h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You are needed, in your capacity as a Canadian person (My memory - which may be faulty - tells me this) to settle an argument.

The Canadian ladies Kate and Anne McGarrigle sing a song that begins

"Her hair was died black and she was bending down..."

My correspondents insist that it should be "dyed black.."

Mr Google, he say "died black". The Oxford dictionary says "dyed" but Canadians may well be different.

Please indulge, and reveal the correct (Canadian) spelling.

Thanks
P

I truly cannot speak with any authority for all my fellow Canadians - they are a varied mix becoming more varied by the day - especially as my own prejudgment in this case is a direct result of my mid-20th century, post-colonial, Canadian education. And there I was taught it would be 'dyed'.

'Died' would refer only to a post mortem condition.
'Dyed' is the past tense of dye.

The confusion might arise from the participle 'dying' which would apply to both situations when in a state of ongoing activity.

That said, I'd have to listen again to the song to convince myself it actually said either.
I'da thought it was:
"Her hair was tied back..."

But that's mondegreens for ya.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen


~jwf~

Thank you for your words of wisdom which I shall relay to the thread.

I could add a few mondegreens to the list. In fact I will, but another time. In this particular case, though, the words are written down (died) in the sleeve notes.

Probably printed in Taiwan.
Or the USA.

~jwf~

Your fears are founded "printed in the USA"