Versions

The Real Thing
Russell Morris Lyrics

Come and see the real thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see

Come and see the real thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see

There's a meaning there
But the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing

Come and see the real thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see

I am the real, thing
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow

Trying hard to understand that, really not, you're seeing me
Trying hard to understand that, really not, you're seeing me

There's a meaning there
But the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see

I am the real, thing
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, ma mow

I am not seeing you
I am not seeing you
I, I, I

Trying hard to understand that, really not, you're seeing me
Trying hard to understand that, really not, you're seeing me

There's a meaning there
But the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see the real thing
Come and see

I am the real, thing
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, ma mow

I am not seeing you
I am not seeing you
I, I, I

Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, Oo-mow-ma-mow
Oo-mow-ma-mow-mow, ma mow

I am the real thing

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN YOUNG, JOHN B. YOUNG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Russell Morris (born July 1948) is an Australian singer-songwriter, who had many Australian Number 1 singles throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

His most successful song was The Real Thing, written by Johnny Young, and produced by Ian Meldrum. It was the biggest selling Australian Single of 1969, and was released when Morris was 20 years old. The song was released in two halves on a small label in the United States of America and received limited international success as a result Read Full BioRussell Morris (born July 1948) is an Australian singer-songwriter, who had many Australian Number 1 singles throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

His most successful song was The Real Thing, written by Johnny Young, and produced by Ian Meldrum. It was the biggest selling Australian Single of 1969, and was released when Morris was 20 years old. The song was released in two halves on a small label in the United States of America and received limited international success as a result, although it did reach #1 in large cities such as Chicago.

More recently, his music has appeared on the soundtrack to The Dish, and has appeared on the ABC show Long Way to the Top.

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Comments from YouTube:

joseph raccuia

8y↑319

To the people who were born and live in Australia ( like me) aren't we lucky to have had sooooooooooooo much fantastic music from Australia. An abundance of world class, top shelf music. This is ( in my view) in the top 1%.

Elizabeth Scott

4d↑1

@Aussie boy Parker true dat. I call us the Land Up Over

Perry Dowd

3w↑1

@RedVinyl Dude! That was Hey Hey it's Saturday. That Muppet like bird was the legendary Ossie Ostrich!

Think of it as a weekly Stratford Festival without Shakespeare, logic or taste of any kind. Mmmmmm Aussie Culture. Sweet!

Perry Dowd

@John Lennon Jr They only came as close as Adelaide. I live in Perth (and I was only 18.months old). 🤣

J Mc

12w

We are the real thing 🇦🇺🇦🇺

Gary Counsell

17w

@John Lennon Jr
Q

33 More Replies...

Ong Bonga

1y↑8

Australia has a ridiculous amount of good psychedelic music.

Tony P Bria

9y↑130

This would have to be one of THE best Aussie anthems ever written!

Donna Brenden

Agree absolutely - sublime! The original and the best!

sexobscura

You should listen to Kylie Minogue

Martarni Fennell

2y↑1

Oath

Austin Martin

Agreed

8 More Replies...

Bandie Boo

31w↑15

A musical genius...is Russell Morris...and so humble to boot. He used to play wherever possible in the 70s...always graciously...no matter what the venue was.. including the Gympie saleyards the pits imo....I hope he reads this....you treated us like royalty that night...you put on the best performance ever for us country kids...you were our first live concert btw.....I will never ever forget that night xxx Thank you. 🤩🥰

Jenny Jenkins

4y↑127

So glad I got to play this beautiful song to my friend as she lay dying in hospital....we used to dance to this in the 1970's disco's in Melbourne. I know how you loved the magnificant talent of Russell Morris, I remember his posters adorning your bedroom wall, makes me smile at the memory, Ann...R.I.P.....very fitting way to leave this world .....Bless you my friend....Dedicated to Ann...12/07/1956....11/04/2019......xxxx You were the Real Thing , Ann....

Ian Gardener

27w

😥

Scottie

1y↑2

You were a wonderful friend, Jenny. Bless you!

Oldsoulone

2y↑4

I am very sorry to hear of your friend Jenny. My mum born the same yr as Ann, passed 10 yrs ago this yr. On almost the exact date Ann passed over too. (10/04/2011)

May Ann RIP. I'm sure she is very much missed.

Dave Severinski

2y↑3

thats so beautiful. i hope someone repays the love!

peter parker

3y↑9

that is so beautiful Jenny Jenkins .. i never read the comments . maybe i should. you touched my heart. made me cry.

Lorraine Ashby

8y↑94

Russell Morris - another sadly underrated talent and a very decent chap by all accounts. An excellent video - a timeline from 1939 to the present sending a very clear message I think !!!!!!!

Clade

Lorrain ashby we have the same lasy name ahaha

Australian English with Jason

Get serious. The only message in the song was that he was real.

Ned

The song precedes this video by decades. They are barely connected. Your comment suggests the productions were somehow linked.

9 More Replies...

noOneuKnow OK

13y↑12

This is in top 3 aussie songs of all time.. just complete mind boggling stuff way ahead of its time..

squilly

7y↑10

as an Aussie living in Ireland this really reminds me of my youth. Love it. Thanks!! :-)

jim k

2y↑4

i think this is one of the best pop songs ,if not the best to come out of aus since the 60's ,and for the life i me i really can't explain why i think it's so good .maybe because they played it on the radio so much when it came out and it just got imprinted on us like no other .or we were all smoking tooo much pot ! .there's just something about it that puts it in a class of it's own . there's something transcendental and spiritual about it that i connect with like no other .

Judy ♡ @Judy-LoveandLightAlways

4y↑10

Before my time. Discovered this song in the 90s Absolutely perfect for what's going on in the world today. Thank you Russell Molly and Johnny

Judy ♡ @Judy-LoveandLightAlways

@Stand andDeliver well said. Kind thoughts to you and your family from Australia

Stand andDeliver

1y↑2

Chaos is what's happening generally, many people don't know what's right or real anymore, but generally people are more aware now,
Sadly some will never see past their own noses when it comes to the bigger picture for humanity, and carry on their foolish, destructive, short sighted, narrow minded, selfish, arrogant ways.

Phantom309

10y↑4

I love the updated version because it remains faithful to the legendary original. And what a backstory it has - composed by Johnny Young, produced by Molly Meldrum and featuring one of the final performances of The Groop (before they morphed into Axiom).

finalascent

26w↑3

Discovered this song when I saw the film the Dish - I was instantly hooked! About 12 years ago, a friend of mine made a short film, and asked me to shoot a "behind the scenes" trailer-like spot for him. I knew I had to set it to music, and decided on using this as a background track. Worked great as an ironic commentary since filmmaking is the art of un-reality and illusion!

bryan ault

4y↑19

Molly Meldrum's masterpiece !
This would have to be one of THE best Aussie anthems ever written!
This would have to be one of THE best Aussie anthems ever written!

TheThirdMan

3y↑5

Molly produced it but Johnny Young wrote it.

Tomáš Kovačík

2y↑15

Sending shivers down my spine and bringing tears in to my eyes. Will the mankind ever learn/transcend/transform itself?

Petros Stefanis

6y↑4

I saw him perform this live at RMIT in Melbourne 1983 I will never forget it.
Good onya Russ.

David Hunt

I was there too ! Union cafeteria, cheers. So much many great artists played there before hitting it big. Men at Work, Pseudo Echo & many more, every Wed?

Joseph Kane

5y↑11

Most amazing song of all time. Just so ahead of its time.

debyok

11y↑16

Glad you like it . . . it certainly is an Aussie classic, I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform it live over the years and he still packs a punch every time.

Trax n Trex

3y↑3

Truly awesome track & video, especially for its time. Love it! Thanks Russell Morris, Johnny Young & Molly Meldrum :)

Robin Garrison

3y↑6

Powerful message of good psych rock & a hard-hitting video. This struck a chord deeply within me. Mad respect for this work of art. Loving it in 2020.

Wayne Dunn

2y↑6

Another brilliant song from Russell I feel like I've been taken back to the 60s and I'm tripping off my head Russell is an amazing artist

OceanMist

3y↑2

An awesome classic, absolutely love this great track from Russell Morris
💓💗💕

1969cmp

2y↑2

A brilliant piece of world class popular music.

Mr16175

9y↑29

I first heard Russell Morris singThe Real Thing while stationed in Can Tho S. Vietnam. This music seemed so representative of the 1960's with everything coming apart at the seams in the U.S. I still listen to this song on the internet.

Robert Bradbery

39w

I was also in Vietnam in 1969. Aussie Army in Vung Tau. Didn't hear it till I come home to Oz in April 70.
I heard it and loved it.
It sticks in your head and a great message and video.

Melinda Burge

3y↑3

This is the message I get from it. Bit also I get the wild, free spirit of the 60's!

LovesBerk

1y↑4

Wow who knew that Johnny Young wrote this song. I knew he was a singer in his own right and hosted Young Talent Time earlier. Lots of great singers including Tina Arena were discovered on there. I also didn't know that Molly Meldrum produced it. The talent in those days was phenomenal and still listening to most of those songs now. I loved Russell Morris. Fabulous singer and huge talent.
On another note, I was absolutely fucking horrified on some of the footage on this video. Specifically those children. How can anyone do that to children. The trauma they went through must have been enormous and probably still dealing with it now. I am absolutely disgusted by humanity at times.

electron wave

In the heat of battle, humanity is often no longer human. Society has a 'split' psychology and this is never admitted. It is for this reason that returned soldiers struggle with flashbacks, while civilian society, which passively condoned the war violence, continue their daily lives in ignorance of what occurred.

Debbie Beggs

1y↑2

This era of aussie music was the best in the world and still holds a candle to the world to this day fkn go the australian music

E. Styers John

3y↑2

This would have to be one of THE best Aussie anthems ever written!
An absolute classic a head of its time.

Jasmate

3y↑3

What a powerhouse of a song!! Love it!!

Paul G

34w↑2

Radio New Zealand just played this to commemorate Russell Morris' birthday July 31 2022.
This track cost as much to produce as an entire album usually cost at the time.

Graham Leadbeatter

2y↑10

Produced by Ian Meldrum. Clearly his best work.

CrazyMaryCrazyMary

12y↑6

Love the updated version of this incredible song. Thank you!

Brett Curtis

5y↑1

Russell Morris, such a talented and under-rated Aussie musician... Just love this from my teen years!

Soozi inCa

9y↑22

As a long time OILS fan...Thanks for turning this American on to "the real thing".

Elias Rodriues

7y↑55

I'm from Brazil and This is a classic. I found it out in the book "1001 Songs To Hear Before You Die"

DoritoPool

5y↑3

Haha same, i love that damn book

Heather Foster

7y↑3

+Elias Rodriues A very profound statement. He is one of the most underated performers of all time. Such individual talent. Try to find his vinyl's at a reasonable price. Not possible. Love this performer.

Wayne Plume

4y↑2

Check out his latest 4 albums - absolute classic Aussie music!!!

Jacky de Leijer

9y↑10

Loved the 60's even though I was only a little girl ... the best music was made! 60's, 70's
Rob Guest, Shane, The Rumor, Craig Scott, Alison Durbin, Tony Christie, Hogsnort Ruper, Shona Laing, Yandall Sisters, Lee Grant, Annie Whittle, The Chapta, Russell Morris and so many more great artists including my very own cousin Ray Columbus! Thank you guys for the most awesome music eva!!!!

Hal Weilbrenner

2y↑1

Very true

nyosito

3y↑9

Russell Morris had some wonderful hits with compelling lyrics. This one "Ooommaa maa maa maa maa" was his biggest success, followed by 1971's "I am I am I am I am I am, du du du du du du du" and 1972's ""wha hooooo, wah hoooo, wah hooo".

67stickyfingers

He didnt write this...

Jasmine B

👍😄👍

Jade Shannon

AWESOME.A lot of sadness in this video and also a lot of reality.But their is also a lot of beauty left in the world.A video to let kids watch is definately something to see so they can see how well off they are.I am so glad Janis Joplin is included in this too.We are safe here in Australia compared to a lot of other places,anyway WELL DONE!

patrick45sue

4y↑5

I achieved a goal in life I'm in my mode 50s and my 6 year old Granddaughter wanted to see Russell live, well we Did it and the look on her face was priceless when she seen him sing this song 2018...

Joanne

3y↑1

I love this song so much!!!

S. Glover Kayla

3y↑1

So hard to find this song. But I watched the Dish, that solved it.
This would have to be one of THE best Aussie anthems ever written!
Russell Morris
Legend!
Russell Morris
Legend!

redpimp

8y↑18

An absolute classic a head of its time.

Annette Tucker

7y↑2

Russell that is really an amazing song and video . It reminded me of a song I wrote for the Electric Prunes called Get Me To The World On time. You did a great job.

Samantha

29w

Oh my GOD! You wrote Get Me to the World On Time? Wow. I love that song - what a classic! You should be very proud. (Love this song too, naturally 🙂).

Lucia Stanzel

8y↑4

Having such a retro little time. Lovely to revisit some exceptional Australian talent after all this time <3

Mark Reber

3y↑9

Rock n Roll Classic and maybe a ahead of his time. He's a great blues player now.

Peter Engles

Yes Thea, unfortunately Melbourne (Aus) isn't what it used to be in back in 1969 - that 'feeling' - that 'vibe' doesn't quite seem to be here anymore. There is an amazing story behind this track that I found out about through listening to a radio rock documentary on Australian rock history about 20 years ago. Prior to making this track, apparently Russell Morris - who was virtually unknown at the time - approached Johnny Young (one of the co writers) to see if he could get some vocal work. Young put his arm around Morris's back and said something like "When you've been in business as long as I have..." and suggested that he try again in the future. Morris approached Molly Meldrum following this unfortunate event and as it happened, Meldrum took him on to work on the vocals of the track - which was still basically just some chords and lyrics, but sounding differently from what it turned out to be. Meldrum ended spending literally the equivalent of the cost of an album on this track as it was continually being developed, and when EMI executives found out they were furious. They immediately told him to stop production and hand over the tapes. Realising what he'd acheived so far, Meldrum hid the tapes from EMI then took them to a radio station in New South Wales to play over the air. With the feedback from the station and convincing by Meldrum, EMI finally gave in and allowed Meldrum to finish off the production and release the track as a single. The rest is history. If there's any track that characterises what it was like in the creative Australian rock scene (and certainly in Melbourne) at that time, it must be this one. If anyone would like to correct these details, please go ahead. (PS the intro to this song is brilliant - so is the guitar solo on Morris's 'Hello Mr America').

SAINTS AND EELS

4y↑2

This to me is the best music video of all time i cant help but be mesmerized by the song and the vision and im a Metal Head 👍😀

el Damahj

1y↑1

What a classic of the Aussie 60/70's

UnSubRocky

Great how they put in a lot of historical moments in the re-editing of the music video.

debra direen

3y↑2

I met Russell twice when he worked with Jim Keays and Darryl Cotton he was an awesome performer

Giggs Kafae

4y↑2

Russell Morris
Legend!
Molly Meldrum's masterpiece !

Luis

6y↑1

This song was ahead of its time now I am going to buy this song from iTunes

Whitey

Great video, love the WW2 aspect and how the world changed from it

Russell Milkins

8y↑15

as relevant now as it was when written by johnny young, super production by molly and superbly sung by Russell. who by the way is a very good chap prepared to mingle with fans :)
thanks,r

Robyn Hurley

10y↑1

forgot what a powerfull amazing piece this is all hail Russell

MrStromRider

9y↑19

Russell Morris
Legend!

Malcolm Spencer-Goyen

11y

Awesome. Well crafted vid and great interpretation of the song.

Mary Howell

Still great voice at 74 which I heard last night ❤

DoobTube

Such a powerful song and video clip

charles300566

8y↑2

I love the song, and the video is great.

Aqene1000

9y↑36

Molly Meldrum's masterpiece !

Home Grown

3y↑1

@Kim Todd molly meldrom is a legend and he doesnt play with kids like you do and although yes he is a recluse but your something else

TheThirdMan

3y↑10

Aqene1000 It was written by Johnny Young and produced by Molly Meldrum. For the record, Molly’s a great bloke. I worked with him at Channel 9. Always got time for others. Definitely not a twat.

Peter Taylor

4y↑1

@Kim Todd Met him, have you?

2 More Replies...

Chrome Toaster

11y↑2

Holy effin' $#!+.. amazing video, debyok! this song just popped into my head today for no apparent reason at all.. so glad to have Found this video representation of it.

steve harris

such a great great song,; it's a pity the title couldn't have been the sole preserve permanently anchored to this mighty track, stuff steffani...

kevin chambers

1y↑1

Saw Russell open for the Bee Gees in Wellington many years ago,to long to remember,also watched him in Wellington to celebrate and proform with the NZ Army Band,had the privilege of meeting him as well

David Petrie

I was a kid in the late 60s at my cousins place in green valley and these two bikies went past on a triumph motor bike and they were singing this song and having a great time of it

tim harcourt

8y↑8

pure genius and an Aussie too!

Marc harris

4y↑5

So hard to find this song. But I watched the Dish, that solved it.
An absolute classic a head of its time.

Adrian Dunn

Watched Russell Morris at the Commodore Hotel many moons ago, wonderful, just wonderful. Later on with Cotton, Keays and Morris. Didn't miss a beat.

jennie Ho

5y↑3

My dad Ray Bean is the guy in Molly Meldrum's book "ah well no one's perfect", who is the guy who first played 'the real thing' on Australian Radio. He was program manager at 2UW at the time.. I am as proud as fuck of him. He grew up in Leeton NSW and did not have any kind of education to speak of.... but he had a dream

goatboy

6y↑6

When it comes down to the Greatest Australian Anthems arguments, this gets my vote every time. Though Evie is a close second.

april sky

2y↑1

Aussie talent right here folks.
August 2021.

Natasha Tate

i love this song

The Truth

6y↑1

Fantastic song !...

BSA Benny

45w↑2

Great song that is even more relevant now in the Ukraine.I don't know those guys but I hate bullies(Putin's forces).I have the greatest admiration for the bravery of some Russians who protested the conflict & are in prison as a result.Stay strong Ukraine.Nothing in this rotten world endures,the good & especially the bad.

North Sea Brent

6y↑3

Great Aussie music.

greysparrow68

10y

Me too. Honours this quirky but soul touching song very well.

Malcolm Spencer-Goyen

11y

Ian "Molly" Meldrum is in a coma at the moment, fighting for his life. Hopefully he recovers. Regardless, this song is a great testimony to his talent.

Loweldl Everettooa

Russell Morris
Legend!
So hard to find this song. But I watched the Dish, that solved it.

Michael O'Neale

1y↑1

I remember that. In 1969 my mum took me to see short movie called “Popcorn” at State Theatre Theatreete (small cinema next to big one on Market Street Sydney). Popcorn was just a bunch of film clips from music of 1969. Only one I remember was ‘The Real Thing’. Some of the visuals in this clip were same as clip I saw. I was only 10, but I thought it was great. ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum did a good and freeing production. He just let is keep running with all sorts of sounds and voices thrown in. Molly was important to Australian music even before‘Countdown’. Morris was an alright singer too. There was a weird thing that happened though that day in the small cinema, watching popcorn. When The Real Thing clip came on all the late teen boys got up from their seats, booing at Morris on the screen, and left the cinema. They came back next clip. Couldn’t figure it out. Jealousy thing.

Forgotten Magpie

8y↑8

One of the best songs ever! :D

Forgotten Magpie

7y↑2

Definitely. It was far ahead of its time with production.

Jenny Wilson

7y↑2

+Forgotten Magpie Best record ever, the song doesn't mean much, but Ian Meldrum did a brilliant job with the production. A great singer helped.

Felix T-Rex

This is a heavy metal classic

Andrew H

Australian rock...THE REAL THING.

David Martin

the drum beat is strangely WAY ahead of its time. almost like 90s British rock esque

Techarmy

6y↑84

I saw Russel Morris in Perth in 1969. Rode my bike to Innaloo shopping center to see him and John Farnham. Cost a dollar..

Clade

2y↑1

Techarmy amazing..

Australian English with Jason

2y↑1

WOW!

Joseph Jhugroo

4y↑6

Best dollar you ever spent.

Yvonne Saunders

5y↑2

Those were the days! Lucky you. 😄

JP Hancock

Russel Morris as cool as ever, it was good then its even better now

Ian Gardener

27w↑1

Always loved this.

helifalic

Such a great edit of this song.

jancie geiran

Molly Meldrum produced. Russell Morris sang/played. Both actually don't remember how they mastered this piece of brilliance in music at the time that it happened. High on life .... or something so much better.

umberella01

1y↑1

Wow! Still the real thing!

Sayaka Hayashi

I love this!!

Sandra Weilbrenner

2y↑1

Very powerful

raukawa tane

10y↑2

loved this years ago, the cool piano and one of the first to use that phasing sound....

L 13

1y↑1

Great tune

late night logic

43w↑1

Peak 60s. Should have been a global power hit, not just here in Australia.

Help me out: are the lyrics ‘trying hard to understand, that really not, your seeing me’ or ‘trying hard to understand, but really not, you see in me’ ?

BubbleFergusson

8y↑41

It took me absolutely forever to find the artist and name of this song. The only lyrics I could ever remember were the Ooh ma ma mow mow bits... try putting that into google. So glad I've finally found it!!!

jane M

5y↑2

same here

Vagabond245

7y↑3

+BubbleFergusson haha made me chuckle. Glad you ended up finding it.

Rick Albiston

7y↑1

still my favourite

Linda Jones

7y↑3

The more things change......thanks, good old song.

Meredith Arbon

ME, outside, bopping to this AWESOME song. People walking by, give me the "EVIL EYE". ME... KEEP BOPPING.....

AUSSIE OUTLAW

MORRIS THE AUSSIE LEGEND

Mr__Woody

An amazing video to a great classic

Rube Waddell

45w↑1

The 389th number one hit in Australia.

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