“head over heels” by tears for fears

original: it's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand

what i thought: it's hard to be a man when there's a girl in your head

(which one’s better?)

“step” by vampire weekend

original: while home in new york was champagne and disco

what i thought: alone in new york, champagne and disco

(projection: i am often alone in central new york)

“impossible germany” by wilco

original: this is what love is for, to be out of place

what i thought: this is what love is for, to be at a place

(i was studying abroad at the time and became attached to my version of the lyric)

“505” by arctic monkeys

original: frightened by the bite, though it's no harsher than the bark

what i thought: frightened by the bible, it’s no harsher than the dark

(alex turner's accent, and oh, just the occasional existential dread)