Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
Marmendy Mill
The Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't
You smile?
Every child
Should learn
How to smile
You like me
Were born crying
As she's dying
How many smiles
Will you smile today?
Emily Ann,
Give me your hand
I'll talk to you,
You won't understand
Funny man
With mustache moving
Funny man
What are you proving
What have your words
Done for you today?
Marcy, upstate boy,
Scholar-faced fatty,
Here is your lunch son
Wait for your daddy,
Have lots of fun son
Whitesboro schoolhouse
Act like the big kids
Don't get in trouble
In the good old days
When I felt
Like a child
I could run
For a mile
Over blue meadows
To Marmendy Mill
Howie,
Stop your games
Come in and play now
Your clarinet son
Concert today now
Were proud, you bet son
School work and scales
A well-rounded learning
You lucky boy you
In the good old days
When I felt
Like a child
I could run
For a mile
Over blue meadows
To Marmendy Mill
Hey Howie come on
Moving, far away,
Good-bye
To the farmer,
You'll make
New friends son
L. A. Is warmer,
Childhood ends son
Off to the city
To grow up too quickly
There's no returning
To the good old days
When I felt
Like a child
I could run
For a mile
Over blue meadows
To Marmendy Mill
Come on
Well
That electrified wire
Will set your keester
On fire
Unless you shimmy
On the ground
Like the groundhogs do
And though I'm going away
To Cal-i-for-nee-i-a
I know I'll never find
A better friend than you
La, La La, La La La, La
La, La La, La La La, La
La, La La, La La La, La
The song "Marmendy Mill" by The Turtles is a reflection on childhood, specifically on how quickly it passes by and how the innocence of youth is lost. The lyrics focus on several different characters, each with their own unique experiences, but all facing the same underlying truth: life moves too fast.
The opening lyrics address Emily, asking her why she doesn't smile more often. The lines "Every child / Should learn / How to smile" suggest that the innocence of youth is characterized by happiness and joy, qualities that are often lost as one grows older. The lines "You like me / Were born crying / She like we will cry / As she's dying" further emphasize the inevitability of sadness and pain in life. The chorus, with its mentions of running and blue meadows, feels nostalgic and wistful, as if longing for the simplicity of childhood.
The other characters in the song - Marcy, Howie, and the unnamed "scholar-faced fatty" - all have their own moments of innocence and joy, but these are tempered by the knowledge that childhood doesn't last forever. The final verse, with its reference to "going away / To Cal-i-for-nee-i-a," suggests that the singer has grown up and moved on, but still remembers the friends and memories of their youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Emily child
Addressing a child named Emily
Why don't
You smile?
Asking Emily to smile
Every child
Should learn
How to smile
Children should learn to smile
You like me
Were born crying
She like we will cry
As she's dying
Everyone is born crying and will eventually cry again in death
How many smiles
Will you smile today?
Encouraging Emily to smile more
Emily Ann,
Give me your hand
I'll talk to you,
You won't understand
Trying to connect with Emily despite the age gap
Funny man
With mustache moving
Funny man
What are you proving
What have your words
Done for you today?
Questioning the usefulness of someone's words or actions
Marcy, upstate boy,
Scholar-faced fatty,
Here is your lunch son
Wait for your daddy,
Have lots of fun son
Whitesboro schoolhouse
Act like the big kids
Don't get in trouble
In the good old days
Sending a message to Marcy to enjoy school and to not get in trouble, while mentioning fond memories of the past
When I felt
Like a child
I could run
For a mile
Over blue meadows
To Marmendy Mill
Reflecting on a time when the artist felt free and full of energy as a child, running to a place called Marmendy Mill
Howie,
Stop your games
Come in and play now
Your clarinet son
Concert today now
Were proud, you bet son
School work and scales
A well-rounded learning
You lucky boy you
In the good old days
Encouraging Howie to stop playing around and practice for his concert, while also acknowledging that he has an opportunity for a well-rounded education
Moving, far away,
Good-bye
To the farmer,
You'll make
New friends son
L. A. Is warmer,
Childhood ends son
Off to the city
To grow up too quickly
There's no returning
To the good old days
Saying goodbye to a simpler life on the farm as the singer and Howie prepare to move to Los Angeles, where Howie will need to grow up quickly
Well
That electrified wire
Will set your keester
On fire
Unless you shimmy
On the ground
Like the groundhogs do
Giving Howie a comedic warning about electrified wires on the ground
And though I'm going away
To Cal-i-for-nee-i-a
I know I'll never find
A better friend than you
La, La La, La La La, La
La, La La, La La La, La
La, La La, La La La, La
Acknowledging Howie as a good friend, even though they will be moving away
Contributed by Zoe D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SteveAydt
One of their most sadly overlooked songs. As Flo & Eddie, they performed a poignant 7 minute version. Thanks for posting!
@2002MX5
Incredible song.