Why Does ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down” Sing “Bruce”?
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 26: Jeff Lynne performs with ELO on the Pyramid Stage on day 2 of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 26, 2016 in Glastonbury, England. Now its 46th year the festival is one largest music festivals in the world. The Festival, which Michael Eavis started in 1970 when several hundred hippies paid just £1, now attracts more than 175,000 people. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Ultimate Classic Rock has cracked the code on that “Bruce” line in Electric Light Orchestra’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.” Turns out the line isn’t even “Bruce” but rather a vocal ad-lib made by Jeff Lynne saying “groose.” Lynne said he only kept the “groose” in after his German engineer asked him “how did you know that word? Gruss. It means ‘greetings’ in German.” Lynne decided “That’s good. I’ll leave it in.” and the rest is misheard lyrics history. Which song lyrics have you misheard or have sung wrong?
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