Mama Told Me Not to Come by Three Dog Night (1970)

The song Mama Told Me Not to Come was originally written by Randy Newman and released in 1966. It was later popularized by the band Three Dog Night with their 1970 cover version, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1. The song Mama Told Me Not to Come, performed by Three Dog Night, was written by Randy Newman and released in 1970 on their album "It Ain't Easy". 

2. Mama Told Me Not to Come became Three Dog Night's first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. 

3. The song's lyrics tell the story of a wild party, reflecting the changing social norms and clash of generations in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Newman says that the song was inspired by his own lighthearted 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".

The first recording of "Mama Told Me Not to Come" was cut by Eric Burdon & The Animals. A scheduled single-release of September 1966 was withdrawn, but the song was eventually included on their 1967 album Eric Is Here.

Newman's own turn at his song was released on the 1970 album 12 Songs, and was characterized by Newman's mid-tempo piano accompaniment, as well as Ry Cooder's slide guitar part, both of which give the song the feel of a bluesy Ray Charles-style rhythm and blues number.

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

Mama told me not to come

Mama told me not to come

"That ain't the way to have fun, no"

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 scare me half to death

Open up the window, sucker, 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 blastin', someone's knockin' at the door

I'm lookin' at my girlfriend - she's passed out on the floor

I seen so many things I ain't never seen before

Don't know what it is - 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, no"

"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"