Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
Coconut
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His sister had another one she paid it for the lime
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put the lime in the coconut, she call the doctor, woke 'I'm up
I said "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
I said "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
I said "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
Now lemme get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut, you drank 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank 'em bot'up
Put the lime in the coconut, you call your doctor, woke 'I'm up
Said "doctor, ain't there nothing' I can take?"
I said, "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
I said "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?'
I said, "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
You put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot' together
Put the lime in the coconut and you'll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning"
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
His sister had another one she paid it for a lime
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put the lime in the coconut, she called the doctor, woke 'I'm up
And said, "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?'
I said, "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
I said "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
I said, "doctor, now lemme get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot'up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut, you're such a silly woman
Put a lime in the coconut and drink 'em bot' together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you'll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em both down
Put the lime in your coconut, and call me in the morning
Woo, ain't there nothin' you can take?
I say, woo, to relieve your belly ache
You say, well woo, ain't there nothin' I can take?
I say woo, woo, to relieve your belly ache
You say ya, ain't there nothin' I can take?
I say wow, to relieve this belly ache
I said "doctor, ain't there nothing I can take?"
I said, "doctor, ain't there nothing I can take?"
I said, "doctor, ain't there nothing I can take?"
I said, "doctor you're such a silly woman"
Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both together
Put the lime in the coconut, and you'll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em bot' up
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning
Yes, you call me in the morning, you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do and if you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do
The lyrics of Harry Nilsson's Coconut tell a story of a woman who has a bellyache and calls the doctor for help. The doctor advises her to put lime in the coconut and drink it to relieve her pain. The woman follows the instructions and drinks it, and in the end, the doctor tells her to call him in the morning if she still feels sick.
The song's meaning is straightforward, but it is the playful and catchy tone that makes it memorable. The phrase "Put the lime in the coconut" has become a popular phrase used in various contexts and has even inspired a cocktail. The song also features a catchy melody and a lively calypso beat, making it a fun and enjoyable song to listen to.
Overall, Coconut is a lighthearted song that captures the essence of a feel-good tune. Its absurdity and catchy melody make it the perfect song to lift someone's mood.
Line by Line Meaning
Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
The singer's brother had purchased a coconut and paid very little money for it.
His sister had another one she paid it for the lime
The singer's sister had another coconut, for which she spent more money to acquire a lime.
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
The sister proceeded to add the lime to the coconut and then drink the contents.
She put the lime in the coconut, she call the doctor, woke 'I'm up
After experiencing an adverse reaction to the drink, the sister called the doctor for help.
And said "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
The sister expressed the desire to be given something to alleviate her symptoms.
I said "doctor, to relieve this belly ache"
The singer suggested a potential reason for the sister's discomfort in order to aid the doctor in determining treatment.
Now lemme get this straight
The singer asked for clarification in order to better understand the situation.
You put the lime in the coconut, you drank 'em bot' up
The artist summarized the events leading up to the sister's distress.
Put the lime in the coconut and you'll feel better
Despite the sister's discomfort, the artist suggested that the combination of lime and coconut would prove beneficial.
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning"
The artist offered to be contacted again in the event that the sister's symptoms persisted.
Put a lime in the coconut and drink 'em bot' together
The singer restated the suggested course of action.
Put the lime in your coconut, and call me in the morning
The artist reiterated the need for the sister to reach out in the event of continued distress.
You put the lime in the coconut, you're such a silly woman
The singer teasingly chided the sister for her misadventure.
Woo, ain't there nothin' you can take?
The sister once again expressed the desire for medication to reduce her symptoms.
I say, woo, to relieve your belly ache
The singer made a suggestion for the sister's treatment.
Put the lime in your coconut, and call me in the morning
The artist repeated the suggested course of action.
I said, "doctor you're such a silly woman"
The artist playfully scolded the doctor for not being able to immediately assist the sister.
Yes, you call me in the morning, you call me in the morning
The singer reminded the sister to contact him if her symptoms persisted.
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
The singer reemphasized his willingness to provide guidance for the sister's treatment.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Harry Edward Nilsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dylanhigdon3571
#6 on the jukebox
@samuelsporto
Alan Wake reference. Amazing game!
@spawnlordgaming7826
Definitely, had forgotten how great this song was, until I walked into the dinner and was asked to put it on for that guy at the table. Laughed a bit when the brother commented that he was in hell.😂
@spawnlordgaming7826
Great game!
@SNEStalgia
" The Jukebox is out of order!
The poor old thing can only take so much of the SAME SONG being played over and over and over.
I'm as big a fan of "Cocounut" as the next person but COME ON!"
@jamespocelinko104
This always reminds me of Nigel Murray and Lance from Bones. RIP to both of them.
@ZyrelRohan
Saw this comment a while ago.. and yesterday I saw the episode where Sweets died (binge-watching Bones)... rough way they killed off his character T_T
@Jexxnjungkxxk1306
Samee
@melissaalbuquerquefreirema437
I miss them two. I'm listening now because of them
@isabellasiler7687
Agreed 😭