Why is it that when I listen to a song, I don't hear some of the words correctly?

Question

When I read the lyrics to a song, I discover that I didn't hear some of the words correctly.

Answer 1

They`re probably not pronounced very clearly by the artist. I always though that Desmond Decker was singing `Me ears are alight` instead of `The Israelites`.

Answer 2

That is a common thing and happens to most of us. It may simply mean that the music interferes with understanding the words, or the singer did not articulate the words clearly. It is often difficult to understand all the words of many songs.

If you think you have more trouble with it than most people do, arrange for a hearing screening, but most likely it is just a reflection of the fact that song lyrics are not always easy to understand.

Answer 3

This happens to most people. Songs are often quick, and not always clear. You may think that you hear a word that sounds similar to another, but the real word will be completely different.

Answer 4

the words we miss may be sung too quickly for us to catch them

i hear this same phenomenon with tv sound

Answer 5

I can't say why you do it, but when you mishear the lyrics, it's called a mondegreen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen