Week 5: My Mama Told Me

This week's list features songs that include or refer to advice from dear old Mom. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of them seem to tell how such advice was not followed. Then again, the advice itself is of variable quality, what with the open misogyny of Johnny Mercer's mama, the creepy overprotection of Roger Waters' mother, and the bland indifference of Doris Day's mom.

Big thanks to Daniel S. for reminding me that Arlen & Mercer wrote the all-time classic mom advice song, Stacey G. for getting Mama Leone into the mix, Ahren O. for introducing me to the moody moodiness of Danzig, and my sister Mary for suggesting the Decembrists, which led to me to one of the craziest Lego videos I've seen.

1. "Blues in the Night," Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer

My mama done tol' me
When I was in knee-pants
My mama done tol' me, "Son
A woman'll sweet talk
And give you the big eye
But when that sweet talking's done
A woman's a two-face,
A worrisome thing who'll leave you to sing
The blues in the night

2. "Shop Around," Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

And then she said
Just because you've become a young man now
There's still some things that you don't understand now
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now
My mama told me
You better shop around

3. "Que Sera, Sera," Doris Day

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what will I be
Will I be pretty will I be rich
Here's what she said to me
Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que Sera, Sera

4. "Magic Man," Heart

"Come on home girl" Mama cried on the phone
"Too soon to lose my baby and my girl should be at home"
But try to understand
Try to understand
Try try try to understand
He's a magic man, Mama

5. "Mama Said," The Shirelles/Dusty Springfield

My eyes are wide open
But all that I can see is
Chapel bells are calling for everyone but me
But I don't worry cause
Mama said there'll be days like this
There'll be days like this my mama said

6. "Movin' Out," Billy Joel

Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door
She said "Sonny move out to the country."

7. "You Can't Hurry Love," Diana Ross & The Supremes

I need love, love to ease my mind
I need to find, find someone to call mine
But mama said
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take

8. "Mama Told Me Not to Come," Randy Newman/Three Dog Night

I seen so many things I ain't never seen before
Don't know what it is but I don't wanna see no more
Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
She said, that ain't no way to have fun

9. "Billie Jean," Michael Jackson

People always told be careful what you do
Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
And Mother always told me be careful who you love
Be careful what you do 'cause the lie becomes the truth

10. "Mama Tried," Merle Haggard

I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
No-one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied
That leaves only me to blame 'cos Mama tried

11. "Don't take Your Guns to Town," Johnny Cash

A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mother's words
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

12. "Mother," Danzig

Mother
Tell your children not to walk my way
Tell your children not to hear my words
What they mean
What they say
Mother

13. "Devil's Right Hand," Steve Earle

I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general store, when I was thirteen
Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen
So l asked if I could have one someday when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
She really blew up and I didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

14. "Mama Said," Metallica

Mama, she has taught me well
Told me when I's young
Son your life's an open book
Don't close it 'fore it's done
The brightest flame burns quickest
That's what I heard her say
A son's heart's owed to mother
But I must find my way

15. "Ashes to Ashes," David Bowie

My mother said to get things done
You better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said to get things done
You better not mess with Major Tom...

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16. "Mother," Pink Floyd

Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you
Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing
She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing
Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm
Oooh babe, Oooh babe, Oooh babe
Of course Mamma's gonna help build the wall

17. "Mother, the Queen of My Heart," Jimmie Rodgers

Till one day the angels called her
That debt that we all have to pay
She called me close to her bedside
These last few words to say
"Son, don't start drinking and gambling
Promise you'll always go straight"
Ten years have passed since that parting
That promise I broke I must state...

18. "The Mariner's Revenge Song," The Decembrists

Then one day in spring
My dear sweet mother died
But before she did
I took her hand as she dying cried:
Oh Ohhhhh
"Find him, bind him
Tie him to a pole and break
His fingers to splinters
Drag him to a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling
Of his grave