Three Dog Night Songs - Mama Told Me (Not to Come) Lyrics

Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not to Come)

Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not to Come) Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: It Ain't Easy
Released: 1970

Mama Told Me (Not to Come) Lyrics

Will you have whiskey with your water
Or sugar in your tea ?
What's all these crazy questions
That you're askin' of me

This is the craziest party
There could ever be
Don't turn on the lights
'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,no, uh uh
Open up the 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'

About to scare me half to death
Oh 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 girl friend she passed out on the floor
I've seen so many things
I ain't never seen before
I don't know what it is
I don't want to 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

Writer/s: NEWMAN, RANDY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Mama Told Me (Not to Come)

This was written by Randy Newman , the nephew of Academy Award-winning composer Lionel Newman. The song is about a party that left a "bad taste" in the writer's mouth. The drug scene was fairly new to American middle-class youth at that time.

This song has the distinction of being the very first #1 hit on the American Top 40 syndicated radio program. The show, hosted by Casey Kasem, became popular on AM radio throughout the world until its decline in the mid-1990s. This beat out The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" (their last hit record before the final breakup) and Elvis Presley's "The Wonder of You" for top chart honors in early August, 1970. (thanks, Charles - Charlotte, NC, for above 2)

Newman's original version was included on his 1970 album 12 Songs. His version was only 2 minutes 12 seconds, over a minute shorter than Three Dog Night's version.

Cory Wells, who sang lead on this track, was the Three Dog Night band member who pushed to record it. He was a big fan of the song and played it with his previous band. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Wilson Pickett's 1972 cover made #99 in the US.