The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan a… Read Full Bio ↴The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, a duo later known as Flo & Eddie. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits in the 60s, beginning with their version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965. The band scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song "Happy Together". Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965, the band was renowned for their both joyously melancholic and occasionally cheeky sound, always being good-natured.

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.

Oh Daddy
The Turtles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heh!

What they're sayin'
That they're sayin'
Isn't true
And what they're sayin'
That I did, I didn't do

And the rules are scribbled right above my bunk
But I've only got a minute for this call

Oh, Daddy!
Oh, Daddy!
I didn't do wrong at all
I didn't do wrong at all
I didn't do wro-o-o-o-ong

Beep, beep

And what other kids at camp are goin' to say
They look worried as they saw us drive away-ay-ay
And I've taken a kid much as with a smile
And they're sayin' I'll be stayin' here a-a-a-awhile

Oh, Daddy!
Oh, Daddy!
I didn't do wrong at all
I didn't do wrong at all
I didn't do wro-o-o-o-ng

Well, I-I may be through with classes
I'm ashamed, yeah
That I've scandalized, publicized
I'm mad, no
And have you noticed in the last year
How I've changed?
I said, I said
Have you noticed in the last year
How I've changed?
I said have you noticed
In the last year
How I've changed? (Bwa, ha, ha)

I've changed
Have you noticed? (Bwha, ha, ha, ha)

Overall Meaning

The Turtles's song Oh Daddy is possibly about a teenager who is in trouble and is calling out to his father for help. He wants his dad to know that the rumours being spread about him are not true and he has not done anything wrong. He then talks about how the rules are written on paper and how he only has a minute to speak to his dad over the phone. The 'beep beep' which comes almost immediately after he speaks to his dad suggests that the time to talk to him is over.

The second half of the song refers to the camp where the teenager might be. He talks about the other kids and what they might say because of the rumours they've heard. The teenager seems to be disheartened because he says that he might have to stay at the camp for a while. He again calls out to his dad for help and reiterates that he hasn't done anything wrong. The last part of the song is interesting. The teenager talks about how he has changed in the last year--"And have you noticed in the last year, How I’ve changed?" This probably means that he has matured and he is no longer the same person he used to be, but it's too late to change the current situation.

Line by Line Meaning

What they're sayin'
The words they are uttering

That they're sayin'
The thing they are saying

Isn't true
The content they provide is false

And what they're sayin'
Additionally, what they are saying

That I did, I didn't do
The action that they claim I committed, I did not commit

And the rules are scribbled right above my bunk
The set policies are written hastily overhead my sleeping place

But I've only got a minute for this call
However, I can only spare a minute to talk about it

Oh, Daddy!
O Father!

I didn't do wrong at all
I did not commit any mistakes

Beep, beep
Sound produced by beepers

And what other kids at camp are goin' to say
What are other youngsters in the summer camp going to think and say