Misheard 90s Alternative Lyrics

The 1990s was a golden era for alternative music, giving birth to some of the most iconic bands and songs in music history. However, with the rise of grunge, Britpop, and other alternative genres, came a plethora of misheard lyrics.

Hear are some (pun intended) famously misheard lyrics from 90s alternative bands. See how many you got right and how many you still don’t know.

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Misheard Lyric: “Here we are now, in containers”

Actual Lyric: Here we are now, entertain us”

Kurt Cobain’s raw, gravelly voice was notorious for being hard to decipher, leading many to misinterpret this line. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for a generation, but not without a few laughs at the expense of its misunderstood lyrics.

Pearl Jam – “Yellow Ledbetter”

Misheard Lyric:“Make me fries”

Actual Lyric “Make me cry”

Eddie Vedder’ singing style in “Yellow Ledbetter” has led to a myriad of lyrical misinterpretations.

R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion”

Misheard Lyric: Let’s pee in the corner, let’s pee in the spotlight”

Actual Lyric: That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight”

To be honest nobody has ever thought that. We just thought it would be funny to type that.

The Cranberries – “Linger”

Misheard Lyric: “Were you lying all the time, was it just a game to chew?”

Actual Lyric: “Were you lying all the time, was it just a game to you?”

Dolores O’Riordan’s unique voice and accent in “Linger” made the song captivating, but it also made it sorta hard to understand.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”

Misheard Lyric: “I don’t ever want to pee, like I did that day”

Actual Lyric “I don’t ever want to feel, like I did that day”

Anthony Kiedis’s delivery in “Under the Bridge” struck a chord with many, plus, we have a theme going here.

Misheard lyrics, or “mondegreens,” often occur due to a variety of factors. Accents, vocal delivery, background music, and even our brains’ tendency to find familiar patterns all contribute to the phenomenon. In the 90s, the grunge and alternative scenes were particularly susceptible to this due to their raw and often mumbled vocals, or as we like to call it Eddie Vedder.

So, the next time you find yourself singing along to a 90s alt hit, don’t be surprised if you’re not quite getting the words right – you’re certainly not alone.