Lyricide

Lyricide: (`lear-e-side) v. The murderous act of unwittingly changing the words to a song in a manner that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, esp. those laughing at you.

I have always had a knack for slaughtering the words to songs. As a child I remember being corrected by my parents and three older siblings whenever the offense occurred and, as a result, was often shamed into thinking that I was indeed the only person on earth who was guilty of inadvertently changing song lyrics. I suppose I could look at my family’s intolerant corrections in one of two ways: 1. Perhaps they were just trying to prevent me from looking stupid in front of my friends at a later date. You know, protecting my social ego. Or 2. They were fulfilling the unspoken obligation of older siblings which condones treating little sisters like foolish, low-life scumbags for doing something they were too embarrassed to admit they had done themselves. That’s probably more like it, but that’s not my point. My point is that if you like music and you like to sing, you are probably guilty of what I refer to as lyricide.

Just this last week while singing my lungs out to Beyonce’s Put a Ring on It, I realized that I had been murdering the lyrics to yet another favorite title and, in this case, completely altering the song’s message–a double offense. Yes, I understand that this is an empowering song to women everywhere. I also know that it carries an overt message to men who are too chicken to commit before it’s too late. And, of course, I got the “uh-ah-oh-oh-oh-oh’s.” However, prior to this week, I didn’t realize that the shout-out at the beginning of the song was to “All the single ladies.” Instead, I thought the lyrics read, “All the single A’s. All the single A’s,” and therefore assumed that this was an anthem for all of us flat-chested women out there who, like myself, have been rejected by men because of our small....cup size. This is a perfect example of how lyricide need not make an ounce of sense to the perpetrator. Had I stopped and realized that Beyonce hasn’t worn an A cup since the first grade, I could have logically deduced the unlikelihood that she would sing a song devoted to flat chicks. Nevertheless, I was able to self correct and spare myself the embarrassment associated with being caught in the act of lyricide by a newly acquired friend or, worse, a know-it-all family member. Whew!

Now, one might think that I would be so embarrassed by this ridiculous misinterpretation that I would sheepishly keep it to myself, ashamed of my faulty logic, unwilling to admit my ignorance. But that is not my style. Instead, I did what my older siblings taught me. I conferred with friends, soliciting every lyrical offense they had committed in an attempt to keep me from feeling like such an idiot. Needless to say, I found the validation I was seeking and would now like to draw attention to their mistakes in a shameless effort to make myself feel better.

Speaking of “shameless,” my friend Leslie has a sister who insists that the famous Garth Brooks ballad is sung by a man who repeats over and over the line, “I’m shavin’.” Again, an example that no logic is needed in the senseless act of lyricide-- a point I am sure that Leslie has brought to her younger sister’s attention while fulfilling her obligation as the older sibling...

Then there is Tracey who admits to ruining one of her husband’s favorite Journey songs by inserting the words “broken arms” every time Steve Perry croons to the love of his life, begging for her affection. Tracey is also a David Bowie fan who observes that during the chorus of Modern Love it sounds as though the singer is yelling, “Garden Gnome!” After giving this some thought and inserting the words myself, I wondered if this is what writers of Geico commercials studied before using gnomes in their latest ads: Garden gnome...terrifies me. Garden gnome...no confessions. Garden gnome...no religion, Garden gnome...gets me to the church on time... Just a thought.

Finally, my cousin Maryjo could swear that Irene Cara’s Flashdance song tells listeners to “take your pants off and make it happen”–a line that might make perfect sense had one just viewed the movie and heard the song performed in its original context. Now, I knew I could depend on Mo to provide me with some great lyricide material when just two years ago at a family reunion she and I discovered that we both had been slaughtering the words to REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feelin’ in the same exact way. For years we had been singing, “You’re a candle in the window and a corn dog when it’s night.” After all, what better way is there to profess one’s love than by using a metaphor comparing her to a greasy lunchtime food, generally reserved for five-year-olds and accompanied by a side of mac n' cheese? The fact that two cousins could generate this same psychologically deranged thought process is uncanny. And, for me, it is down right comforting to know that I am not alone.

One final thought. Lest you think you are innocent of the crimes described above, I beg you to think again. Consider the often misquoted words of lead singer, Chris Thompson who not only shares my name but also this profound thought: People who say they have never committed lyricide, are more than likely “blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche, you know, the rumor in the night...” Think about it. You know you are just as guilty as the millions of fans who for years have tried to make sense of what Chris is saying in that famous seventies hit. And moreover, I think it’s time you were corrected. Just call me and I will give you the numbers of my three older siblings. They’ll set you straight. They know it all.

*Thanks to Leslie, Tracey, Mo, and Arielle for their lyricide contributions and to my siblings who have given me enough material to last a lifetime.

Just remembered another one..."Like a rhinestone cowboy...getting carts of lettuce from people I don't even know..."