Friday Sessions #13: ‘Start as you mean to go wrong’ – ‘Aviation’, The Last Shadow Puppets

Many song lyrics combine poetry, metaphors and also ‘word play’ or ‘puns.’ A play on words is when we simply replace a word so that the meaning gets twisted in a strange or humourous way. In this week’s Friday Session, we are looking at the phrase, ‘start as you mean to go on’ which basically means to begin something in a positive way and maintain consistency. (You will find this phrase in many motivational /coaching slogans, tote bags, cushions or whatever… ;))

Examples:

“Just stay focused on your goals and start the year as you mean to go on.”

“I saw that you went for a run this morning.” “Good to see you’re starting as you mean to go on!”

Listen to the same phrase in ‘Aviation’ by The Last Shadow Puppets and you will find that ‘on’ is replaced with the word ‘wrong.’
Mama told me you should start as you mean
To go wrong
Or else you’re never gonna get it right

Lyrics:

Hot procession
Gloomy Conga of glum looking beauties
Strolling through the opening scene
Where’d you want it?
It’s your decision honey, my planets or yours?
Sectoral heterochromia

Aviation in the evening
I can feel it coming on
Mama told me you should start as you mean
To go wrong
Or else you’re never gonna get it right

Señorita
Well you need not come coke head close to me
‘Cause I can hear you perfectly clear from here

Aviation in the evening
I can feel it coming on
Mama told me you should start
As you mean to go wrong
Or else you’re never gonna get it right

Elementary hallelujahs
Annalise’s dulcet tone
Aviation in the evening
I just can’t leave it alone
I reckon I just might have broke the ice

The Colourama in your eyes
It takes me on a moonlight drive
It’s the way you wing it
While you’re figuring it out