Mama Told Me
Three Dog Night Lyrics
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Or sugar with your tea
What are these crazy questions
That they're asking of me
This is the craziest party
That there ever could be
Oh, don't turn on the light
'Cause I don't want to see
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain't the way to have fun
Open up the window
Let some air into this room
I think I'm almost choking from
The smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you're smoking
'Bout to scare me half to death
Open up the window sucka
Let me catch my breath
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain't the way to have fun, son
That ain't the way to have fun, son
The radio is blasting,
Someone's beating on the door
I'm looking at my girlfriend
She's passed out on the floor
I seen so many things
I ain't never seen before
I don't know what it is
But I don't wanna see no more
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
She said, that ain't the way to have fun, son
That ain't the way to have fun,
Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me
Told me, told me,
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain't the way to have fun, no
That ain't the way to have fun, son
That ain't the way to have fun, no
That ain't the way to have fun, son
That ain't the way to have fun, no
That ain't the way to have fun, son
That ain't the way to have fun, no
That ain't the way to have fun, son
The song "Mama Told Me Not To Come" by Three Dog Night portrays the experience of a person attending a wild and crazy party. The lyrics open with a series of bizarre questions on whether they want whiskey with water or sugar with tea. The singer expresses their discomfort at the strange atmosphere of the party, and they ask to open the window for fresh air. They also reference the overwhelming smell of perfume and cigarette smoke that makes them feel like they are choking.
The chorus is recurrent and emphasizes what Mama advised the persona, which is not to attend such kind of parties. The verses highlight the chaos at the party, including someone beating the door, the girlfriend being passed out on the floor, and the persona seeing things they have never seen before. They end with the idea that even though they are not having fun at the party, they do not know what they are experiencing.
The song's message is not to judge others for their lifestyle choices, but to listen to your mother's advice. Even if the persona is not enjoying themselves, they choose to go back to the party and would appreciate it not to get worse.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you have whiskey with your water
Are you asking if I want to get drunk?
Or sugar with your tea
Or are you offering some kind of lame alternative?
What are these crazy questions
Why are you making this so complicated?
That they're asking of me
Why can't we just have a normal conversation?
This is the craziest party
This is the most wild and out of control party I've ever been to
That there ever could be
It's like nothing I've ever seen before
Oh, don't turn on the light
Please, let's not see what's happening here
'Cause I don't want to see
I just can't handle it
Open up the window
It's way too stuffy in here
Let some air into this room
We need some fresh air to breathe
I think I'm almost choking from
I can barely breathe because of
The smell of stale perfume
The overpowering scent of cheap perfume and sweat
And that cigarette you're smoking
That cigarette is making me feel sick
'Bout to scare me half to death
I am so worried about what might happen next
Open up the window sucka
Open the window, dammit!
Let me catch my breath
I need to calm down and breathe
The radio is blasting,
The music is so loud
Someone's beating on the door
There's someone trying to get in
I'm looking at my girlfriend
I'm worried about my girlfriend
She's passed out on the floor
She's unconscious on the ground
I seen so many things
I've witnessed some crazy stuff
I ain't never seen before
Things I never could have imagined
I don't know what it is
I'm not sure what's happening
But I don't wanna see no more
But I am done with all of this
She said, that ain't the way to have fun, son
My mom warned me that this kind of behavior is not how to have a good time
Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me
My mom tried to warn me multiple times
Told me, told me,
She really tried to get through to me
That ain't the way to have fun, no
This is not how to enjoy yourself
That ain't the way to have fun, son
My mom specifically warned me, her son, about this
That ain't the way to have fun, no
There are so many better ways to have a good time
That ain't the way to have fun, son
Listen to my wise mother and avoid this kind of behavior
That ain't the way to have fun, no
Believe me, this is not how to have fun
That ain't the way to have fun, son
Don't make the same mistake I did, listen to your mother
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christine Shire
on My Impersonal Life
Who sang vocals for this