Thank you to Jim Adams, who hosts Song Lyric Sunday and gives us the chance to share lots of familiar, and some not so familiar, songs.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs, you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
The theme for this week is Zodiac animals. I’m choosing “Dog”, man’s best friend. I’m not choosing a song with dog in the title, or the lyrics, but a song by Three Dog Night.
Did I hear you say “Who?”
Well, I suppose it depends how old you are! I must admit that they were never amongst my favourite, go to bands, but the song I’ve chosen was amongst my collection.
Until I started to look into their history I had not realised that they are still active today, albeit with only 2 of the original line up. They formed in 1967, the year of my first flight, a 13 hour trip in a turbo prop Brittania, on my way to my first overseas posting in Bahrain. Ah, those were the days! The days of Radio Luxembourg, Radio Caroline, The Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan as Governor of California, the last man hanged in Australia, Muhammad Ali refused military service, Elvis married Priscilla, Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men were captured in Bolivia; they were executed the following day, The Abortion Act 1967 passed in the British Parliament and received royal assent two days later, The term “Black Hole” came into being.
We’ve come a long way since then. Or have we?
Anyway, here they are Three Dog Night. I hope you enjoy “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”
Mama Told Me Not to Come
Want some whiskey in your water
Or sugar with your tea
What are these crazy questions
That they’re asking of me
This is the craziest party
That there ever could be
Oh, don’t turn on the light
‘Cause I don’t want to see
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain’t the way to have fun
Open up the window
Let some air into this room
I think I’m almost choking from
The smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you’re smoking
‘Bout to scare me half to death
Open up the window sucka
Let me catch my breath
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
The radio is blasting,
Someone’s beating on the door
I’m looking at my girlfriend
She’s passed out on the floor
I seen so many things
I ain’t never seen before
I don’t know what it is
But I don’t wanna see no more
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
She said, that ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun,
Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me
Told me, told me,
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Randy Newman
Mama Told Me Not to Come lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Fantastic song choice Peter :O) x
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Always listen to your Mum!
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Ah, 1967, the year before Graham and I tied the knot!
I’m not a fan of listening to other people’s choice of music because mostly I’ve never heard of them and typically don’t enjoy the tracks, therefore hardly ever listen. Your choices, however, I know I will enjoy and today was no exception!
Loved this song back in its time and enjoyed listening to it today, thank you.
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Opportunity Knocks! Forgot to add that memory for 1967.
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Of course! Fancy forgetting that! We wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for Opportunity Knocks! It opened so many doors!
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This is such a fun song Peter, thanks for sharing it.
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Great choice!!
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Randy Newman!
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Yes indeed!
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Ahh, brilliant choice, Peter! It doesn’t sound at all dated either. Probably because it’s such a great song, and the later release by Tom Jones & The Stereophonics kept it current. I didn’t know Randy Newman wrote it, which also speaks volumes! There certainly was a lot going on in 1967, worldwide, but in your life too. It must’ve been daunting & exciting at the same time, being sent to Bahrain & on a plane too..it’s hard to imagine. My only memories were of being a 6 year old!
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I like the sassy humorous tone of this song. 3DN has had some good hits.
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Great song, and I remember it well! We saw Three Dog Night in concert in Oklahoma City way back then. Awesome! 🙂
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