You have been singing this song all your life and one day, out of nowhere, you’re informed that you’ve been singing the wrong words all along.

We’ve all been there before. Often times we hear wrongly the words to some of our favourite songs and at other times we repeat the lyrics we’ve heard from others.

Growing in Nigeria, there were some popular rhymes and songs that we all sang. We learnt these songs from our teachers, peers and joined the multitude in singing the wrong lyrics for ages.

Some adults till date do not know the correct lyrics of the song and are still singing the wrong words.

1. Sandalili Sandalili:

Every child who grew up in the 80s and 90s must have sung this song in primary school. Remember dressing up like a teacher, doctor or farmer during the end of year school party and singing this song with all confidence and pride, not knowing you were saying the wrong words.

Actually, the correct thing is, ‘standard living, standard living‘.

2. Jangilova epo motor:

This is another popular rhyme that has been sung wrongly for years. You’re on the swing and singing jangilova epo motor which you probably heard from your older siblings or friends. You’ve been singing the wrong thing because you had no idea it was even wrong.

So what is the original lyric to this rhyme, it is, ‘jingle over like a motor‘.

3. The most Excellency is Jesus:

This is one very popular Nigerian song sang mostly by Christians. Unknown to them, they have been singing it wrong.

The original song is, ‘the most excellent king is Jesus‘.

4. Osingo singo, praise the Lord:

Sure, you’ve been singing osingo singo praise the Lord since time immemorial. Someone must have invented this version which sounds ‘better’ than the original version. The person must have though the original version sounded boring and decided to change it.

How did we end up singing osingo singo when the right thing is, ‘O sing my soul and praise the Lord’.

5. HIP for the hip for the hipopo, hipo hipo for the hipopo:

The correct thing is HIP for the hip for the hipopo, ‘PO PO for the hipopo‘.

6. Old MacDonald had a farm iya iya o:

Most people thought they were hearing iya iya o and that’s what they have been singing. Sorry, you’ve been singing it wrongly as the correct thing is ‘Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E IO’.

7. With thanksgiving, as we are living, sanctuary, for you:

This is another one of the gospel songs that people have invented their own version. The correct version is, ‘With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary, for you’.

I committed all except 5,6 and 7 i knew the correct wording from my mother's womb