Prior to working with Neil Young and becoming a key contributor to the late 60's sound of Buffalo Springfield, Messina had a popular mid-60's Southern California surf-rock combo called Jim Messina & his Jesters who released an album on Audio Fidelity label.
Later on, he was co-founder along with ex-Buffalo Springfield guitarist Richie Furay of the country-rock band Poco. After a stint in Poco that lasted from from 1968-1970, he formed Loggins & Messina who had a long nine album run beginning in 1970 that was essentially exhausted by 1976. From 1979 to 1983 he released a trio of solo albums, Oasis (1979), Messina (1981), and One More Mile (1983).
Messina has continued since the 1980's to occasionally reunite with old partners like Richie Furay and Kenny Loggins for concerts that revisit past success, hosts "The Songwriters' Performance Workshop" wherein he leads 7-day intensive workshops for songwriters and singers. His 1996 solo release Watching The River Run (Revisited) featured the song Mexican Minutes later re-cut by hot country act Brooks & Dunn.
He currently has a 2009 release out entitled Mojito Moon available as a download at Amazon link: http://j.mp/b6Uf3m
http://www.JimMessina.com
Your Mama Don't Dance
Jim Messina Lyrics
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Rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
But when evening comes around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go, you gotta rock it
By ten
But if you're out on a date don't you
Bring her home late 'cause it's a sin
You know there's no excuse
You know you're gonna lose you never win
I'll say it again
And it's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
When evenin' rolls around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go, to rock it, rock it
(lead)
Everyone gather round let me tell you all
About it
You see I pulled into a drive-in and
I found a place to park
We hopped into the backseat where it's
Always nice and dark
I'm just about to move thinking to myself Mmm
Bret this is a breeze
Then there's a light in my eye and a guy says
Out of the car long hair
Oowee, you're coming with me
Said the local police
And it's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
When evenin' rolls around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go, play me a little C.C.
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
They just ain't cool and they ain't about to start
Your mama don't dance and you daddy don't rock
Your mama don't dance, no
She just don't dance, no
You mama don't dance
And you daddy don't rock and roll, oww no
The lyrics to Jim Messina's song Your Mama Don't Dance are about generational differences in music tastes and lifestyle. The first two lines suggest that the singer's parents are out of touch with popular music and dancing styles. However, when it's time to go out and have fun, the singer still wants to enjoy rock and roll, which is not appreciated by the older generation. The lyrics also address social expectations, particularly with regards to curfews for young people. The song points out that breaking curfew is seen as a sin, but it also acknowledges that many young people are willing to take the risk in order to have a good time.
The last verse of the song is a humorous anecdote about getting caught by the police while making out in a car. This verse adds to the rebellious and carefree tone of the song. The chorus reinforces the theme of the song, emphasizing the distinction between the singer's generation and their parents. The song is a celebration of youthful rebellion and the desire to have fun, even if it means breaking a few rules.
Line by Line Meaning
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't Rock and roll
Your parents don't know how to dance or enjoy rock and roll music
But when evening comes around and it's time to Hit the town Where do you go, you gotta rock it
When it's time to go out, you have to find a place to dance and have a good time
The old folks say that ya gotta end your date By ten But if you're out on a date don't you Bring her home late 'cause it's a sin You know there's no excuse You know you're gonna lose you never win I'll say it again
Older people say it's best to end a date early, but if you stay out late, you shouldn't bring your date home too late. Doing so is wrong and there's no excuse for it
And it's all because your mama don't dance And your daddy don't rock and roll
Your inability to find a place to dance and have a good time is because your parents never showed you how to do it
Everyone gather round let me tell you all About it You see I pulled into a drive-in and I found a place to park We hopped into the backseat where it's Always nice and dark I'm just about to move thinking to myself Mmm Bret this is a breeze Then there's a light in my eye and a guy says Out of the car long hair Oowee, you're coming with me Said the local police
The storyteller shares a tale about parking in a secluded place, intending to get intimate with his partner. But the police catch them, and he gets arrested
Where do you go, play me a little C.C.
Where do you go to hear some good music? Can you play a song by C.C. (likely referring to C.C. DeVille from the band Poison)
They just ain't cool and they ain't about to start Your mama don't dance and you daddy don't rock
Your parents aren't cool and don't seem likely to start being so. They don't know how to dance or like rock and roll music
Your mama don't dance, no She just don't dance, no You mama don't dance And you daddy don't rock and roll, oww no
Your parents are not the dancing or rock and roll type, and that seems unlikely to change
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jim Messina, Kenneth Clark Loggins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind