The group was formed in late 1966 in San Francisco. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Alexander "Skip" Spence (the original drummer for the Jefferson Airplane), lead guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson (both formerly of the Frantics), rhythm guitarist (and son of actress Loretta Young) Peter Lewis (of the Cornells), and bassist Bob Mosley all wrote songs for their debut album Moby Grape (1967). In a marketing stunt, Columbia Records immediately released five singles at once, and the band was perceived as being over-hyped. Nonetheless, the record was critically acclaimed, and fairly successful commercially, with The Move covering its sardonic ode to hippiedom, "Hey Grandma". Spence's "Omaha" reached the lower rungs of the American singles charts in 1967, and Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard (covered by The Grateful Dead, Robert Plant, Guy Burlage, and others). Moby Grape has today achieved the status of a highly respected rock album.
In addition to the marketing backlash, band members found themselves in legal trouble for charges (later dropped) of consorting with underage females, and the band's relationship with their manager rapidly deteriorated. The second album, Wow, was a critical and commercial failure. During its recording, Spence came to the studio with an axe, intending to kill Stevenson; he was committed, and after being released from Bellevue Hospital traveled to Nashville to record his only solo album, Oar. The band released three more albums: Moby Grape '69, Truly Fine Citizen, and 20 Granite Creek. In 1972 bob mosley released his only solo album, after which he left the group. The remainder soldiered on for two decades, recording and performing to a small but devoted audience.
Moby Grape was an example of a talented band who, through a combination of mismanagement and inexperience, never fully realized their potential. Along with the Flamin' Groovies, they were somewhat of an anomaly in the San Francisco rock scene; their concision and their strong roots in country music and early rock and roll seemed to work against them. In addition, perhaps because they were so versatile, their image was somewhat nebulous; as writer Robert Christgau put it, "All they really lacked was a boss, and what could be more American than that?"
Hey Grandma
Moby Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your old man's just a boy
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Sure lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
SF freak scene was on my mind
Fillmore Slim is just a-wasting time
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Cause your lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
You're sure lookin' good
Robitussin make me feel so fine
Robitussin and Elderberry wine
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
The Moby Grape's song "Hey Grandma" is a rock and roll tune that captures the energy and spirit of the hippie era. The first stanza features a playful back-and-forth between the singer and the titular "Grandma," who is described as young and vivacious. The reference to the older man being just a boy hints at a generation gap, but the overall tone of the song is one of celebration and admiration. The singer adds some percussive "pow-pow-pow" sounds, building the upbeat tempo of the song. The repetition of "Been a long time this time" and "Everything is upside down," suggest that times have changed, but not necessarily for the worse.
The second stanza shifts focus entirely, with the singer mentioning the San Francisco freak scene and Fillmore Slim, a blues singer from the same area. The lyrics "Well I got high this time" and "Robitussin make me feel so fine" acknowledge the influence of drug use on the youth culture of the time. The inclusion of Elderberry wine might be a nod to the trend of homemade wines popular at the time. In the final stanza, the chorus is repeated, with "Hey Grandma" serving as a triumphant exclamation. The song overall is about the celebration of youth and energy, and the blissful feeling of being young and alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Grandma, you're so young
Grandma, you may be older but your youthful energy and vibrancy is contagious
Your old man's just a boy
Your husband is younger than you, but it doesn't matter because age is just a number
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
It feels like it has been a long time between their last meeting, emphasized with onomatopoeia
Everything is upside down, upside down
Things are changing and the world is not the same, as emphasized by repetition
Sure lookin' good
You are looking fantastic, don't change a thing
SF freak scene was on my mind
The San Francisco hippie culture is on my mind and I can't help but embrace it
Fillmore Slim is just a-wasting time
A reference to a blues guitarist, but also commenting on society's obsession with time and schedules
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Reiterating that it has been a long time and that the experience is heightened by drug use, emphasized with onomatopoeia
Cause your lookin' good
The repetition highlights that Grandma looks amazing
Robitussin make me feel so fine
An over-the-counter cough medicine makes them feel great
Robitussin and Elderberry wine
Mixing medicine and alcohol to achieve a desired effect
Hey Grandma
Repeated to emphasize how important and central Grandma is to the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DONALD J. STEVENSON, JERRY A. MILLER JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Primera Calle de la Soledad
Hey Grandma, you're so young
Your old man's just a boy
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Sure lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
You're sure lookin' good
SF freak scene was on my mind
Fillmore Slim is just a-wasting time
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Cause your lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
You're sure lookin' good
Robitussin make me feel so fine
Robitussin and Elderberry wine
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
city zen
Hey Grandma, you're so young
Your old man's just a boy
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)
Been a long time this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Sure lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
You're sure lookin' good
SF freak scene was on my mind
Fillmore Slim is just a-wasting time
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)
Well I got high this time round, this time round
Everything is upside down, upside down
Cause your lookin' good
You're lookin' so good
You're sure lookin' good
Robitussin make me feel so fine
Robitussin and Elderberry wine
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Hey Grandma
Songwriters: Donald J. Stevenson / Jerry A. Miller Jr.
Bioniking
Crazy how this album is not on Spotify or other streaming, but is on YouTube for free! I had to resort to unsavory means to get this album. Prohibition never works!
Brian Holihan
Tremendous band. Great interplay between guitars (each musician had a different style--Skip was a driving rhythm guitarist, Peter was an excellent country-influenced finger picker, and Jerry was a jazz head who played fluid leads over the other guys on his Gibson L5), several excellent singers in harmony, and lots of emotional exuberance. Their tragic history's well known, but the music still sounds fresh, authentic, and soulful. I strongly recommending buying "The Very Best of Moby Grape" ASAP, It has all of their first album and most of the excellent 1969 album. I'm listening to it right now, and I'm enjoying every minute. These guys should be much, much better known.
Dan Dugan
@Tony Davenport - Jerry played a Gipson L-5 CES that he calls "Beulah". Jerry - right he does have quite that fat guitar tone.
Joe Reno
@Bioniking that's amazing! Please tell as many people as you can lol. The people in your life deserve it. The Grape deserve it. The universe deserves it.
Bioniking
I try not to do this usually but I'm 23 and have been going down the rabbit hole for almost 2 months with this band. My band introduced them to me... when he was 16. Long live the Grape!
Joe Reno
Honestly, in my opinion, one of the biggest tragedies in rock n roll. With all the mishandling by the label, between the too-many-singles-at-the-same-time thing and getting screwed out of video documentation of them being the bravest souls for OPENING the Monterey Pop Fest... And the sad story of Skip.... Man.... Such genius, they STILL don't get the kudos they so justly and rightfully deserve. Tragic.
Tony Davenport
Thought Jerry played an ES-175. amazing fat guitar player.
first2find
These guys were some of the best musicians and writers around. Those overdriven guitar tones are the bomb. Nobody sounds like that today.
lanegibson7841
Great song! Always loved it. And, it's not easy to make a song sound that good in MONO! Kudos to the engineers.
Jim Fritz
Hands down , one of THEE Best debut albums . Thanks guys ! 🎶