The Petra Zone

The other day my sister was listening to the Back to the Street cd, and after hearing "Whole World" for the thousandth time, I realized that Bob used a word that doesn't even exist. "But through the vague uncertainty, comes a bold assurity..." Assurity...there's no such word. The correct word would be assurance. Just to be sure, I looked it up in the dictionary---no "assurity" in there. Things that make you go "hmmm"...

as�sure (� sh�r�, � sh�r�), v.t., -sured, -sur�ing.
1. to declare earnestly to; inform or tell positively; state with confidence to: She assured us that everything would turn out all right.
2. to cause to know surely; reassure: He assured himself that no one was left on the bus.
3. to pledge or promise; give surety of; guarantee: He was assured a job in the spring.
4. to make (a future event) sure; ensure: This contract assures the company's profit this month.
5. to secure or confirm; render safe or stable: to assure a person's position.
6. to give confidence to; encourage.
7. Chiefly Brit. to insure, as against loss.
[1325�75; ME as(e)uren, assuren < OF aseurer < LL snot"c%r!re, equiv. to L as- AS- + s"c%r- (see SECURE) + -!- thematic vowel + -re inf. suffix]
�as�sur�er, as�su�ror, n.

This SURETY comes close in word and meaning. Although this exact word doesn't appear in the Webster Unabridged version, it comes close. (I know, close only counts in horseshoes and handgranades!)

What about coo-coo ca-choo, I am the walrus? Come on, it's rock and roll. Go with it.

I thought that said "coo-coo can chew"!!

I agree with Brent...musicians/songwriters are artists...and in some way, artists are inventers...if they want to come up with a word, they are allowed. Look at old hymns...if a word didn't fit into rhyme or withing the (musical) bar, then they used to 'invent' words to fit, e.g. "OVER" would be spelt "O'ER".

Just for the record...there are more songs that have petra-fied words

like?