Misheard Lyrics Holiday Edition

[JoanneAZ]

Actually it is "paws" according the all the lyric sites.

That's (from Merriam-Webster):
paw
verb
pawed; pawing; paws
Definition of paw (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb
1: to touch or strike at with a paw
2: to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually
3: to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof
4: to flail at or grab for wildly
intransitive verb
1: to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof
2: to touch or strike with a paw
3: to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually
4: to flail or grab wildly
5: to search especially carelessly or roughly pawed through the box of discount items

I know I’m splitting hairs here but, all of the lyrics I can find use pause. As in the reindeer pause their flight so Santa can leave the presents. Also, if it was paw as per the definition used it would be reindeer paw not paws.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know I’m splitting hairs here but, all of the lyrics I can find use pause. As in the reindeer pause their flight so Santa can leave the presents. Also, if it was paw as per the definition used it would be reindeer paw not paws.

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3138194/gene+autry/up+on+the+housetopThe song was originally written in 1864, using "paws". Now, grammatically that would have been incorrect, but that's what it was. Maybe they fixed what they perceived to be incorrect when it gained popularity in 1950s. There were some changes made in the intervening years. For example, the verse about "little Bill"
1864:
Look in the stocking of little Bill
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here's a hammer and lots of tacks
Whistling ball and a whip that cracks

1950s
Next comes the stocking of little will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
Also a ball and a whip that cracks
OR
A basketball and a whip that cracks (in some reports)

 

[JoanneAZ]

The original written in 1864 by Benjamin Hanby.


What were the original lyrics to Up on the Housetop?
Santa May Not Be Recognized (Original Title, 1864 by Benjamin Hanby)
Up on the house top, no delay, no pause
Clatter the steeds of Santa Claus;
Down thro’ the chimney with loads of toys
Ho for the little ones, Christmas joys.
O! O! O! Who wouldn’t go.
O! O! O! Who wouldn’t go,
Up on the house top, click! click! click!
Down thro’ the chimney with good St. Nick.
Look in the stocking of Little Will,
Ha! Is it not a “glorious bill?”
Hammer and gimlet and lots of tacks,
Whistle and whirligig, whip that cracks.
Snow-white stocking of little Nell,
Oh pretty Santa cram it well;
Leave her a dolly that laughs and cries,
One that can open and shut its eye

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Not exactly mishearing of lyrics, but DH was mid-thirties before someone (me) suggested to him that it might be Daddy dressed as Santa that Mommy gets caught kissing.