You Can Make Them Like You
Jesse Malin Lyrics


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The mama pajama rolled out of bed
And she ran to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
And he started the investigation

It's against the law
It was against the law
What the mama saw
It was against the law

The mama looked down and spit on the ground
Every time my name gets mentioned
The papa said, "oy, if I get that boy
I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention"

Well, I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm on my way
I'm taking my time
But I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona

Seein' me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
Seein' me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard

Whoa, in a couple days they come and take me away
But the press let the story leak
And when the radical priest
Come to get me released
We was all on the cover of Newsweek

And I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm on my way
I'm taking my time
But I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona

Seein' me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
Seein' me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard




Seein' me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jesse Malin's song "You Can Make Them Like You" tells the story of a rebellious teenager who has recently gotten into some trouble with the law. The opening lines describe how the singer's mother went to the police station after witnessing her child committing a criminal act. When the father found out, he became angry and started an investigation. The chorus emphasizes that the singer's actions were "against the law" and his parents' anger towards him was justified.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is leaving his town for an unknown destination. He bids farewell to "Rosie, the queen of Corona" and recalls a past memory of being seen with someone named Julio down by the schoolyard. The song comes to a climactic point when the singer is taken away by law enforcement. However, due to the attention and support he receives from a radical priest and the press, the singer is eventually released from custody.


Line by Line Meaning

The mama pajama rolled out of bed
The mother woke up and got out of bed.


And she ran to the police station
She quickly went to the police station.


When the papa found out he began to shout
When the father found out, he raised his voice.


And he started the investigation
He began to investigate the situation.


It's against the law
This action is forbidden by law.


It was against the law
This action that took place was against the law.


What the mama saw
The mother witnessed something against the law.


The mama looked down and spit on the ground
The mother showed her disgust by spitting on the ground.


Every time my name gets mentioned
Whenever my name is brought up in conversation.


The papa said, "oy, if I get that boy
The father said that if he caught me.


I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention"
He would imprison me to teach me a lesson.


Well, I'm on my way
I'm leaving this place.


I don't know where I'm going
I don't have a clear destination in mind.


I'm taking my time
I'm in no rush to get to my final destination.


But I don't know where
I'm still unsure where I will end up.


Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona
I'm saying farewell to a person named Rosie who had a significant role in Corona.


Seein' me and Julio
Julio and I hanging out together.


Down by the schoolyard
We are hanging out near the school.


Whoa, in a couple days they come and take me away
They will come and take me away in a few days.


But the press let the story leak
The media got hold of the story and made it public.


And when the radical priest
And at the point when the unconventional religious figure.


Come to get me released
Arrived to help release me.


We was all on the cover of Newsweek
Our story was featured on the front page of Newsweek magazine.


Seein' me and Julio
Julio and I hanging out together.


Down by the schoolyard
We are hanging out near the school.


Seein' me and Julio
Julio and I hanging out together.


Down by the schoolyard
We are hanging out near the school.


Seein' me and Julio
Julio and I hanging out together.


Down by the schoolyard
We are hanging out near the school.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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