About The Song

Three Dog Night’s “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” is a single from their 1970 album “It Ain’t Easy.” The song was written by Randy Newman and produced by Richard Podolor. The single version, released in May 1970, was just a cover of the album version, which was 3 minutes and 19 seconds long. The album version was just a bit longer, at 2 minutes and 58 seconds.

The song contains some popular lyrics that describe the excitement of a young man who’s just experienced the thrill of an adult celebration. In the song, the protagonist describes how he meets a beautiful woman but his worries about his age being the same as those around him causes him to leave before they can pursue a relationship.

Lyrics

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

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”