*Update: Wadsworth Mansion formed in Providence RI, and took their name from a landmark building in Middletown, CT. In reality, there were two Wadsworth Mansion groups. The first recorded "Sweet Mary" and their eponymous LP for Sussex Records in late 1970. On board were the Jablecki brothers: Steve (who wrote the song) and Mike, along with John Pool and Wayne Gagnon. John played bass, Mike was the drummer, while Wayne and Steve provided guitar work and vocals. After the surprise Top 10 success of "Sweet Mary" (their only Top 100 hit), Steve and John hit the road to tour, with new drummer Charlie Flannery and lead guitarist Howie "Forrest" McDonald (both formerly with the group Pale Ryder). Together, they toured 35 states, opening for acts like Alice Cooper and Edgar Winter, and appearing on American Bandstand and The Dating Game.
Of all the members, blues guitarist Forrest McDonald has had the most post-Wadsworth success. His musical career predates and eclipses their one-hit wonder status. Early on, at age 19, he was a member of the Boston Rock Symphony. Later in LA, he worked with Van Halen and Steve Perry of Journey. That association led to his first CD release in the '90s: I Need You. Recording as the band Forrest, he released Under The Gun in 1998, on the strength of great and continuous reviews of his On Fire from the previous year. Along with his long-time partner and pianist Raymond Victor, he has played with John Lee Hooker, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Reed, Bobby "Blue" Bland and many other blues greats. Perhaps his most well known appearance is on Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll". McDonald supplied the guitar solo, which had been recorded previously at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and later purchased by Seger to use in the song. McDonald then stayed in the South, forming World Talent Records in Atlanta. His latest release was 2004's Colorblind.
Sweet Mary
Wadsworth Mansion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop wo-op
Sweet Mary sent a letter to me
She say to "Hurry home
I need you right away, ay, ay
And I'm all alone
All of the day"
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, hey-ey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do
Sweet Mary in that letter to me
She said "It's up to you
I need you right away, ay, ay"
And now I got to hop a freight
Back to the farm and all
I've got to be
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, yeah-hey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do, babe
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Baby I'm coming
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Wop ba-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop, oh yeah, baby
Sweet Mary has a smile on her face
You know she's happy to see me wrap her in an embrace
I only hope that the passing of time
She'll always feel that way
And I won't pack up my things
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, yeah, hey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do, hey
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Well, Mary I'm coming
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Home, Mary I'm coming
The song "Sweet Mary" by Wadsworth Mansion follows a man who has received a letter from his lover, Sweet Mary, asking him to come back home immediately because she needs him. The song starts with a repetitive vocalization of "Wop ba-dooba-do wop-wop-wop" and "Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop" that add to the overall upbeat and catchy tone of the song. Sweet Mary's letter informed him that she has a stomach full of love and is all alone, making it clear that she needs his presence to feel complete. The lyrics emphasize that the singer is hurrying back to her side, willing to do whatever he can to make her happy.
Throughout the song, the artist repeats that he is coming home, emphasizing the importance of the relationship he shares with Sweet Mary. He hopes that with the passing of time, Sweet Mary will continue to be happy to see him and he won't have to pack up his things and leave anytime soon. Overall, the song has a strong sense of urgency, passion, and longing for love.
Line by Line Meaning
Wop ba-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Musical intro with no significant meaning
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Musical intro with no significant meaning
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Musical intro with no significant meaning
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop wo-op
Musical intro with no significant meaning
Sweet Mary sent a letter to me
Narrates the moment when Sweet Mary sent the artist a letter.
She say to "Hurry home
In the letter, Sweet Mary implores the singer to come home immediately.
I need you right away, ay, ay
Sweet Mary expresses her need for the singer to come home urgently.
I've got a stomach full of love
Sweet Mary's love for the artist is so intense that it feels like she has a stomach full of it.
And I'm all alone
Sweet Mary is currently alone and missing the artist deeply.
All of the day"
Sweet Mary's feelings of loneliness and longing have persisted all day.
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
The singer responds to Sweet Mary's plea and assures her that he is coming home.
Coming home to you, hey-ey
The artist is eager to be reunited with Sweet Mary.
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
The singer repeats his promise to come home to Sweet Mary.
That's the least I can do
The singer sees coming home to Sweet Mary as the bare minimum he can do to show his love and commitment.
Sweet Mary in that letter to me
The singer refers to the letter that Sweet Mary sent him.
She said "It's up to you
In the letter, Sweet Mary implored the artist to come home, leaving the decision in his hands.
And now I got to hop a freight
The artist must travel by freight to get back home.
Back to the farm and all
The singer's home is on a farm, which is where he is headed.
I've got to be
The singer is committed to returning home to Sweet Mary.
Sweet Mary has a smile on her face
Describes Sweet Mary's happy expression at the artist's return.
You know she's happy to see me wrap her in an embrace
Sweet Mary is thrilled to have the artist back and embraces him affectionately.
I only hope that the passing of time
The artist hopes that over time Sweet Mary's love for him will not lessen.
She'll always feel that way
The singer wants Sweet Mary to always feel the same intense love for him that she feels now.
And I won't pack up my things
The artist has no intention of leaving Sweet Mary again.
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Musical outro with no significant meaning
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Musical outro with no significant meaning
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Musical outro where the singer repeats that he is coming home to Sweet Mary.
Baby I'm coming
Musical outro where the artist affirms his commitment to return to Sweet Mary.
Home, Mary I'm coming
Musical outro where the artist repeats that he is coming home to Sweet Mary.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Steve Jablecki
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@usveteran9893
Wop ba-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop wo-op
Sweet Mary sent a letter to me
She say to "Hurry home
I need you right away, ay, ay
I've got a stomach full of love
And I'm all alone
All of the day"
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, hey-ey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do
Sweet Mary in that letter to me
She said "It's up to you
I need you right away, ay, ay"
And now I got to hop a freight
Back to the farm and all
I've got to be
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, yeah-hey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do, babe
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Baby I'm coming
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Wop ba-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop-wop-wop
Waa-op wa-dooba-do wop, oh yeah, baby
Sweet Mary has a smile on her face
You know she's happy to see me wrap her in an embrace
I only hope that the passing of time
She'll always feel that way
And I won't pack up my things
Sweet Mary I'm coming home
Coming home to you, yeah, hey
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now
That's the least I can do, hey
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Well, Mary I'm coming
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie-chickie to hop a freight
Chickie-chickie Mary I'm coming home
Home, Mary I'm comin
@lurlineberry154
Steve Jablecki lived next door to me in 1973, he was the coolest guy ever. They built a soundproof practice room in the garage in just a weekend. My brother and I were only 9 and 10 and they would let us hang out in the practice room when they practiced. There were usually naked women sunbathing next to the pool, and I think the other band members lived there as well. Steve would come over and play his songs on our grand piano. He and his band were the nicest guys.
@debkeyworth8429
What a cool memory ! ✌️
@kkwok9
Cool!
@written12
@@kkwok9 s
@written12
Sorry for that aborted message.
What I wanted to say was, you two lucky preteens!
That is a memory to last a lifetime
@dk60ish
I'll take the many great one-hit wonder songs of the 60's & 70's I grew up on, over the schlock I hear now!
@alanstrong55
Songs like Sweet Mary are made of gold.
@garygaither4382
I had a girl in my Civics class named Mary; I sang this song to her almost every day( She chimed in on the chorus ) ahhhhh, young love.....
@Curly34584
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES! WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED TO SOCIETY????
@davidh4634
It is still one of my favorite songs.