Ma Ma Ma Marie
The Gaylords Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Aye, who's there!
Ma ma ma ma ma Marie (ma ma ma ma ma Marie)
Oh oh oh oh Marie (oh oh oh oh Marie)
Can't you see what you're doing to me
(Can't you see what you're doing to me)
Love a love a love a love a love there's no play thing
(No play thing)
But to you (but to you) it's an old (it's an old) everyday thing
Ma ma ma ma ma Marie (ma ma ma ma ma Marie)
Oh oh oh oh Marie (oh oh oh oh Marie)
Maybe someday you'll want me to want you
When oh when oh when oh when oh when will it be
Oh oh Marie (oh oh Marie)
Oh Maria-a-a-a-a
Oh Marie
Oh Marie
Oh Marie
Oh Marie




Oh Marie
Oh Marie

Overall Meaning

The Gaylords's song Ma Ma Ma Marie is a catchy, upbeat song about a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman named Marie. He pleads with her to see what she is doing to him and declares that his love for her is not just a game or a passing fling. To him, it is a serious and genuine emotion.


The repetition of "ma ma ma ma ma Marie" and "oh oh oh oh Marie" in the chorus highlights the infatuation the man feels towards Marie. He continues to profess his feelings towards her, saying "maybe someday you'll want me to want you" and anxiously waiting for the day when Marie reciprocates his feelings. The song ends with a drawn-out "Maria-a-a-a-a" and "oh Marie" as the man's fervor for her grows.


Overall, the song conveys a lighthearted, innocent and charming atmosphere with an infectious melody, but beneath the surface, it captures the desperate longing and yearning of unrequited love.


Line by Line Meaning

Aye, who's there!
Startled and surprised by the sudden encounter


Ma ma ma ma ma Marie (ma ma ma ma ma Marie)
Calling out to a woman named Marie


Oh oh oh oh Marie (oh oh oh oh Marie)
Expressing fondness and admiration for Marie


Can't you see what you're doing to me
Feeling overwhelmed and affected by Marie's presence


Love a love a love a love a love there's no play thing (No play thing)
Defining that love is a serious and significant matter


But to you (but to you) it's an old (it's an old) everyday thing
Observing that Marie may not see love with the same level of seriousness


Maybe someday you'll want me to want you
Expressing hope of reciprocated feelings from Marie


When oh when oh when oh when oh when will it be
Questioning the timeline and possibility of Marie having mutual feelings


Oh oh Marie (oh oh Marie)
Continuing to express affection and admiration for Marie


Oh Maria-a-a-a-a
Using variations of Marie's name to signify deep attachment and adoration


Oh Marie
Repeatedly calling out to Marie as the song ends




Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@whitefalcon64

I got this tune on a very rare Lp 'round 25 years ago, and still soundin' great !!!

@GrandFanale

A great synthesis of a classic Italian folk song updated for a 50's American audience. The Gaylords are wonderful.

@russieross533

Excellent! This is a really good tune!

@carlmoore19

This is indeed a remake of "O Mari", a waltz (also sung by this group, in Italian).  So I am glad to find it.

@MrJessePP

Haha, lol My boyfriend told me to watch this, I Love it! Absolutely fabulous!!

@FlipFlopandFly

What a great song !!!!!!!!!!

@benbeusenberg3206

TOP!!!!!!

@aliyamoon80

This was a song I didn't hear from my older patients. I heard another song. <3

@PopcornOldieManiac

I heard it for the first time today ( i'm from 60' ) really the good old days . Thanks

@hennieheytvelt7706

een heerlijk lied swingend en lekker oude herinnering.

More Comments

More Versions