… Read Full Bio ↴Hepcat are a third wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989.
Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave.
Hepcat's debut album, "Out of Nowhere" was released in 1994 on New York-based ska label Moon Records. Two years later, they followed it up with "Scientific" on BYO Records. In 1998, after signing with Epitaph Records subsidiary HellCat Records, they released "Right on Time," scoring a modest hit with the swinging "No Worries" and scored a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. 2000 saw the release of "Push n' Shove," their first album without founding members Raul Talavera and Alex Désert, although the latter appears as a guest vocalist on two tracks.
The band went on indefinite hiatus after 2000, and no new material has surfaced since. Trumpeter Kincaid Smith formed Soul Traffic, a five-piece funk band. Drummer Scott Abels has played with the Rancid side project Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and the southern California reggae act The Aggrolites. Vocalist Alex Desert has had a successful career in film and television, appearing in the movies PCU, Swingers, and High Fidelity; and the television show Becker.
In early 2004, a remastered version of Out of Nowhere was released with two additional bonus tracks, an early version of "Nigel" and "Club Meditation," both of which appeared on their first single. Occasionally, Hepcat reconvenes to play a few shows a year in the California area. Often, this lineup is that which performed on "Scientific."
They take their name from a term for a 1940s-50s jazz musician.
Mama Used to Say
Hepcat Lyrics
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To depend on someone else to do those things that you won't do
For yourself
Lessons I've learned have changed the man I was,
To step light but with caution because the road is raw.
Mama used to say:
And if you face them you will see,
You'll always find a way to solve them.
I will always be there for you,
I will be by your side.
Only one thing I ask of you:
From your fears do not hide."
Girl, I waited for too long,
I've given all I can,
Can you understand this man I will share with you
Lessons I've learned have changed the man I was,
To step light but with caution because the road is raw.
Mama used to say:
"Boy don't run away from your problems,
And if you face them you will see,
You'll always find a way to solve them.
I will always be there for you,
I will be by your side (believe me).
Only one thing I ask of you:
From your fears do not hide."
Mama used to say:
"Boy don't run away from your problems."
Hepcat's song "Mama Used to Say" is a soulful blend of reggae and ska that conveys an important message about self-reliance and facing one's problems head-on. The song's narrator, who addresses a girl, encourages her to take control of her life and not rely on others to do things she's capable of doing. He cites the lessons he's learned in life as changing the man he once was and advising him to tread cautiously on the path ahead. The repetition of the phrase "Mama used to say" throughout the song serves to reinforce the message of self-assurance and independence.
The song's message of self-empowerment is timely and universal, as it reminds listeners that they have the power to take control of their lives and rise above fear and insecurity. The singer's words underline the importance of facing problems rather than fleeing from them, and his mother's advice to never hide from one's fears is equally crucial. The use of colloquial and conversational language in the lyrics adds to the song's authenticity and appeal, making it relatable to a broad range of audiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, now don't you know it's wrong
To depend on someone else to do those things that you won't do
For yourself
You must not rely on anyone for things that you should be doing yourself.
Lessons I've learned have changed the man I was,
To step light but with caution because the road is raw.
Personal experiences have changed me for the better, and I now tread carefully on life's uncertain path.
Mama used to say:
"Boy don't run away from your problems,
And if you face them you will see,
You'll always find a way to solve them.
I will always be there for you,
I will be by your side.
Only one thing I ask of you:
From your fears do not hide."
Mother's wise words of advice- confronting problems bravely, believing in oneself, staying by your loved ones, and facing fears.
Girl, I waited for too long,
I've given all I can,
Can you understand this man I will share with you
I have been patient and given my all, will you still accept me for the man that I am?
Mama used to say:
"Boy don't run away from your problems,
And if you face them you will see,
You'll always find a way to solve them.
I will always be there for you,
I will be by your side (believe me).
Only one thing I ask of you:
From your fears do not hide."
Reiteration of mother's advice- to not shy away from troubles and trust that she will always be with him, while also urging him to overcome his fears.
Mama used to say:
"Boy don't run away from your problems."
Mother's firm instruction to face difficulties head-on instead of avoiding or running away from them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX DESERT, DAVID STEVEN FUENTES, DESTON L. BERRY, EFREN SANTANA, GREG LEE, KINCAID ALAN SMITH, RAUL TALAVERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind