Ever belted out a Barenaked Ladies song at the top of your lungs, only to find out you’ve been hilariously wrong the whole time?
You’re not alone—misheard lyrics (aka “mondegreens”) are a rite of passage for fans of this quirky Canadian band.
Today, we’re setting the record straight with five BNL classics you’ve probably been singing wrong, plus the laugh-out-loud stories behind the mix-ups.
1. “If I Had a Million Dollars” (The “Kraft Dinner” Debacle)
The misheard lyric: “If I had a million dollars, I’d buy you a green dress… but not a real green dress, that’s cruel.”
The truth: It’s “but not a real fur dress,” a nod to animal rights—though fans still argue green dresses would be just as questionable.
Fun fact: Frontman Steven Page once joked that he’d accept “green dress” as an alternate lyric if it came with a million-dollar check.
2. “One Week” (The Speed Rap Slip-Up)
The misheard lyric: “It’s been one week since you looked at me, threw your arms in the air and said, ‘You’re crazy!’“
The truth: Ed Robertson actually says “cocked your head to the side and said, ‘I’m angry’“—but the rapid-fire delivery turns it into a universal karaoke fail.
Fan story: A Reddit user swore they sang the wrong version for 10 years until their teenaged niece roasted them at a family BBQ.
3. “Pinch Me” (The Snack Food Snafu)
The misheard lyric: “I could hide out under there… I just made you say ‘underwear’!“
The truth: The line is “I just made you say ‘Kerplunk’“—a reference to the sound of falling, not laundry day.
Bonus: The band leans into the confusion by sometimes shouting “UNDERWEAR!” live, because why not?
4. “Brian Wilson” (The Breakfast Blunder)
The misheard lyric: “Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did… with my eggo and my teddy bear.“
The truth: It’s “with my ego and my Teddy Bear” (the latter being Wilson’s piano).
Hilarious side effect: Fans now joke about waffle-themed BNL tribute bands called “The Eggos.”
5. “The Old Apartment” (The Rodent Mix-Up)
The misheard lyric: “This is where we used to live… with mice in the walls!“
The truth: The actual line is “with lines on the walls” (from measuring kids’ heights), but the “mice” version spawned memes about haunted apartments.
So next time you’re jamming to BNL, remember: even their correct lyrics are delightfully weird.
Which misheard lyric shocked you the most? Drop your favorite BNL “mondegreen” in the comments—we promise not to judge (unless it’s *really* funny).
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