‘No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature’ is a medley by the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. It was released on their 1970 album American Woman, and was released on the B-side of the ‘American Woman’ single without the ‘New Mother Nature’ section. The single was officially released as ‘American Woman/No Sugar Tonight’ and peaked at #1 on the RPM magazine charts and #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, for three weeks on both charts. In Cash Box, which at the time ranked sides of singles independently, ‘No Sugar Tonight’ reached #39.
According to Randy Bachman, the inspiration for the song arose after an incident when he was visiting California. He was walking down the street with a stack of records under his arm, when he saw three "tough-looking biker guys" approaching. He felt threatened and was looking for a way to cross the street onto the other sidewalk when a little car pulled up to the men. A woman about 5 feet (150 cm) tall got out of the car, shouting at one of them, asking where he'd been all day, that he had left her alone with the kids, didn't take out the trash, and was down here watching the girls. The man was suddenly alone when his buddies walked away. Chastened, he got in the car as the woman told him before pulling away: "And one more thing, you ain't getting no sugar tonight". The words stuck in Bachman's memory.
Bachman then wrote a short song in the key of F♯ called ‘No Sugar Tonight’. When he presented the song to Burton Cummings and RCA, he was told that the song was too short. Bachman and Cummings expanded the song by adding to it a song Cummings had written that was also in the key of F♯, ‘New Mother Nature’.
This was the last Guess Who hit Randy Bachman played on. He left not long after his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and his determination to adhere to his new-found religious beliefs, and went on to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The band did not tour America when this was a hit there because Bachman left the group. They reunited and toured in 2000, 30 years after this was a hit.
Label – RCA Victor
Songwriters – Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman
Producer – Jack Richardson
SONG LYRICS
[Part 1: No Sugar Tonight][Verse 1]
Lonely feeling deep inside
Find a corner where I can hide
Silent footsteps crowding me
Sudden darkness but I can see
[Chorus]
No sugar tonight in my coffee
No sugar tonight in my tea
No sugar to stand beside me
No sugar to run with me
Dat'n-doo-dow dow-dat'n-doo-dow
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[Verse 2]
In the silence of her mind
Quiet movements where I can find
Grabbing for me with her eyes
Now I'm falling from her skies
[Chorus]
No sugar tonight in my coffee
No sugar tonight in my tea
No sugar to stand beside me
No sugar to run with me
Dat'n-doo-dow dow-dat'n-doo-dow
Dat'n-doo-dow dow-dow-dow
Dat'n-doo-dow dow-dat'n-doo-dow
Dat'n-doo-dow dow
[Part 2: New Mother Nature]
[Verse 1]
Jocko says "Yes" and I believe him
When we talk about the things I say
She hasn't got the faith or the guts to leave him
When they're standing in each other's way
You're tripping back now to places you've been to
You wonder what you're gonna find
You know you've been wrong but it won't be long
Before you leave 'em all far behind
[Chorus]
Cause it's the new mother nature taking over
It's the new splendid lady come to call
It's the new mother nature taking over
She's gettin' us all
She's gettin' us all
[Verse 2]
Jocko said "No" when I came back last time
It's looking like I lost a friend
No use callin' cause the sky is fallin'
And I'm getting pretty near the end
A smoke-filled room in a corner basement
The situation must be right
A bag of goodies and a bottle of wine
We're gonna get it on right tonight
[Chorus]
Cause it's the new mother nature taking over
It's the new splendid lady come to call
It's the new mother nature taking over
She's gettin' us all
She's gettin' us all
[Verse 1]
(Lonely feeling) Jocko says "Yes" and I believe him
(Deep inside) When we talk about the things I say
(Find a corner) She hasn't got the faith or the guts to leave him
(Where I can hide) When they're standing in each other's way
(Silent footsteps) You're tripping back now to places you've been to
(Crowding me) You wonder what you're gonna find
(Sudden darkness) You know you've been wrong and it won't be long
(But I can see) Before you leave 'em all far behind
[Chorus]
Cause it's the new mother nature taking over
It's the new splendid lady come to call
It's the new mother nature taking over
She's gettin' us all
She's gettin' us all
[Outro]
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