By Maki
Pedants, those detail-obsessed souls, walk among us, forever poised to pounce on a misplaced comma or a historical inaccuracy. When their gaze turns to music, however, things get complicated. Songs are, after all, more about emotion than precision. Still, for those of us with a pedantic streak, the irresistible urge to nitpick remains. Let’s take a stroll through some classic tracks, where facts and grammar take a back seat to artistic licence—and consider how singers themselves deal with their mistakes.
Some songs are lyrical landmarks—until you fact-check them. Take Africa by Toto, a anthem teeming with errors. The poetic line "Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti" conjures a striking image, but geography disagrees. Kilimanjaro is nowhere near the Serengeti, and likening it to Mount Olympus feels more like a mythological non-sequitur than an accurate metaphor. Yet the emotional resonance of Africa somehow survives the scrutiny.
Similarly, U2’s Pride (In the Name of Love) pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but Bono sings that he was shot "early morning, April 4." In truth, King was assassinated at 6:01 PM. It’s a glaring error, especially given the gravity of the subject. Bono later admitted the mistake but argued that the sentiment of the song—the celebration of King’s legacy—overshadows the slip.
Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams provides another lyrical eyebrow-raiser with the claim, "Thunder only happens when it’s raining." While evocative, the statement is meteorologically false. Thunder occurs during storms, yes, but rain isn’t always present. This line is less about weather science and more about emotional turbulence—a perfect example of how songs prioritize mood over reality.
If there’s grace in getting things wrong, some artists have mastered it. Herman’s Hermits’ Two Silhouettes tells a story of romantic voyeurism gone hilariously awry when the narrator realizes, “It wasn’t my house, it wasn’t my spouse.” In My Mistake by Split Enz, the song’s title becomes a cheeky refrain as the narrator fumbles through a series of blunders, while Tindersticks’ Mistakes embraces human fallibility with rueful charm. These songs show that self-awareness can turn errors into endearing traits.
For grammar purists, certain lyrics are like nails on a blackboard. Deacon Blue’s Real Gone Kid commits the crime of "should have did" instead of "should have done." It’s a jarring deviation for sticklers.
Then there’s Frank Zappa, who gleefully throws grammar to the wind in You Are What You Is. With lines like "Is you what you is, or is you ain’t what you am?" Zappa turns grammatical chaos into an art form. Pedants might cringe, but even they must admire the audacity whilst reluctantly admitting that he may actually be doing it to piss them off!
Not all errors in music are accidental. Some songs revel in manipulation and deceit, turning truth-twisting into an art. In We Both Reached for the Gun from the musical Chicago, Richard Gere’s character charms the press with a knowingly false narrative, spinning a lie so compelling that it becomes accepted as fact. First Aid Kit’s The Lion’s Roar similarly explores the power of storytelling, lamenting just how willing many people seem to be not only to tolerate misinformation but to embrace it and make it their truth if it fits.
For pedants, songs present an eternal paradox: they can be riddled with errors, yet still move us profoundly. The factual inaccuracies, grammatical slip-ups, and intentional distortions are not flaws but features, reminding us that music is not a term paper. While the pedantic impulse to nitpick will always exist, it’s worth remembering that perfection isn’t the point.
So, as Toto bless rains that may or may not fall on the Serengeti, or Fleetwood Mac rewrite the rules of weather, let’s allow ourselves a moment to bask in the imperfect magic of music. After all, in the realm of song, it’s often the mistakes that make it memorable.
A-List of Inadvertence:
Toto – Africa
U2 – Pride (In the Name of Love)
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
Herman's Hermits - Two Silhouettes on the Shade
Split Enz - My Mistake
Tindersticks - Mistakes
Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid
Frank Zappa - You Are What You Is
Richard Gere - We Both Went for the Gun (From Chicago)
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
No B-list … but here’s a …
Wildcard Pick:
Manu Chao – Infinita Tristeza
Twisting the truth about the birds and the bees – the speaker addresses children as follows: “We have decided to reveal this mystery to you because we don’t want you, great friends of the truth and authenticity, to be taken in… by ignorant opinions,” before going on to do just that.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: A pedant writes: songs about being right or wrong, with corrections. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address. Also please follow us social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.