Most of us have favorite songs – sometimes it’s the beat, the melody, or the singer – and sometimes it’s the lyrics that get us. Probably more often, it’s a combination of these. But there are songs that stand out lyrically and tell a story.
What I’m looking at here is what happens when we change just a small part of the lyric of a song. The goal is to change the entire meaning of the song in as few words as possible, or to play off a part of the song.
KODACHROME, PAUL SIMON – This one is more just to set the table. For years I had this wrong, until one time I was singing it out loud and was corrected. When I was told what was right it all made sense. Instead of “Kodachrome,” I thought the lyric was “homegrown.” As in”Momma don’t take, my homegrown away.” Paul Simon was describing the wonders of color photography, I thought he was just high!
TINY DANCER, ELTON JOHN – Definitely on any Elton John fan’s must list.
“But oh how it feels so real, lying here, with no one near – only you, and you can hear me – when I say softly, slowly, hold me closer tiny dancer.” Change two words. Tiny Dancer to Tony Danza. Won’t hear that song the same again!
ROCK THE CASBAH, THE CLASH – Oh, a ground-breaking tune from a ground-breaking band. Change the lyric “Sharif don’t like it, rockin’ the Casbah, rock the Casbah.” Instead of Sharif, sing Sharia. Suddenly you have a commentary on fundamentalist religion with a one word change.
LITTLE RED CORVETTE, PRINCE – A song pretty much completely built on sexual innuendo. Change Red Corvette to Green Chevette. Changes the tone of the innuendo, eh? Still a Chevy, right?
ALL MY LOVING, BEATLES – OK, this one (and the next) might be PG-13. Consider yourself warned.
“Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, tomorrow I’ll miss you, remember I’ll always be true. And then while I’m away, I’ll write home every day, and I’ll send all my loving to you. All my loving, I will send to you – all my loving, darling I’ll be true.”
With a couple of changes – Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, tomorrow I’ll miss you, remember I’ll always be true. And then while I’m away, I’ll jerk off twice a day, and I’ll send all my loving to you. All my loving, I will send to you, all my loving, an envelope of goo. OK, go ahead, tell me – poor taste. Then tell me you didn’t laugh!
LOSING MY RELIGION, REM – I’m just going to post the lyrics, and then tell you one word to change. Take it from there.
Oh, life is bigger
It’s bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
(chorus)
That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight, I’m
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour I’m
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I’ve said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
(repeat chorus)
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try?
That was just a dream
Just a dream, just a dream
Dream
Now change one word – “religion” to erection. Again, tell me you’re not laughing when you sing it!
