The Age of Asparagus
And Other Somewhat Understandably Misheard Song Lyrics
Song lyrics. We all get them wrong, more often than we’d like to admit. But rarely are we able to actually visualize these strange, misconstrued situations we absentmindedly sing about in our daily lives – that is, until our friend in the passenger seat laughs at us and calls us stupid. I am personally guilty of butchering lyrics to a point of unrecognition; and as someone whose artwork is frequently inspired by music, I thought I’d take this opportunity to embrace a few of my mistakes, and the mistakes of various people I’ve encountered, by visually reconstructing lyrics that have been twisted into pure, unadulterated nonsense.
Enjoy.
Sweet dreams are made of this Who am I to disagree? I travel the world And the seven seas, Everybody’s looking for something
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” // Eurythmics // Sweet Dreams // 1983
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off
“Some Nights” // Fun. // Some Nights // 2011
With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us A mulatto An albino A mosquito My libido Yay!
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” // Nirvana // Nevermind // 1991
Yeah I want yo body, need yo body Long as you got me you won’t need nobody You want it I got it, go get it I buy it Tell ‘em other broke [this word is bad] be quiet
“Whatever You Like” // T.I. // Paper Trail // 2008
When the moon is in the seventh house And Jupiter aligns with Mars And peace will guide the planets And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius Age of Aquarius
“The Age Of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In� // Fifth Dimension // The Age Of Aquarius // 1969
I try to say goodbye and I choke Try to walk away and I stumble Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
“I Try” // Macy Gray // On How Life Is // 1999
Shout to all my lost boys Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-shout to all my lost boys
we rowdy
“Bangarang” // Skrillex // Bangarang EP // 2011
It doesn’t matter what they say In the jealous games people play Hey, hey, hey
Our lips are sealed
“Our Lips Are Sealed” // The Go-Go’s // Beauty and the Beat // 1981
She was a fast machine She kept her motor clean She was the fastest damn woman That I ever seen
“You Shook Me All Night Long” // AC/DC // Back In Black // 1980
So much to do, so much to see
So what’s wrong with taking the back streets You’ll never know if you don’t go You’ll never shine if you don’t glow
“All Star” // Smashmouth // Astro Lounge // 1999
This book was created in the spring of 2014 by me, Alix Marson, at The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. This book has some typefaces in it and is printed on paper. I want to thank my brilliant professor and part-time life coach, John Hendrix. I would also like to thank my parents for letting me major in art. They were far less skeptical than I had anticipated.