hymns

We used to sing a Brownie song that had said "Dear God, teach us to love thee best of all." All through school I thought it said "Teachers do love me best of all!" -and would sing this at the top of my voice! cringe!

sarah

As a child i never really understood many of the messages in hymns, and frankly I didn't care. Anyway I remember thinking the lyrics for a certain hymn were "two-headed eagle in the law", as if by some divine right of christianity a mutant bird was patrolling our streets protecting all of christendom from heaven knows what. As I never took much notice of the Anglican teachings of such obscure lyrics I never questioned whether this was in fact what i was supposed to be singing. And I still don't know but im guessing "eagle" was probably "evil" and it would figure "law" was "lord". Other than that I've not a clue.

first kid on the block

there was this song called Trust and Obey we used sing that had the lyrics "then in fellowship sweet." I always sang "then in fellows of wheat."

Chad

When I was a child, we just to sing this song in church called Victory in Jesus. Part of the lyrics were "He plunged me to victory, beneath the crimson flood." (to understand the next part of this story, you have to know that there was a small town named Hickory that was a few miles from where I lived). Instead of the above lyrics, I always thought it said "He punched me to Hickory, into a sea of blood." I always hated that song because I could just imagine Jesus punched me under the chin, and me flying across the air into this bloody sea.

Chad

There was this one hymn that my church always sang. It went, "Our heavenly father,"
I always sang it "Our harily father,"
I pictured God as some hairy guy, just covered in fur.
I only found out the correct lyrics two years ago.

Squee

I used to believe that when we sang the hymn Surely Goodness and Mercy Will Follow You, that we were singing about Shirley and Mercy following us.

Anon

I used to dislike the old Sunday School Song, "I have the joy, joy, joy joy down in my heart," because I thought the lyrics were "down in my heart Tuesday." (Real lyrics: "Down in my heart to stay.") I sang it submissively for awhile, but got so bothered by the fact that, although today wasn't Tuesday, I still had the joy in my heart. So I would always sing the current day under my breath just to prove I was joyful today. (i.e. "Down in my heart Friday...")

Anon

We used to sing that old hymn that has a line "O God of Bethal by whose hand hast all our Father's led"
My Dad enjoyed fishing and I could never work out why God had taken all my father's lead.

Jon

I used to believe that part of the words to Handel's Messiah were "Bounce the ball." It wasn't until years later, after I came to know Jesus personally, and started reading the Bible that I realized they were quoting from Isaiah 9:6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
KJV

Jenn

This was actually my Mum's! For years,she would go around the house singing the harvest Hymn "Bringing In The Sheathes" ...but she sang "Bringing In The Sheep" !
Another hymn one ( my boyfriends) When he heard the lyrics "We Are Weak But He Is Strong" he thought it was "we are weak,but tea is strong" !

Alison

I used to think that Christ the royal master leaned against the throne. rather than leads against the foe.

Anon

As a child, when I first became acquainted with the song, "Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella", and for some time thereafter, I thought it was "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Is A Bella". I wondered what in the heck a bella could be. But I was sure it was something very evil, since the song seemed to be calling for someone to bring a torch to burn up Jeanette for being one!

Julia