11 Obscure References in Classic Songs—Explained!

[KamaAina]

http://mentalfloss.com/article/32295/11-obscure-references-classic-songs%E2%80%94explained

3, 4, and 5. "Down Under," Men at Work
“Traveling in a fried-out Kombi” ... “He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich” ... “Where beer does flow and men chunder”

This tune is full of Australian slang, which is what made much of it indecipherable to those of us above the Equator. A “Kombi” is what is officially called a Volkswagen Type 2 in Oz, but the nickname comes from its German moniker: Kombinationskraftwagen. Americans know it better as a VW Microbus....

11. "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)," The Proclaimers
“And if I haver, yeah I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you.”

Thanks to the thick Scottish accents of Charlie and Craig Reid, “haver” actually sounds like “heaver,” which makes one think of chundering (see above). However, in Scotland and northern England, to haver is simply to talk nonsense or babble.

[malthaussen]

1. And here I thought the first line if "You're So Vain" was...

"You had one eye on the mirror as you watched yourself go by," which makes perfect sense. Who knew it was "gavotte?" Moreover, who knew "gavotte" is apparently obscure?

-- Mal

[pinboy3niner]

2. "There's a bathroom on the right"

John Fogerty got such a kick out of the misheard lyric to 'Bad Moon Rising' that he began singing the line that way once every time he performed.

[malthaussen]

3. At my first Senior Prom, the vocalist altered Sinatra's "My Way"

... to "I did it sideways," which I loved because I hate Sinatra. (Well, Nancy's okay. Miniskirt and go-go boots, yum)

Misheard and edited lyrics are fun. I love the old Christmas carol "Angels will eat ham on rye."

-- Mal

[catnhatnh]

4. Rhonda...

"Well since you put me down
There's been owls puking in my bed....."