I was at a Bar Mitzvah last month standing awkwardly with my arms crossed at the back of the dance floor when I heard a group of seventh graders singing along to “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj. After I got over the chorus’ stunning, breathtaking lyrics and beautifully crafted melody, I realized that a group of seventh graders were singing “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj.

To those who have yet to be graced by Ms. Minaj’s glorious masterpiece, “Anaconda” is about a man who won’t have a relationship with a girl unless she has rather large buttocks.

I had to spend some time and thought decoding these lyrics, so I highly doubt the seventh graders knew what they meant. Or I’m mistaken and seventh graders have become much more raunchy in the three years since I was one. I generally don’t give seventh graders the benefit of the doubt, so I’ll assume they had no clue what they were saying.

Then again, seventh graders aren’t the only people at fault here. In terms of repeating song lyrics, we’re just as bad. But this “parrot syndrome,” a term I just now coined, is not always a bad thing.

I was in the car with my friend when “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor came on the radio. He told me his brother liked the song and was convinced it was about bass, as in the opposite of treble.

His brother was wrong. “All About That Bass” is about being confident with your body, regardless of shape or size. In this case, his “parrot syndrome” worked in his brother’s benefit by making him appear to be a better and more accepting person, even though he didn’t mean to be.

Either way, we need to think before mindlessly singing along to songs on the radio or at your relatives’ Bar Mitzvahs or anywhere in between. Most of the time it won’t have any significant negative effect, but you sound silly when you don’t know what you’re saying.

Also, that guy standing awkwardly at the back of the dance floor may write a column about you.