That's All Right Mama
Paul McCartney Lyrics


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Well, that's all right, mama
That's all right for you
That's all right mama, just anyway you do
Well, that's all right, that's all right.
That's all right now mama, anyway you do

Mama she done told me,
Papa done told me too
'Son, that gal your foolin' with,
She ain't no good for you'
But, that's all right, that's all right.
That's all right now mama, anyway you do

I'm leaving town, baby
I'm leaving town for sure
Well, then you won't be bothered with
Me hanging 'round your door




Well, that's all right, that's all right.
That's all right now mama, anyway you do

Overall Meaning

In Paul McCartney's song "That's All Right Mama," the singer seems to be in a bit of a predicament regarding a girl he's interested in. His mother and father have warned him that this girl is not good for him, but he insists that it's all right and he'll continue to see her regardless. The chorus reinforces this idea of acceptance, stating that it doesn't matter how the girl treats him, he'll always be okay with it.


The singer does seem to have some level of self-awareness, however. He acknowledges that he needs to leave town because he's too attached to the girl and doesn't want to cause her any distress. Despite this, he still maintains his insistence that it's all right, no matter how things turn out between them.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, that's all right, mama
It's okay, mama


That's all right for you
If that's what you want, it's okay for you


That's all right mama, just anyway you do
It's okay, mama, no matter how you do it


Well, that's all right, that's all right.
It's okay, it's okay


That's all right now mama, anyway you do
It's okay now, mama, do whatever you want


Mama she done told me,
My mama has already told me,


Papa done told me too
My daddy has also told me,


'Son, that gal your foolin' with,
'Son, the girl you are with,


She ain't no good for you'
She is not good for you'


But, that's all right, that's all right.
But it's okay, it's okay


That's all right now mama, anyway you do
It's okay now, mama, do whatever you want


I'm leaving town, baby
I'm leaving this town, baby


I'm leaving town for sure
I'm definitely leaving this town


Well, then you won't be bothered with
Then you won't be bothered by


Me hanging 'round your door
Me hanging around your door


Well, that's all right, that's all right.
It's okay, it's okay


That's all right now mama, anyway you do
It's okay now, mama, do whatever you want




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Crudup

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Dyn Jarren

This is incredible! A Beatle singing with Elvis’s original band! And it sounds great! History in the making!
RIP Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana

Steve M

Very cool. Terrific rock’n’roll.

Roy Erikson

​@Daasx Arthur wrote it

Songbirdstress

I just realized, Ringo plays like Fontana...

Daasx

Arthur Crudup?

Dyn Jarren

@Wayne Goff Ah, I believe he was on the record and in the Sun Studio recording with them. Maybe not the first run through but on the recording. And he did Tour with them as the original quartet!

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Rickey Denler

I was really surprised at how well Paul McCartney covered this song excellent job

Jerry Jaye

@ArtFlunky true...when the Beatles finally got to meet EP in 1965 after a year and a half of waiting, Paul has told Charlie Rose in an interview that "We just stared at him...he was tall, handsome, he was ELVIS !"

Lord Clancharlie

he fucked up with the bass at 01:29, that's why he smiles at the one who noticed it as well

John Minehan

Especially since McCartney sang in a higher key.

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