‘Mama Told Me Not to Come’, also written as ‘Mama Told Me (Not to Come)’, is a song written by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman. While the song was originally written for Eric Burdon's first solo album in 1966, a scheduled single-release of September 1966 was withdrawn, but the song was eventually included on their 1967 album Eric Is Here.
Three Dog Night's 1970 cover of ‘Mama Told Me Not to Come’ topped the US pop singles chart. The band released a longer, rock 'n roll and funk-inspired version featuring Cory Wells singing lead in an almost humorous vocal style, Jimmy Greenspoon playing a Wurlitzer electronic piano, Michael Allsup playing guitar, and Donna Summer on backing vocals, though uncredited.
Billboard ranked the record as the No. 11 song of 1970. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 14, 1970. It was also the number-one song on the premiere broadcast of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem on July 4, 1970.
Randy Newman says that the song was inspired by his own light-hearted reflection on the Los Angeles music scene of the late 1960s. As with most Newman songs, he assumes a character; in this song the narrator is a sheltered and extraordinarily straitlaced young man, who recounts what is presumably his first "wild" party in the big city, is shocked and appalled by marijuana smoking, whiskey drinking, and loud music, and – in the chorus of the song – recalls that his "Mama told [him] not to come".
Tom Jones and Stereophonics' version also reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 2000.
Label – ABC, DunhillSongwriter – Randy Newman
Producer – Richard Podolor
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro][Verse 1]
Want some whiskey in your water?
Sugar in your tea?
What's all these crazy questions
They're askin' me?
This is the craziest party
That could ever be
Don't turn on the lights
'Cause I don't wanna see
[Chorus]
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
"That ain't the way to have fun, no" (Uh-uh!)
[Keyboard Hook]
[Verse 2]
Open up the window
Let some air into this room
I think I'm almost chokin'
From the smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you're smokin'
'Bout scared me half to death
Open up the window, sucker!
Let me catch my breath
[Chorus]
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" (She said, oh yeah!)
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
The radio is blastin'
Someone's knockin' at the door
I'm lookin' at my girlfriend
She's passed out on the floor
I've seen so many things
I ain't never seen before
Don't know what it is
I don't wanna see no more
[Chorus]
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, no"
[Bridge]
Mama told me, mama told me
Mama told me, told me, told me
Mama told me, told me, whoa, yeah, yeah
Mama told me not to go, no, no, no
Mama, mama told me, mama told me
Surrender now
[Chorus]
"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"
[Chorus]
"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"
[Instrumental Outro]