Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to… Read Full Bio ↴Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to look at, the overweight, balding, short, Jewish man gained popularity and became quite the star because of his witty infusion of satirical comedy into very well orchestrated renditions of classic tunes and songs. A song would usually have a lyric, perhaps a name or phrase, that has very little to do with what the original song was about, but the words would sound similar. His albums had nothing to hide, either, as each one was recorded live, and all the laughter, and occasionally a lack thereof, could be heard.

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.

PILLS
Allan Sherman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There are pills that make you happy.
There are pills that make you blue.
There are pills to kill our streptococci.
There are pills to cure your cockeye too.
There are folks whose pills have made them healthy.
There are folks whose pills have cure their chills.
But the folks whose plls have made them wealthy
Are the folks who make all the pills.

(There are) Dexerine and Miltown, to pick you up and let you down.
(Happy) Or if you're sufferin', swallow a Bufferin.
(Pills) Vitamin see's a pill for folks who shiver.
(Sad) And there's a pill for Carter's little liver.
(Pills) And if you're sleepng in the hospital, because you're ill,
(Pills) Betcha the nurse will wake you up to take a sleeping pill.

There are pills for young folks and for old folks,
Each disease has got its remedy.
But no pill can cure the common cold, folks,
So if you sneeze, please don't sneeze on me.

Achoo!
Gesundheit.

Overall Meaning

In Allan Sherman's "Pills" song, the lyrics describe the different kinds of pills that are available on the market, highlighting the benefits pills provide to people who suffer from various illnesses. The opening lines outline the contrast between pills that can make someone happy or blue, depending on their needs, while also emphasizing the effectiveness of pills in treating medical conditions. The song goes on to describe the different pills, such as Dexerine and Miltown, which are used to uplift or calm a person, Bufferin and Carter's little liver pills that alleviate pains and illnesses, vitamins, and sleeping pills.

Towards the end of the song, Sherman admits that no pill can cure the common cold, as this illness has no definite remedy, suggesting that taking care of oneself and avoiding spreading the disease should be the best course of action. The song is light-hearted and satirical, poking fun at the idea that pills can fix everything, including happiness, while also pointing out the pharmaceutical industry's power in making profits.

Line by Line Meaning

There are pills that make you happy.
There are medications that can improve your mood.

There are pills that make you blue.
There are medications that can cause depression or sadness.

There are pills to kill our streptococci.
There are medications to treat infections caused by streptococcus bacteria.

There are pills to cure your cockeye too.
There are medications to correct strabismus or a misalignment of the eyes.

There are folks whose pills have made them healthy.
Some individuals have improved their health through the use of medication.

There are folks whose pills have cure their chills.
Some individuals have treated their fever or shivering through medication.

But the folks whose plls have made them wealthy
Pharmaceutical companies have profited greatly from the sale of medication.

Are the folks who make all the pills.
The manufacturers of medication are the ones who have become wealthy.

Dexerine and Miltown, to pick you up and let you down.
Dexedrine and Miltown are medications that can stimulate or depress the central nervous system.

Or if you're sufferin', swallow a Bufferin.
Bufferin is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve pain or reduce inflammation.

Vitamin see's a pill for folks who shiver.
There are vitamin C supplements that can improve your immune system and reduce shivering.

And there's a pill for Carter's little liver.
There are medications that can aid in liver health or treat liver disease.

And if you're sleepng in the hospital, because you're ill,
If you're receiving inpatient medical care because of an illness,

Betcha the nurse will wake you up to take a sleeping pill.
It's likely that a nurse will administer medication to help you sleep.

There are pills for young folks and for old folks,
There are medications designed for different age groups.

Each disease has got its remedy.
There are specific medications tailored to treat different diseases.

But no pill can cure the common cold, folks,
While there are medications that can alleviate cold symptoms, there is no cure for the virus.

So if you sneeze, please don't sneeze on me.
If you have a cold or are sneezing, please avoid spreading germs to others.

Achoo!
The sound one makes when sneezing.

Gesundheit.
A common phrase used to wish someone good health after they sneeze.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE HOLMES, SARAH BLACKWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind