Mama don't
Cale J.J. Lyrics
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Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
I don't care what mama don't allow
I'll play my guitar anyhow
Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Hey, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
I don't care what mama don't allow
Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my drums anyhow
Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my piano anyhow
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, I don't care what mama don't allow
I'm gonna smoke my reefer anyhow
Mama don't allow no reefer in here
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
I don't care what mama don't allow
We're all gonna play all at the same time anyhow
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
The song "Mama don't" is a humorous and rebellious blues tune by J.J. Cale, with a catchy and repetitive chorus that highlights how much the restrictions of authority figures can be irritating for creative individuals. The song portrays the frustration of a group of musicians who are not allowed to play their instruments in a certain location due to the restrictions imposed by Mama, who is likely a metaphor for any person or entity that imposes rules and limits on individual expression. However, the musicians in the song decide to play their instruments anyway despite Mama's disapproval.
The song can be interpreted in various ways, such as an allegory for societal norms, censorship, or even the generational gap between parents and children. It is also worth noting that the song uses humor and exaggeration to convey its message, making it a lighthearted and fun composition. The repetition of the chorus "Mama don't allow no [instrument] playing 'round here" also adds to the catchiness of the song and reinforces its message.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Mother does not permit any guitar music to be played around this property
I don't care what mama don't allow
I am not concerned with Mother's restrictions
I'll play my guitar anyhow
I will still play my guitar, despite her rules
Hey, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Mother does not permit any bass music to be played in this location
I don't care what mama don't allow
I am not worried about Mother's regulations
I'll play my bass anyhow
I will still play my bass, despite her restrictions
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Mother does not permit any drumming to occur in this area
I don't care what mama don't allow
I am not troubled by Mother's limitations
Gonna play my drums anyhow
I will still play my drums, despite her regulations
Yeah, Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Mother does not permit any piano music to be played in this establishment
I don't care what mama don't allow
I am not concerned with Mother's rules
Gonna play my piano anyhow
I will still play my piano, despite her restrictions
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Mother does not permit any smoking of marijuana around this location
Yeah, I don't care what mama don't allow
I am indifferent to Mother's prohibitions
I'm gonna smoke my reefer anyhow
I will still smoke my marijuana, even though it is against her rules
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Mother does not permit all of us to play simultaneously
I don't care what mama don't allow
I am not concerned with Mother's restrictions
We're all gonna play all at the same time anyhow
Despite Mother's rules, we will all play our instruments at the same time
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J. J. CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yazbit
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
I don't care what mama don't allow
I'll play my guitar anyhow
Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Hey, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
I don't care what mama don't allow
I'll play my bass anyhow
Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my drums anyhow
Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my piano anyhow
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, I don't care what mama don't allow
I'm gonna smoke my reefer anyhow
Mama don't allow no reefer in here
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
I don't care what mama don't allow
We're all gonna play all at the same time anyhow
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Georgios Seitopoulos
"Mama Don't"
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
I don't care what mama don't allow I'll play my guitar anyhow
Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Hey, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
I don't care what mama don't allow I'll play my bass anyhow
Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drumming going on
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my drums anyhow
Mama don't allow no drumming going on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
I don't care what mama don't allow
Gonna play my piano anyhow
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smoking round about
Yeah, I don't care what mama don't allow I'm gonna smoke my reefer anyhow
Mama don't allow no reefer in here
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
I don't care what mama don't allow
We're all gonna play all at the same time anyhow
Mama don't allow us all playing at the same time
Brandon Cargile
RIP JJ. The most underrated songwriter of our generation. Also an unbelievable guitar player, which he also got no credit for. A great musician
cosmicdrifter287
True!
Mark Doss
@frikkie mouton P
Robert Houston
Not according to the people he wrote songs for
Robert Houston
Not by those he wrote songs for. They think he is one of the best. Maybe he didn't have the stage presence but he always said he didn't want that.
J. Greaney
@Jim Stack A lot of people know a few of the many songs he wrote, fewer know he wrote them, and only a relative handful know how amazing he was on guitar. So, not underrated. But under-appreciated for sure.
Joe Kanaska
I could listen to this man all night long. Gone but never forgotten.
Ginger Baker
Did it many nights and many nights to come ❤
Anne Letourneau
I do... just something about his music that is eternally enjoyable any time of day of Night !!
Maria Carvalho
Love him and am not suspect, am not American🍷✌☺