Mondegreens (Figures of Speech)

MONDEGREENS (Figures of Speech)

In 1954, American writer Sylvia Wright wrote how her mother used to read her a poem that ended:

They have slain the Earl of Moray
And laid him on the green.

But young Sylvia hadn't quite caught what her mother was saying, and instead thought it was:

They have slain the Earl of Moray
And Lady Mondegreen.

And so the grown-up Wright coined the term "mondegreens" for those misheard poems and song  lyrics that bring us such laughter:

• Round John Virgin='round yon virgin (Silent Night)
• Jose, can you see?=Oh say, can you see (Star-Spangled Banner)
• There's a bathroom on the right=There's a bad moon on the rise
• a monk swimmin'=amongst women (the Rosary)
• 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy='Scuse me while I kiss the sky
• I led the pigeons to the flag=I pledge allegiance to the flag

"Mondegreen" was added to major dictionaries in the early 21st century.

---

Navigation:

• View this post on Facebook or Instagram
• Go to the Mini-Lessons Index

(Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons; CTTO)