Papa Come Quick
Bonnie Raitt Lyrics


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Papa come quick, Joy's gone to the city
What we gonna do now that Jody's gone
She left a note on the TV and Papa it's a pity
What we gonna do now that Jody's gone.

Mama's been cryin' in the kitchen since mornin'
She cried right through As The World Turns
I seen it myself and papa it's a bitchin'
Let's haul ass before the baby gets burned.

Gas up the old Ford, get out the road map
They got a head start about half a day
Load up the shotgun, put it in the gun rack
Jody's with Chico down in East L.A.

It must have been that wild-eyed, silver-tongued schemer
A girl like Jody don't think for herself.
Him and that Harley and his damn Jalapeno
Smokin' that stuff'll make you hurt yourself.

Papa come quick
Papa come quick
Papa come quick
Papa come on

Papa come quick, Joy's gone to the city
What we gonna do now that Jody's gone
She left a note on the TV and Papa it's a pity
What we gonna do now that Jody's gone.

Gas up the old Ford, get out the road map
They got a head start about half a day




Stop at the Mobil, pump up the the flat wheel
Jody & Chico and his ding dang deal.

Overall Meaning

The song "Papa Come Quick" by Bonnie Raitt tells the story of a family in crisis after the daughter, Jody, leaves home to run away with a man named Chico to East L.A. The song opens with the family receiving news that Jody has left, and they are left wondering what to do without her. Mama is crying in the kitchen, and the father, or "Papa," suggests they leave to find Jody and bring her home. The lyrics describe the family's journey, including stopping for gas and fixing a flat tire, all while expressing concern for Jody's safety and well-being. The song ends with the repeated plea for Papa to come quick.


The lyrics evoke a sense of desperation and fear for the missing daughter, as well as a sense of urgency to bring her home. The mention of drug use and dangerous behavior by Chico further heightens the tension in the song. The phrase "Jody's gone" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the sense of loss and abandonment felt by the family.


Overall, "Papa Come Quick" is a poignant and emotionally charged song that speaks to the heartbreak of a family torn apart by the actions of one member. It is a powerful depiction of the way that a single decision can have far-reaching consequences for those left behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Papa come quick, Joy's gone to the city
Joy has left to the city and we need your help, Papa.


What we gonna do now that Jody's gone
We don't know what to do now that Jody has left.


She left a note on the TV and Papa it's a pity
Jody left a note on the TV and it's a shame, Papa.


Mama's been cryin' in the kitchen since mornin'
Mama has been crying in the kitchen all morning.


She cried right through As The World Turns
Mama cried all the way through her soap opera, As The World Turns.


I seen it myself and papa it's a bitchin'
I saw it myself and it's upsetting, Papa.


Let's haul ass before the baby gets burned
Let's hurry before something bad happens to the baby.


Gas up the old Ford, get out the road map
Let's fill up the car and use the road map to find Jody.


They got a head start about half a day
Jody and Chico have a half day head start on us.


Load up the shotgun, put it in the gun rack
Let's take the shotgun and keep it in the gun rack.


Jody's with Chico down in East L.A.
Jody is with Chico in East L.A.


It must have been that wild-eyed, silver-tongued schemer
Chico is a manipulative and unpredictable person.


A girl like Jody don't think for herself
Jody is not capable of making her own decisions.


Him and that Harley and his damn Jalapeno
Chico has a Harley motorcycle and he smokes Jalapeno.


Smokin' that stuff'll make you hurt yourself
Smoking Jalapeno is dangerous.


Papa come quick
Papa come quickly.


Papa come on
Papa come along with us.


Stop at the Mobil, pump up the the flat wheel
Let's stop at Mobil and fix the flat tire.


Jody & Chico and his ding dang deal.
Jody and Chico are involved in some kind of shady business.




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