Growing up, music and rhymes were part of everyday life. We sang at school assemblies, during playtime with friends, and in church on Sundays. Yet many of the songs we belted out were not exactly the way they were written. Our young ears picked up what they thought they heard, and before long, new versions were born.
One of the most unforgettable examples is the childhood rhyme “Sandalili.” Almost every Nigerian child grew up chanting, “Sandalili, sandalili, sandalili, sandalili, sandalili.” What many did not realise at the time is that the original words were “Standard Living.” But who cared about economic policy at that age? “Sandalili” sounded catchy, playful, and easy to repeat. To this day, it remains part of our cultural memory, with most people still singing the “wrong” version with pride.
Church songs also suffered the same fate. The hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves” became “Bringing in the Sheets” in the mouths of children. For some, it was easier to imagine folding laundry than understanding what “sheaves” meant. Likewise, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus” was often sung as “Sandall, sandall for Jesus.”
International hits were not spared either. Many children sang Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean is not my lover” as “Billie Jean is not my brother.” Celine Dion’s ballads were transformed into whatever sounded closest to our ears. Even nursery rhymes were changed along the way, creating versions that no textbook ever approved.
Looking back now, these lyrical blunders were part of the magic of childhood. They reflected innocence, creativity, and a knack for finding fun in simple things. We may laugh at ourselves today, but those misheard lyrics shaped our memories of playgrounds, family gatherings, and school assemblies.
So the next time you hear “Sandalili” or catch yourself mumbling the wrong words to a familiar tune, smile and remember: it was never about getting it right. It was about the joy of singing out loud and being part of something we all enjoyed.