Sherman was just a television producer, most famous for the quiz show "I've Got a Secret," not at all known as a comedian or performer, and it shocked everyone in the know when songs from his album My Son, The Folk Singer became popular. In fact, president John F. Kennedy was heard singing the song Sarah Jackman. Sherman's overnight popularity suddenly ended when the nation's attention focused on Kennedy's assassination, and the nation was too sad for such up-beat musical offerings.
Sherman then slipped back into his longtime depression, and died, quietly, at the young age of 48.
Downtown
Allan Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you teenagers go downtown.
Daddy and Mom just stay at home and be calm
And watch the late late show, uptown.
'Cause when you kids are gone we get to spend some time alone here
That's our only chance to use the bathtub or the phone here
When you're away
Besides, we're stuck where we are
Downtown, where can you possibly
Downtown, it's twenty after three
Downtown, what do you mean by, "Let's frug"?
You don't come home till 4 AM cause you're roaming
In the streets somewhere, downtown.
We would feel swell if only someone would tell us
What goes on down there, downtown.
But every time we ask you what you're doing after dark there
You just say that you were frugging to Petula Clark there
That's what I mean
So, kids, give your folks a break
Because you're driving us crazy, we sit here all night and take
Miltown, swallowing pills so we'll
Calm down, counting the hours you're
Downtown, you and your frug and your slop.
While we're lying there we try to watch the television
Then you call us up and say you've had a slight collision
There goes the car
Besides that you've been arrested
So we've got to get up, and we've got to get dressed and go
Downtown, borrow a car and go
Downtown, that's where you are, you finks,
Downtown, wait 'till I get you kids home.
(Spoken) There'll be no more frugging, no swim, no jerk, no mashed potato, no slop! And you know what else? You're gonna stay home tonight, and your mother and I are going downtown and we're going to dance the tango, and the waltz, and the foxtrot, and we're gonna do the bunny hop. That's a nice dance! And there'll be no more frugging! Is that quite clear? NO MORE FRUGGING!
The song "Crazy Downtown" by Allan Sherman is a humorous take on the frustrations that parents go through when their teenage children go out partying in the town late at night. The central theme of the lyrics is that parents are pleased when their kids leave town because they get to have the house to themselves for a few hours.
The song's opening lines talk about how the parents are never nervous when their teenagers go downtown, as they can enjoy their time in the house by themselves. They get to use the bathtub and the phone without interruptions, which is impossible when their children are around. The parents feel helpless in this situation because their children took their money and car when they left.
The second half of the song illustrates the parents' worries about the whereabouts of their kids when they roam the city streets late at night. The lyrics talk about their frustration at not knowing what their children are up to and the reckless behavior that they indulge in, such as "frugs" and "slop." The parents are shown exhausted and stressed out as they wait for their kids to return home safely.
Line by Line Meaning
Mommy and Dad are never nervous or mad
Parents aren't angry or anxious
When you teenagers go downtown.
When the young adults go out to the city centre
Daddy and Mom just stay at home and be calm
Parents remain composed and relaxed
And watch the late late show, uptown.
They watch a TV program in their neighbourhood
'Cause when you kids are gone we get to spend some time alone here
Parents look forward to having time for themselves
That's our only chance to use the bathtub or the phone here
Parents seldom get an opportunity to utilize the facilities
When you're away
When young adults are out
Besides, we're stuck where we are
Parents have limited mobility
Because you kids took our money, you kids took our car and went
Young adults have taken the car and money away from parents
Downtown, where can you possibly
To the city centre, how could you …
Downtown, it's twenty after three
It's currently half-past three in the city centre
Downtown, what do you mean by, "Let's frug"?
What does 'let's dance' mean in the city centre?
You don't come home till 4 AM cause you're roaming
Young adults come back late because they're exploring
In the streets somewhere, downtown.
In the streets of the city centre
We would feel swell if only someone would tell us
Parents would appreciate if young adults could inform them
What goes on down there, downtown.
What happens in the city centre?
But every time we ask you what you're doing after dark there
Every time we ask about the activities at night in the city centre
You just say that you were frugging to Petula Clark there
Young adults answer that they were just dancing to some music
That's what I mean
That's what I'm talking about
So, kids, give your folks a break
Young adults should cut their parents some slack
Because you're driving us crazy, we sit here all night and take
Young adults are causing irritation to parents who stay home all night
Miltown, swallowing pills so we'll
Taking anti-anxiety medication to induce sleep
Calm down, counting the hours you're
Trying to calm down while counting the time young adults are
Downtown, you and your frug and your slop.
In the city centre, with young adults dancing and eating messily
While we're lying there we try to watch the television
Parents try to watch television while lying in bed
Then you call us up and say you've had a slight collision
Young adults call to explain they had a minor accident
There goes the car
The vehicle is out of commission now
Besides that you've been arrested
And in addition, young adults have been apprehended
So we've got to get up, and we've got to get dressed and go
Parents have to wake up, dress up, and go out
Downtown, borrow a car and go
Go to the city centre by borrowing a car
That's where you are, you finks,
Where you young adults are, you scoundrels,
Downtown, wait 'till I get you kids home.
In the city centre, just wait until I take you young adults home.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
Written by: TONY HATCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hank Gillette
I loved Allan Sherman from the time I first heard “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh”. His star faded fast, but I was still collecting his albums while in college. Then in 1990 Rhino released his entire oeuvre on CD, and my collection was complete.
Sherman’s best work was probably his first album, “My Son, the Folk Singer”. Sherman had been entertaining celebrities at Hollywood parties for a while, and was good friends with starts such as Steve Allen and Harpo Marx. He was encouraged to release an album, but because they were not sure how successful it would be, the producers had him write new parodies for the album, using folk songs and traditional Jewish songs that were in the public domain, thus saving money on royalties. The album was a huge smash, for for a year or two, Sherman was one of the hottest performers in show business.
It didn’t last. He could only do one thing well: singing song parodies*, and when that well ran dry, his career was over. He did not handle his success very well; he got divorced, lost a lot of weight, and no longer appeared to be the fat, funny man that everyone had loved. He spent time in the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, which is used by former celebrities who have come down on their luck. His health began to fail: he suffered from diabetes, emphysema, and asthma. He died of respiratory failure at age 48.
All that aside, this song is far from he best. He comes across as an adult who hates teenagers, their music, and their dances. Not a good look for someone who was supposed to have a sense of humor.
* He did come up with the idea for the game show “I’ve Got a Secret” and was the original producer, but apparently antagonized his bosses and was fired.
CherryFrog321
If only he'd lived long enough to where he and Weird Al could have done a duet. That would have been cool!
Donns Copman
Miltown. That sure goes back.
jackgibs xxx07
Never heard of this guy but I love "Downtown" and this is fun.
Wish Al would do a take on it.
Jeff Neis
He was nothing short of great!
RIP ALLEN SHERMAN.
Michael Chapman
'Looking back now per- this Great video, it's a Stretch to believe Such times ever existed, 'My dad bought Allan Sherman comedy albums & Bob Newhart & Jonathan Winters, etc...
MrAmberol
To me a very classic track. Thanks Alan, funny how teens have not changed that much...
Luis Laplume
@Brian Arbenz You just described Little Brian Stelter of CNN News texting this basement bedroom in his parent's home with his Teddy Bear next to him!
Brian Arbenz
@Luis Laplume Except that they text from their bedrooms rather than cruise downtown.
Luis Laplume
Pal you can say that again. And I am not even a father. All teens share the same characteristics.
Ken Houghton
OMG - I thought I had seen every Allan Sherman recording but this is totally new for me and absolutely wonderful. He seems largely forgotten today but he was just a genius.