Poison Ivy
The Aztecs Lyrics
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But everybody knows
She'll get you in touch
You can look but you'd better not touch
[Chorus]
Poison Ivy, Poison Ivy
Late at night when your sleeping
She's pretty as a daisy
But look out man she's crazy
She'll really reel you in
If you let her get under your skin
Measles makes you mumpy
And mumps will make you lumpy
And chicken pox will make you jump and twitch (make you jump and twitch)
A common cold will fool ya
And whooping coughs will cool ya
But poison ivy loves to make you itch
Your gonna need an ocean (gonna need an ocean)
Of calamine lotion (oh, your gonna need it)
You'll be scratching like a hound (boy, you'll be itching)
The minute you start to mess around
[Chorus: x2]
Measles makes you mumpy
And mumps will make you lumpy
And chicken pox will make you jump and twitch (make you jump and twitch)
A common cold will fool ya
And whooping coughs will cool ya
But poison ivy loves to make you itch
Your gonna need an ocean (gonna need an ocean)
Of calamine lotion (oh, your gonna need it)
You'll be scratching like a hound (boy, you'll be itching)
The minute you start to mess around
[Chorus]
The Aztecs' song Poison Ivy is a cautionary tale about a woman who seems beautiful and alluring like a rose, but is actually dangerous like poison ivy. The lyrics describe her as someone who will get you in touch, but warns that you'd better not touch her, as she will reel you in and get under your skin. The chorus repeats the warning about the creeping nature of Poison Ivy and how she'll come around late at night when you're sleeping.
The lyrics then go on to compare various illnesses such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, and whooping cough to Poison Ivy, suggesting that while those illnesses might make you uncomfortable or sick, Poison Ivy is much worse because she loves to make you itch. The song ends with a warning that the listener will need a lot of calamine lotion to deal with the itching once they start to mess around with Poison Ivy.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that Poison Ivy represents a seductive and dangerous woman who might seem attractive on the surface, but is actually harmful and will cause pain and discomfort. The comparison to various illnesses might be a way to show that while those illnesses might be uncomfortable, they are not necessarily harmful in the same way that Poison Ivy is.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes on like a rose
At first glance, Poison Ivy appears to be charming and attractive
But everybody knows
However, her true nature is widely recognized
She'll get you in touch
She will entangle you in her seductive grip
You can look but you'd better not touch
It is best to admire her from a distance to avoid her harmful effects
Poison Ivy, Poison Ivy
Repeated mention of the name, emphasizing her danger
Late at night when your sleeping
Her presence can strike anytime, especially when you are most vulnerable
Poison Ivy comes a creeping around
She moves stealthily and dangerously
She's pretty as a daisy
Despite her danger, she has a captivating appearance
But look out man she's crazy
Her alluring appearance masks her insanity
She'll really reel you in
Once she grabs hold, she will not let go
If you let her get under your skin
If you become entrapped by her, she will become a part of you
Measles makes you mumpy
Drawing a comparison between Poison Ivy and other ailments that cause physical reactions
And mumps will make you lumpy
Showing that Poison Ivy is worse than even these common ills
And chicken pox will make you jump and twitch (make you jump and twitch)
Her effects are intense and long-lasting, unlike chicken pox
A common cold will fool ya
Even mild illnesses can be deceiving
And whooping coughs will cool ya
Whooping coughs can be serious, but they pale in comparison to the danger of Poison Ivy
But poison ivy loves to make you itch
Her true nature is centered around causing discomfort and irritation
Your gonna need an ocean (gonna need an ocean)
Her effects are so severe that they require copious amounts of treatment
Of calamine lotion (oh, your gonna need it)
This specific type of treatment is necessary to treat the unique symptoms of Poison Ivy
You'll be scratching like a hound (boy, you'll be itching)
The itching associated with Poison Ivy is uncontrollable and unpleasant
The minute you start to mess around
One misstep can quickly lead to entanglement with Poison Ivy's dangerous allure
[Chorus: x2]
The repeated chorus emphasizes the danger and pervasive nature of Poison Ivy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christina Reuter Mitchell
In spite of its mid-60s style, this song still sounds great in 2023 -- truly a timeless classic!
Sheddy Morrison
Hello Christina, how are you doing today,hope you're good 😊👋
The18Angus
I cant belive these guys knocked the beatles off the number one spot when the beatles were actually touring australia at the same time..hats off to them ..
ThatESC
The18Angus Apparently their songs were based off of them, as the Beatles were in England, but not yet Australia, and Billy and Tony were British migrants.
David Wealand
Only in Australia!!
Laurie Aylmore
@ThatESC gee picky Billy was 9/10 when he got to Australia !!!!
James Lingo
Who are thé Beatles? Never heard
SEE YAI AYE
I've heard it on Spicks and Specks, jj and even a few old timers irl that when the Beatles were playing thousands more went to see Billy and the Aztecs that night instead, hard to find many sources online though.
Andrew K
Best version of this song that I've ever heard. So much better than the Rolling Stones' version.
Dale McCamish
I have just heard The Hollies version of this, now I think the Hollies are one of the greatest. Can't hold a candle to this version. Still sends shivers up my spine. R.I.P. BIlly