liked having the story shared too much – which of course, made it so much harder not to find it funny. But now they laugh about it & sing it loud, and sing it their way: “Are you sowing the seed of the King, DUMB BROTHER?”
http://joeysparks.net Joey Sparks

Amanda & I have probably seen every episode of the original Iron Chef, which was made in Japan. Miso is a common ingredient in Asian cuisine. So whenever we sing “Why did my savior come to earth…” I fight to keep from thinking about Asian food…

“He loved me so…”
Shirlley

I have laughed so much, I’m teary-eyed! What a wonderful way to start a Friday morning.
Pat Adams

You made me laugh out loud! My little sister used to sing, “Go tell it on the mounting; over the wheels and everywhere.” And many years ago, when I was teaching a kindergarten Bible class, one of the mothers said her son was singing the books of the New Testament at home. When he reached, “Hebrews, James…” he stopped and asked, “Mommy, who bruised James?”
Adam Faughn

Since we’re leaving ones about our kids, I’ll let you in on one about Turner.

One of his favorite songs is “Victory in Jesus.” He sings it ALL the time. However, he doesn’t quite get the ending, so he walks around the house singing:

“He punched me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood!”

Kinda changes the meaning.

GREAT stories so far!!! WOW!!!
Charles Franks

from my wife, “My head Thou dust…” imagining Him sprinkling dust on people’s heads.

from another good brother here, “Here are mice and meat! Lord, send meat!”

when my son was 3 or 4, he asked for “The Sino Song” and we said “what?” and he said “Jesus loves me, the Sino.”

recently my almost-3-year-old daughter asked for “the zeeky song,” which of course begins “Zeeky first the kingdom of God….”
Sandy Puckett

Adam and Dwight…our sons must have been on the same wavelength…Christianity must be very violent! Or maybe they’re just all boys!
Amber

OK, one of my favorites is instead of “Send the Light, the blessed gospel light” … “Sin the lie, the blessed gospel lie.” Enunciation is sometimes key!
http://scottmccown.wordpress.com Scott

Here is a link to Trey Morgan’s blog about a little girl misunderstanding and singing the wrong words quite loudly in Bible Class – http://treymorgan.net/hide-it-under-a-bush-hell-no/