Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
Call Me Mr. In-Between
Burl Ives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Pickin's mighty lean, Mr. In-Between)
Well, I'm too old for girls and I'm too young for women
I've looked all around and my hopes are a-dimmin'
I feel like a fish not allowed any swimmin'
And it makes a fella mean
To feel he's a part of the Lost Generation
I feel like a choo-choo that can't find the station
They call me Mr. In-Between
(Mr. In-Between, Mr. In-Between)
(Makes a fella mean, Mr. In-Between)
Got a hotrod Chevy with a twin carburetor
And I know a gal that's a real sharp tomater
And she's got a Daddy with a Caddy that'll date 'er
You see what I mean
Those sweet little things just set me a-droolin'
I'm too big for sodas and I'm too old for schoolin'
Too young for lovin' but I'm too old for foolin'
They call me Mr. In-Between
(Mr. In-Between, Mr. In-Between)
(Tries to live so clean, Mr. In-Between)
I feel like a sailboat kept in a bottle
I feel like an engineer that can't find the throttle
I'm too small to walk but I'm too big to toddle
And, Lordy, I'm turnin' green
To see all the men makin' time with the ladies
The high school kids at the show with their babies
While I run around like a dog with the rabies
They call me Mr. In-Between
(Mr. In-Between, Mr. In-Between)
(Better leave the scene, Mr. In-Between)
The song "Call Me Mr. In-Between" by Burl Ives is a lamentation of a man who feels like he does not belong anywhere. He is too old for girls and too young for women, which makes him feel like he is part of the Lost Generation. He has a hotrod Chevy, but he cannot find a suitable partner to go out with. He is frustrated with his situation, and it makes him mean. The lyrics describe his feelings of being trapped like a fish not allowed to swim, and he feels like a choo-choo train that cannot find its station. He works like a dog without any recreation, which adds to his frustration. He feels like a sailboat kept in a bottle or an engineer that cannot find the throttle. He feels like he is turning green with envy seeing men making time with ladies, while he runs around like a dog with the rabies, making him feel like he needs to leave the scene.
The song's lyrics reflect the social and cultural context of the time when it was written. The song was written in the 1950s, in the post-World War II era. Ives used the song to explore the feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration felt by many young men at the time. The lyrics demonstrate the anxiety felt by many men who had returned from the war and were struggling to find their place in society. The song also speaks to the cultural norms surrounding relationships and sexual behavior at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
(Mr. In-Between, Mr. In-Between)
The repetitious use of Mr. In-Between signifies that the singer feels caught in the middle and doesn't fit into any category.
(Pickin's mighty lean, Mr. In-Between)
The line means that the singer is struggling to find a mate.
Well, I'm too old for girls and I'm too young for women
The singer is at an age where they don't fit in with either younger or older people and feel stuck in the middle.
I've looked all around and my hopes are a-dimmin'
The artist has searched for a mate with little success and is becoming discouraged.
I feel like a fish not allowed any swimmin'
The artist feels trapped and unable to pursue their desires freely.
And it makes a fella mean
The frustration and disappointment is making the singer bitter and hostile.
To feel he's a part of the Lost Generation
The singer feels disconnected from society and a sense of aimlessness.
I feel like a choo-choo that can't find the station
The artist feels lost and directionless.
I work like a dog with no recreation
The artist's life feels consumed by work with no time for leisure or joy.
They call me Mr. In-Between
Others give the artist this name, further emphasizing their feeling of not fitting in.
(Makes a fella mean, Mr. In-Between)
The repeated refrain highlights that the singer's negative emotions are a result of their situation.
Got a hotrod Chevy with a twin carburetor
The artist has a flashy car which they think will attract women.
And I know a gal that's a real sharp tomater
The singer has a potential love interest in mind.
And she's got a Daddy with a Caddy that'll date 'er
The girl already has an older man interested in her, making the singer's chances seem slim.
You see what I mean
The singer is trying to convey their predicament to the listener.
Those sweet little things just set me a-droolin'
The artist finds younger women attractive and desirable.
I'm too big for sodas and I'm too old for schoolin'
The artist doesn't fit in with either young or old crowds.
Too young for lovin' but I'm too old for foolin'
The singer is at an age where they want a serious relationship, but feels stuck between immature flings and finding a true partner.
They call me Mr. In-Between
The name emphasizes once again the singer's feeling of not belonging.
(Tries to live so clean, Mr. In-Between)
The artist wants to live a virtuous life despite their frustration and disappointment.
I feel like a sailboat kept in a bottle
The artist feels trapped and unable to move.
I feel like an engineer that can't find the throttle
The artist feels unable to take control of their life.
I'm too small to walk but I'm too big to toddle
The singer is stuck between being a child and an adult.
And, Lordy, I'm turnin' green
The artist is becoming bitter and envious of those who have what they yearn for.
To see all the men makin' time with the ladies
The singer sees others in relationships and feels envious of their success.
The high school kids at the show with their babies
The singer sees young couples succeeding in ways they haven't been able to.
While I run around like a dog with the rabies
The singer feels desperate and unhinged in their search for love.
They call me Mr. In-Between
The name signifies their sense of not belonging.
(Better leave the scene, Mr. In-Between)
The artist feels like they should just give up trying to find love and leave the situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@allenmurray7893
For some reason, I was thinking about this song today ( 22 Nov 22 ). I remember when it came out in the early sixties. Even the rock stations played it. Fine song, fine singer. I never realized that Harlan Howard, an excellent country writer, wrote it.
@hecklerproductions9517
Anything by Burl is always amazing… RIP Burl… you made the greatest musician hits I’ll always enjoy…
@bruehahaha
....I'm a rocker and I love Burl Ives .....can't think of Christmas without hearing his reassuring voice....sighhhh....we need that these days....
@KittnzNChz
Whenever i hear this song i always go back to those long car rides with my grandpa before he passed away. A part of this song will always belong to him, and me, and those drawn out summers that i didn't want to end.
@hunt4muleys
My grandpa is alive but this is one of his songs he plays 😔 when he dies I'll remember him by those long car rides with him ☺️
@hunt4muleys
☺️☺️☺️
@reyknudson7091
I STILL LOVE THIS SONG BY THE LATE AND GREAT ACTOR, SINGER AND STORY TELLER BURL IVES!! R.I.P. BURL IVES! THANKS FOR SHARING! R.K. 3/17/2021.
@1949yorkielover
I loved Burl Ives songs. His music always seemed to play over and over in your mind. I wish we had singers like him today.
@mr.warmth1511
+1949yorkielover he was in a great movie called wind across the everglades see it if you get chance
@dynamic881964
My grandma used to play this all the time when I was a kid I LOVE IT !!! Thanks for sharing it !!! :-)