Mungo Jerry is an English folk/classic rock group from Ashford, Englandwhos… Read Full Bio ↴Mungo Jerry is an English folk/classic rock group from Ashford, Englandwhose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most instantly recognisable song. Their name was inspired by the poem Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. According to Joseph Murrell's "The Book of Golden Discs" (1978), 'Mungomania' was possibly the most startling and unpredicted pop phenomenon to hit Britain since The Beatles.

Dorset and Colin Earl had previously been members of The Good Earth. Soon after recruiting Paul King and Mike Cole, they made their national debut at the Hollywood Festival at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire in May 1970, the week their first single, "In the Summertime" was released. They stole the show and the record topped the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks, made number one in almost every other country around the world, and to date has sold around 23 million copies. After John Godfrey replaced Cole, their second single "Baby Jump" also topped the UK chart in March 1971. A third hit, "Lady Rose" (also in 1971), gave the group the image as a band for producing summertime based hits.

In time Dorset found the group's good-time blues and jug band repertoire a little restricting, and in 1972 he released a solo album Cold Blue Excursion, with his songs backed by strings and brass and, in one instance, a jazz band. His intention to broaden the group's appeal by recruiting a drummer led to King and Earl trying to sack him, but the management, regarding Dorset as inseparable in the public eye from Mungo Jerry, fired them both instead. Dorset and Godfrey, the bassist, recruited new members and presented a new sound, heard on the fourth album Boot Power. King and Earl went on to form the King Earl Boogie Band.

Mungo Jerry's hits continued through to 1976 with "Open Up" (Top Twenty in Europe and number one in Brazil); "Alright Alright Alright" (a rewrite of an old French hit for Jacques Dutronc, and again a major hit worldwide reaching the Top 3 in the UK); "Wild Love"; "Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black"; "Hello Nadine" (European hit and Top Five in Canada); and "It's a Secret" (European hit).

In 1975 Earl, who had played piano with Foghat in between, returned to play keyboards, and percussion player Joe Rush, part-time member of the band in earlier days, also came back for a while.

The group's line-up has changed constantly over the years. Among those who have played with them are bassist Bob Daisley, drummers Dave Bidwell, Paul Hancox and Boris Williams, guitarist Dick Middleton and keyboard/accordion player Steve Jones. They have remained particularly popular throughout Europe. Mungo Jerry was the first western band who had live TV gigs, in all countries behind the Iron Curtain. Their famous "Golden Orpheus" gig in Bulgaria, also gave them a lot of new fans.

In 1980 another Dorset song, "Feels Like I'm in Love", originally written for Elvis Presley, and recorded by the band as a B side of a single, became a British number one hit for Kelly Marie. They remained successful with overseas hits like "On A Night Like This", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Sunshine Reggae" (British version by Mungo Jerry & Horizon). But Dorset had to wait until 1995 for a real comeback, when "In the Summertime" was recorded by reggae vocalist Shaggy, who topped the charts worldwide. The last UK chart entry for Mungo Jerry was "Toon Army", a song for Newcastle United F.C. in 1999.

In 1983 "Mungo Jerry" Ray Dorset was part of the blues supergroup Katmandu, which recorded A Case For The Blues, with guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, and keyboard player Vincent Crane, formerly of Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

In 2003, with German musicians, Dorset recorded Adults Only album under the name Mungo Jerry Blues Band, widely acclaimed as one of the best of his career. 2005 saw him performing with three Mungo Jerry line-ups: The British Mungo Jerry Band (pop/rock), the German Mungo Jerry Blues Band (blues/rock) and Mungo Jerry & the Goodtime Gamblers (jug/blues/skiffle).

Also in June 2005, Ray Dorset had a gig again as a duo with Mike Cole - the original double bass player from the early Mungo days - as a highlight of the "35 Years Of Mungo Jerry" event in both Newcastle and Stoke.

In March 2006 Mungo Jerry released their new single "Mr Midnight" from Phantom of the Opera on Ice (http://www.plazarecords.co.uk); produced by Roberto Danova - who had mixed in the past the old continental Mungo Jerry hits "Lana" and "It's a Secret" - and is well-known for his work with rock and pop music, in combination with big orchestras.

Memoirs of a Stockbroker
Mungo Jerry Lyrics

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I remember when I was very young,
Had lot of toys and I had lots of fun, yes I did,
Playing mum's and dad's with the girls down the road,
I used to pull their hair and I used to pick my nose, yes I did,
"Didn't we all"
Now I'm getting pretty old, I like to think back to the past,
What about all the sweets we used to eat,
And the games we used to play in the park.

I remember when I was at school,
I didn't do my homework and I broke all the rules, yes I did,
Watching all the girls getting undressed in the gym,
Smoking in the toilets, beat up the little kids, yes I did,
"Didn't we all"
Now I'm getting pretty old, I know I could have done a lot more,
Like putting sugar in the headmaster's tank of his brand new Jaguar.

I remember when I was at work,
I had to wear a suit and a had my hair cut, yes I did,
Yes sir, no sir, three bags full,
The boss was a drag and work was a bore, yes It was,
" 'en it all' "
Now I'm getting pretty old, I like to think back to the past,
What about all the fiddles that we did and the times I got landed in the cart.

I remember my very first date,
I took her to a movie and I got her home late, yes I did,
Her father got mad so I bought him a pint,
Worst thing I ever did, now I'm lumbered for life, big mistake,
"We all make 'em "
Now I'm getting pretty old, I like to de thinks back to the past,
What about all the beer we used to drink and the chicks we used to have in the grass.

Worked very hard got promotion at work,
Got a mortgage, got a house, got a baby, got a car,
"In that order?"
"You must be joking"

Got ulcers in my stomach got false teeth and got piles,
Don't get on with the wife, could do with som

Overall Meaning

"Memoirs of a Stockbroker" by Mungo Jerry depicts a nostalgic reflection on the various stages of the singer's life as they transition from youth to adulthood. The first verse recalls the innocence and simplicity of childhood, where the singer reminisces about playing carefree games and indulging in sweets with friends. These memories evoke a sense of joy and whimsy, highlighting the singer's fondness for their carefree past.

In the second verse, the lyrics shift to the rebellious and mischievous behavior of the singer during their school days. By admitting to breaking rules, peeking at girls, and engaging in disruptive activities, the singer acknowledges their past transgressions with a mix of regret and nostalgia. This section captures the rebellious spirit and mischief of adolescence, reflecting on the singer's past actions with a blend of humor and self-awareness.

The third verse delves into the mundanity and monotony of the singer's work life, where conformity and routine define their daily existence. The lyrics touch upon the dissatisfaction and tedium of the workplace, illustrating a sense of resignation and yearning for the excitement and spontaneity of the past. The reminiscence of past "fiddles" and mischievous escapades provides a contrast to the singer's current monotonous reality, indicating a longing for the carefree days of youth.

The final verse encompasses the singer's romantic escapades and the complexities of adult life, where the consequences of past mistakes come to fruition. The singer reflects on the repercussions of their actions, acknowledging the errors and missteps made in relationships and personal decisions. The regrets and challenges of adulthood are juxtaposed with the nostalgia of youthful indulgence, underscoring the bittersweet nature of growing older and reflecting on past experiences. Overall, "Memoirs of a Stockbroker" captures the multifaceted journey of life, from innocence and mischief to responsibility and regret, painting a vivid portrait of the human experience.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DORSET

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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