Born in Salem (near Ann Arbor), Michigan, Lewis was writing and recording by her teens with producer Ollie McLaughlin. (McLaughlin was a black DJ at Ann Arbor radio station WHRV, now WAAM, who is also credited with discovering Del Shannon.) Her first single release in 1962, the uptempo "My Heart Went Do Dat Da," did not chart nationally but was a local hit in the Detroit area. She wrote all of the songs on her debut LP (including the hit "Hello Stranger"). Though her follow-ups did not have the same success, her song "Someday We're Gonna Love Again" was covered by The Searchers for a British Invasion hit.
In the 1960s, Lewis recorded in New York City, with producers Bert Berns and Jerry Wexler, leading to commercially-successful hits like "Baby I'm Yours" which is written by Van McCoy ('The Hustle'1975) and "Make Me Your Baby." At the end of the decade she released a grittier-sounding album on Stax Records, and after its lack of commercial success, she began to withdraw from music.
However, over the next decade, a number of other artists had success with Lewis' songs, most notably Yvonne Elliman, who made the U.S. Top 20 (and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart) and the UK Top 30 with her version of "Hello Stranger" in 1977. "Baby I'm Yours" also charted in versions by Jody Miller and Debby Boone (the B-side of her single "God Knows"). In Canada, Suzanne Stevens had a hit in 1975 with a disco version of "Make Me Your Baby". Cover versions of Barbara Lewis' tracks continue into the new millennium with the Arctic Monkeys including a version of "Baby I'm Yours" as a B-side to their 2006 single, "Leave Before The Lights Come On".
In 1995, Lewis' "Baby I'm Yours” was featured on the Bridges of Madison County soundtrack. She was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.
The backup group on many songs from the album "Hello Stranger" are The Dells who enjoyed some hits of their own.
My Mama Told Me
Barbara Lewis Lyrics
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Oh-o-oh yeah
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
My mama to-o-o-ld me-ee-ee
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
Oooh ye-e-e-ah
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
My mama told me there'd be lots of guys
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
Who look at me and start to makin' eyes
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
And then they squeeze and want to hold you tight
(Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo)
And say they love you both-a day and night
And so ya
(Better be careful hon)
Oooh yeah
(Better be careful hon)
Yes, that's what she told me
(Better be careful hon)
Or you're gonna miss out on a lot of fun
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
And then I met a guy whose name was Joe
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
He told me, "Baby I've got lot's of dough"
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
So if you just come along with me
(Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo)
We'll go places, just you wait and see
I should have listened
(To what my mama told me)
Yes, I should have listened
(To what my mama told me)
To what a-mama told me ye-ah
(To what my mama told me)
(Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo)
A-but I didn't be-lieve a-what she said
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
Oh-oooh-ho-oo yeah
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
Yes, that's what she told me
(My-mama, mama, mama, ma-ma)
A-but I didn't be-lieve a-what she said
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
Well that all happened such a long time ago
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
I've learned my lesson and a-now I know
(Wha-ooo-ooo)
I should have listened to what my mama said
(Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo)
But I thought I knew everything instead
He ran around
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Yes, with every girl in town
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Yes, he put me dow-own
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Played me for a clown
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Oh-oo Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eeeh
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Yeah-eh now now Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eeeh
(Fade
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
(I should have listened to what my mama told me)
Oh-o mommy mommy Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eeeh
The song "My Mama Told Me" by Barbara Lewis is a cautionary tune about heeding the advice of one's mother. Lewis sings about her mother warning her about men who will try to charm and woo her, but who are not sincere in their intentions. Her mother advises her to be cautious and to look out for herself. However, Lewis ignores her mother's advice, and falls for a man who promises her the world, but ultimately disappoints her. She learns the hard way that perhaps she should have listened to her mother's warning.
The song is a reflection on the experience of growing up and learning to navigate the complexities of adult relationships. It speaks to the universal experience of young people who think they know better than their parents, only to later discover the wisdom of their elders. It is a testament to the enduring power of maternal advice and the bonds between mothers and daughters. The song is a reminder that, no matter how old we get, we always need our mothers to guide us.
Line by Line Meaning
My mama told me there'd be lots of guys
My mother warned me that I would encounter many men
Who look at me and start to makin' eyes
These men would give me suggestive looks and flirt with me
And then they squeeze and want to hold you tight
They would try to physically touch and embrace me
And say they love you both-a day and night
These men would use words of affection to try and win me over
Better be careful hon
My mother advised me to exercise caution around these men
Or you're gonna miss out on a lot of fun
She warned me that I might miss out on opportunities for enjoyment if I'm too cautious
And then I met a guy whose name was Joe
Despite my mother's advice, I met a man named Joe
He told me, 'Baby I've got lot's of dough'
Joe claimed to be wealthy in an attempt to impress me
So if you just come along with me
Joe invited me to go with him
We'll go places, just you wait and see
He promised me adventure and excitement if I went with him
To what my mama told me
I regret not heeding my mother's advice
But I didn't be-lieve a-what she said
However, I didn't believe what she told me
Well that all happened such a long time ago
These events occurred in the past and have since become distant memories
I've learned my lesson and a-now I know
I have since come to understand and appreciate the value of my mother's wisdom
He ran around
Joe was unfaithful and cheated on me
Yes, with every girl in town
He was promiscuous and had romantic relations with other women
Yes, he put me dow-own
He made me feel insignificant and worthless
Played me for a clown
He treated me like a joke and made me look foolish
Oh-o mommy mommy Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eeeh
I now look back and wish I had listened to my mother
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BARBARA LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind