Rock Music

Randy Newman wrote “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” for Eric Burdon’s 1967 album Eric Is Here. The cover by Three Dog Night was on their 1970 It Ain’t Easy album. They also released it as a single in 1970, and it rose to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #2 in Canada, #3 in the U.K., #12 in Germany, and #14 in The Netherlands. Newman says that the song was his reflection of Los Angeles in the late 1960s. Other versions of the song include those by Tom Jones & Stereophonics, P.J. Proby, Wilson Pickett, Randy Newman himself, Lou Rawls, and The Slackers, just to name few.

Three Dog Night formed in Los Angeles in 1967. Group members were Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, Chuck Negron, Jimmy Greenspoon, Joe Schermie, Mike Allsup, and Floyd Sneed. Over the years, the lineup has changed, of course. They were a hit machine. Between 1969 and 1975, they had 21 U.S. Billboard Top 40 hits and 12 RIAA gold records.  Cory Wells does the lead vocal on “Mama Told Me (Not to Come).”

Here are the lyrics:

Want some whiskey in your water? Sugar in your tea?
What’s all these crazy questions you’re askin’ me?
This is the craziest party that could ever be
Don’t turn on the lights ’cause I don’t wanna see

Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
“That ain’t the way to have fun, no”

Open up your window, let some air into this room
I think I’m almost chokin’ from the smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you’re smokin’ ’bout scare me half to death
Open up the window, sucker, 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 blastin’, someone’s knockin’ at the door
I’m lookin’ 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, 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, no”

Mama told me, mama told me
Mama told me, told me, told me
Mama told me, told me, ooh, yeah, yeah
Mama told me not to go
Mama told me, mama told me
Ain’t that the truth

“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”

For another song by Three Dog Night: “Joy to the World.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” by Three Dog Night.