Previously the Rivingtons had been known as The Sharps and had already tasted chart action via Thurston Harris' "Little Bitty Pretty One" in 1957, after which they appeared on several Duane Eddy recordings when any extraneous sounds of rebel yells were required.
After the two hit singles, the Rivingtons struggled till the mid 60s to find another hit but after the Columbia single "A Rose Growing In The Ruins" flopped they called it a day. However, the two hits entered a life of their own, courtesy of a Minnesota group called The Trashmen, who recorded a song made up from the nonsense syllables, calling it Surfin' Bird. The band cut the disc over a record shop and passed it off as their own work because it was a medley of the choruses without the verses. However the Rivingtons' management reported it to their lawyers and the group were ordered to add the surnames of the Rivingtons to the credits, having the effect of causing the first pressings without the Rivingtons credit to become collectors items.
After the publicity surrounding the allegations in Billboard the Trashmen had to share the writing credits on not only this recording but a later one as a sign of good faith. Surfin' Bird itself was revived in the 70s by the Ramones and the Cramps.
Papa Oom Mow Mow
The Rivingtons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Papa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - papa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Pomm
(pomm) - funniest sound I ever heard - (pomm)
Pomm
Pomm
(pomm) - I couldn't understand a single word - (pomm)
Pomm
Is he serious
Or is he playing
Oom mow mow is all he's saying
Papa oom - pomm
Pomm - papa papa papa oom
Pomm pomm
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - pa pa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Pomm
(pomm) - I said a hey there partner what's your name - (pomm)
Pomm
Pomm
(pomm) - now don't you dare tell me the same old thing - (pomm)
Pomm
The words you sang, I can't figure out
But you've got a sound, make me stomp and shout
Papa oom - pomm
Pomm - papa papa papa oom
Pomm pomm
Di di dit - papa oom ma mow mow - dit dit
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow -dit dit
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - di di dit - di di dit
(pa pa pa pa)
Papa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Papa oom mow mow
Pomm
(pomm) - and now I hear this sound everywhere I go - (pomm)
Pomm
(pomm) - on records, tv and a radio - (pomm)
Pomm
And now it's spreadin' all over the land
I still can't seem to understand
Papa oom
Papa papa papa oom
The Rivingtons’s song “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” is a classic example of nonsense music. The song’s lyrics consist mostly of syllables strung together without a coherent meaning. The song starts with repetitive “pa pa pa pa” followed by “papa oom ma mow mow” and “papa oom mow mow.” The verses continue with syllables like “di di dit” and “ma ma ma,” interspersed between repetitions of “papa oom mow mow” and “pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow.”
The chorus includes the catchy and distinctive “pomm pomm” sounds, followed by the lines “Is he serious or is he playing, Oom mow mow is all he’s saying.” The last verse is an affirmation of the song’s strange popularity, with the singer admitting that he still can't understand the words but is happy to stomp and shout whenever he hears the tune. In essence, the song expresses the fun-filled and exhilarating effect of music on people.
Line by Line Meaning
Pa pa pa pa
A repetitive sound that catches the listener's attention
Papa oom ma mow mow
A nonsensical phrase that is fun to say and hear
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase in a slightly different rhythm
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - papa oom ma mow mow
A call and response pattern with the same nonsensical phrase
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase in a slightly different rhythm
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Pomm
A funny sound that makes people pay attention
(pomm) - funniest sound I ever heard - (pomm)
Commentary on the comedic nature of the sound
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
(pomm) - I couldn't understand a single word - (pomm)
Admission of confusion regarding the nonsensical phrase
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
Is he serious
Questioning the intention behind the nonsensical phrase
Or is he playing
Entertainment hypothesis
Oom mow mow is all he's saying
Observation of the repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Papa oom - pomm
A combination of the nonsensical phrase and the funny sound
Pomm - papa papa papa oom
Repetition of combination previously mentioned
Pomm pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - pa pa oom ma mow mow
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
(pomm) - I said a hey there partner what's your name - (pomm)
Commentary on an attempt to communicate with the person making the sound
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
(pomm) - now don't you dare tell me the same old thing - (pomm)
Anticipation of receiving the same nonsensical response
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
The words you sang, I can't figure out
Admitting inability to understand the meaning behind the nonsensical phrase
But you've got a sound, make me stomp and shout
Acknowledgement of the power of the sound to cause a physical reaction
Papa oom - pomm
A combination of the nonsensical phrase and the funny sound
Pomm - papa papa papa oom
Repetition of combination previously mentioned
Pomm pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
Di di dit - papa oom ma mow mow - dit dit
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase and a variation in rhythm
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow -dit dit
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase in a slightly different rhythm and a variation in rhythm
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - di di dit - di di dit
A pattern of repeated syllables
(pa pa pa pa)
A repetitive sound that catches the listener's attention
Papa oom ma mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
A call and response pattern with the nonsensical phrase in a slightly different rhythm
Papa oom mow mow
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
(pomm) - and now I hear this sound everywhere I go - (pomm)
Observation of the prevalence of the funny sound
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
(pomm) - on records, tv and a radio - (pomm)
Recognition of the widespread popularity of the funny sound through different media
Pomm
Repetition of the funny sound
And now it's spreadin' all over the land
Noticing how the funny sound is increasingly becoming popular
I still can't seem to understand
Admitting the continued inability to decipher the meaning behind the nonsensical phrase
Papa oom
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase
Papa papa papa oom
Repetition of the nonsensical phrase in a different form
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL FRAZIER, ALFRED FRAZIER, JOHN HARRIS, TURNER, CARL WHITE, JR. WILSON, TURNER WILSON JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Ashbury
on The Bird's the Word
amazingly brilliant song. Also really like the K-Tel Version a lot as well :)