Geoff Muldaur (born August 12, 1943, Pelham, New York) is a founding member… Read Full Bio ↴Geoff Muldaur (born August 12, 1943, Pelham, New York) is a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a member of Paul Butterfield's Better Days, as well as an accomplished solo guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Emerging from the Kweskin band with his then wife, Maria Muldaur, he established an impressive reputation in the Boston, Massachusetts area in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a move to the burgeoning folk, blues and folk-rock explosion in Woodstock, New York. He separated from his wife in 1972. He recorded with such as Bonnie Raitt, Eric Von Schmidt, and Jerry Garcia before stopping to tour or record in the mid 1980s. During this period, he composed scores for film and television, winning an Emmy Award, and produced albums for lesser known musicians such as Lenny Pickett and the Borneo Horns and the Richard Greene String Quartet, emerging after eleven years in 1999 with the critically acclaimed album, The Secret Handshake.

Muldaur continues to record and tour the world. His sister is the actress Diana Muldaur (L.A. Law, McCloud and Star Trek: The Next Generation).

His daughters, Jenni Muldaur and Clare Muldaur are also singer-songwriters.

That's All Right
Geoff Muldaur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, that's all right, mama
That's all right for you
That's all right mama, just anyway you do
Well, that's all right, that's all right
That's all right now mama, anyway you do
Mama she done told me
Papa done told me too
'Son, that gal your foolin' with

She ain't no good for you'
But, that's all right, that's all right
That's all right now mama, anyway you do
I'm leaving town, baby
I'm leaving town for sure
Well, then you won't be bothered with
Me hanging 'round your door

Well, that's all right, that's all right
That's all right now mama, anyway you do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Geoff Muldaur’s song, “That’s All Right”, touch on themes of heartbreak, defiance, and escape. The opening lines, “Well, that’s all right, mama, that’s all right for you”, sets the tone for the song, suggesting that the singer has come to terms with a difficult situation. By saying “That’s all right, mama,” the singer seems to be acknowledging that he has been wronged in the relationship, but he is willing to accept it as it is. The repetition of “that’s all right” throughout the song conveys a sense of resignation or acceptance.

The second verse of the song shows the singer receiving advice from his parents about the woman he is involved with. Despite the advice, the singer still carries on with the relationship, suggesting that he is not willing to let go of his love. In the final verse, the singer decides to leave town, possibly seeking a new start or trying to break free from the woman’s grasp. The line “Well, then you won’t be bothered with me hanging ‘round your door” shows that the singer knows he is not welcome and opts to leave on his own terms.

The song’s structure, its catchy melody, and its poignant lyrics make it a timeless classic. It has been covered by many artists since its release in 1929, including Elvis Presley, who had a hit with the song in 1954. The song’s bluesy, upbeat style has made it a crowd favorite at rock and roll shows, and it has been featured in movies and television shows.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, that's all right, mama
It's fine, mother

That's all right for you
It's okay for you

That's all right mama, just anyway you do
It's okay mother, whichever way you do it

Well, that's all right, that's all right
It's fine, it's fine

That's all right now mama, anyway you do
It's okay now mother, however you do it

Mama she done told me
Mother already told me

Papa done told me too
Father also told me

'Son, that gal your foolin' with
Son, the girl you're involved with

She ain't no good for you'
She's not good for you

But, that's all right, that's all right
But it's fine, it's fine

That's all right now mama, anyway you do
It's okay now mother, whichever way you do it