Ma He's Making Eyes At Me
The Ray Conniff Singers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy
And all the fellows knew,
She wouldn't bill and coo:
Ev'ry single night some smart fellow would try
o cuddle up to her, but she would cry:

"Ma, he's making eyes at me!
Ma he's awful nice to me!
Ma he's almost breaking my heart,
I'm beside him, Mercy!
Let his conscience guide him!
Ma, he wants to marry me,
Be my honey bee.
Ev'ry minute he gets bolder,
Now he's leaning on my shoulder,
Ma, he's kissing me!"

Lilly was so good, ev'ry body could tell.
You'd never see her roam,
She'd always stay at home;
All the neighbors knew little Lilly too well.
For when the boys would call, They'd hear her yell:

Ma, he's making eyes at me!
Ma he's awful nice to me!
Ma he's almost breaking my heart,
If you peek in, Can't you see I'm goin' to weaken?
Ma, he wants to marry me,
Be my honey bee.
Ma, I'm meeting with resistance,




I shall holler for assistance,
Ma, he's kissing me!"

Overall Meaning

The Ray Conniff Singers' song "Ma He's Making Eyes At Me" tells the story of Little Lilly, a shy and innocent girl who attracts the attention of many suitors. Despite her reservations and reluctance to engage in romantic relationships, Lilly finds herself being pursued by these men who make advances toward her. The chorus of the song echoes Lilly's distress as she seeks help from her mother, who she calls out to in desperation each time a man tries to woo her. However, the lyrics also suggest that Lilly is growing more comfortable with the attention and that the men's persistence is beginning to wear her down. The song ends with Lilly admitting that the man has won her over and is now kissing her.


The lyrics of "Ma He's Making Eyes At Me" speak to the universal experience of young people discovering their own sexuality and navigating the complexities of romantic relationships. It highlights the tension between a desire for attention and affection and the fear and awkwardness that often accompanies these feelings. The song also touches on the role of mothers in protecting their children and providing guidance as they enter into the world of dating and romance.


Line by Line Meaning

Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy
Lilly, a shy girl, acted foolishly.


And all the fellows knew, She wouldn't bill and coo:
All the boys knew that she wasn't interested in flirting.


Ev'ry single night some smart fellow would try o cuddle up to her, but she would cry:
Every night a boy would try to get close to her, but she would reject him and cry for help.


"Ma, he's making eyes at me! Ma he's awful nice to me! Ma he's almost breaking my heart, I'm beside him, Mercy! Let his conscience guide him! Ma, he wants to marry me, Be my honey bee. Ev'ry minute he gets bolder, Now he's leaning on my shoulder, Ma, he's kissing me!"
Lilly seeks her mother's intervention as a boy is showing interest in her. She is scared and overwhelmed, but also feels flattered. She wants the boy to do the right thing and is worried about her own resistance to his advances. She fears that he is moving too fast and is already kissing her.


Lilly was so good, ev'ry body could tell.
Everyone knew that Lilly was a good girl.


You'd never see her roam, She'd always stay at home;
Lilly was a homebody and never went out much.


All the neighbors knew little Lilly too well. For when the boys would call, They'd hear her yell:
The neighbors also knew her well and heard her cry out whenever a boy came to visit.


"Ma, he's making eyes at me! Ma he's awful nice to me! Ma he's almost breaking my heart, If you peek in, Can't you see I'm goin' to weaken? Ma, he wants to marry me, Be my honey bee. Ma, I'm meeting with resistance, I shall holler for assistance, Ma, he's kissing me!"
Lilly again seeks her mother's help as another boy is showing interest in her. She is scared and feels weak. She fears that she might give in to the boy's advances if she is left alone. She also expresses her reluctance to marry him and seeks her mother's assistance as the boy is already kissing her.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CON CONRAD, SIDNEY CLARE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions