MAMA DON'T ALLOW
(Traditional)
The writing credit for this song is sometimes attributed to Charles "Cow Cow"
Davenport, who recorded the piano solo
"Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here" in 1929, but it seems
to be based on the earlier songs, "Mr. Crump Don't Allow No
Easy Riders" (from 1907) and "Mama Don't Allow No Low Down
Hangin' Around").
Papa Charlie Jackson - 1925
Riley Puckett - 1928
Tampa Red & His Hokum Jug Band - 1929
Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers - 1935
Smiley Burnette (feat. in the cartoon film "The Kids In The Shoe") - 1935
Washboard Sam - 1935
Connee Boswell - 1936
Ted Wallace & His Swing Music - 1936
Tennessee Ernie Ford - 1953
The Limeliters - 1961
The Rivieras - 1964
The Rooftop Singers - 1964
The Stonemans - 1978
J.J. Cale - 1981
Linda Arnold - 1984
The Ricochets - 1984
Rebecca Kilgore & Dan Barrett - 2000
Also recorded by:
Big Bill Broonzy; Sonny Stewart; Katie Webster; George Lewis;
Jim Smoak; Spade Cooley; Ken Colyer; George Melly; Eddie Zip;
Doc Watson; Bobby Mitchell; Bo Diddley; The Stanley Brothers;
Hank Thompson; The Ink Spots; Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys;
Chris Barber; Steve Goodman; Papa Bue & Champion Jack Dupree;
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs ........ and many others.
As recorded by SMILEY BURNETTE:
My Mama don't allow no music played in here
She don't allow no music in here
But what I care what she don't allow
I'll play my music anyhow
My Mama don't allow no music played in here
Now my Mama don't allow no piano playin' in here
She don't allow no piano playin' in here
But what I care what she don't allow
I'll play my piana anyhow
(Piano solo)
Now my Mama don't allow no guitars in here
She don't allow no git-fiddles in here
But I don't care what she don't allow
I'll play my guitar anyhow
(Guitar solo)
My Mama don't allow no music in here
Mama don't allow no music in here
But what I care what she don't allow
I'll play my music anyhow
My Mama don't allow no music in here
Now she don't allow no Jew's harp in here
No, Mama don't allow no Jew's harp in here
But what I care what she don't allow
Just play my Jew's harp anyhow
(Jew's harp solo)
Now my Mama don't allow no harmonica playin' in here
She don't allow no harmonica playin' in here
But what I care what she don't allow
I'll play my harmonica anyhow
(Harmonica solo)
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2012)
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As recorded by WASHBOARD SAM:
Yes, Mama don't 'low no necklace-showin' in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no necklace-showin' in here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' show our necklace anyhow
Mama don't 'low no necklace-showin' in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no guitar playin' in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no guitar playin' in here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' play our guitars anyhow
Mama don't 'low no guitar playin' in here
SPOKEN:
Mama don't 'low no guitar-playin' in here.
Play your guitar, Mister Big Bill.
Mama don't 'low no struttin' in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no struttin' in here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low.
We gon' strut our stuff anyhow
Mama don't 'low no struttin' in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no shimmy-shakin' here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no shimmy-shakin' here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' shake our shimmy anyhow
Mama don't 'low no shimmy-shakin' here
SPOKEN:
Mama don't 'low no shimmy-shakin' here.
You can't shake your shimmy, shake some'n' else.
Play it, Mister Bob.
Yes, Mama don't 'low no breakin' down in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no breakin' down in here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' break 'em down anyhow
Mama don't 'low no breakin' down in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no easy-woodlin' here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no easy-woodlin' here
Says we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' easy-woodle anyhow
Mama don't 'low no easy-woodlin' here
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Alternate version recorded by WASHBOARD SAM:
Ah, Mama don't 'low no wigglin'-wobblin' here
No, Mama don't 'low no wigglin'-wobblin' here
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' wiggle-walk anyhow
Mama don't 'low no wigglin'-wobblin' here
No, Mama don't 'low no rough stuff in here
Oh, Mama don't 'low no rough stuff in here
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' do rough stuff anyhow
Mama don't 'low no rough stuff in here
No, Mama don't 'low no booglin'-wooglin' here
Oh, Mama don't 'low no booglin'-wooglin' here
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' boogie-woogie anyhow
Mama don't 'low no boogie-woogin' here
SPOKEN:
Come on, Bill. We'll go down to Five-Oh-Nine.
I know where we can boogie-woogie.
Mama don't allow it here.
Oh, Mama don't 'low no be-bop-nah-boh-bop-nah-boo
Oh, Mama don't 'low no be-bop-nah-boh-bop-nah-boo
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' be-bop anyhow
Mama don't 'low no be-bop-nah-boh-bop in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no boy-girls in here
Oh, Mama don't 'low no boy-girls in here
We don't care what the mama don't 'low
Boy-girls comin' in here anyhow
Mama don't 'low no boy-girls in here
Yes, Mama don't 'low no whiskey drinkin' here
Oh, Mama don't 'low no whiskey drinkin' here.
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' drink our whiskey anyhow
Mama don't 'low no whiskey drinkin' here
SPOKEN:
Come on, Louie. You got a bottle in your pocket?
We'll go outside an' drink our liquor.
Mama don't allow it here.
Oh, Mama don't 'low no washboard playin' here
Oh, Mama don't 'low no washboard playin' here
Oh, we don't care what the mama don't 'low
We gon' play washboards anyhow
Mama don't 'low no washboards in here
*************************
As recorded by CONNEE BOSWELL:
Oh, mama don't allow no music played in here,
Mama don't allow no music played in here,
I don't care what mama don't allow,
Gonna play my music anyhow!
Mama don't allow no music played in here!
I bin you yelling when I said
That mama don't allow no swing music in here,
Mama don't allow no swing music in here,
Was from heaven, rare rare,
Now look, you got me doin' it boy!
Mama don't allow no swing music in here!
Now mama don't allow no drummer man in here,
Said mama don't allow no drummer man in here,
Mama said that you're gonna go boom
If she should catch you in this room!
Mama don't allow no drummer man in here!
Mama don't allow no guitar playin' in here,
Mama don't allow no guitar playin' in here,
Now it make no difference if you're sharp or flat,
Oh boy, whoa!
Mama don't allow no guitar playin' in here!
Look out boys, here comes mama!
(What's that mean?)
What's that mean?
Mama don't allow no music played in here!,
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - July 2012)
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As recorded by J.J. CALE:
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playin' 'round here
Yeah, Mama don't allow no guitar playin' around here
I don't care what mama don't allow
I'll play my guitar anyhow
Mama don't allow no guitar playing 'round here
Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no bass in this place
I don't care what Mama don't allow
I'll play my bass anyhow
Mama don't allow no bass in this place
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drummin' goin' on
Yeah, Mama don't allow no drummin' goin' on
I don't care what Mama don't allow
Gonna play my drums anyhow
Mama don't allow no drummin' goin' on
(Instrumental Break)
Yeah, Mama don't allow no piano players in here
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
I don't care what Mama don't allow
Gonna play my piano anyhow
Mama don't allow no piano players in here
(Instrumental Break)
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smokin' 'round about
Yeah, Mama don't allow no reefer-smokin' 'round about
Yeah, I don't care what Mama don't allow
I'm gonna smoke my reefer anyhow
Mama don't allow no reefer in here
(Instrumental Break)
Mama don't allow us all playin' at the same time
Mama don't allow us all playin' at the same time
I don't care what Mama don't allow
We're all gonna play all at the same time anyhow
Mama don't allow us all playin' at the same time
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2012)
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NB: The song can be altered to suit the make-up of the band
that is singing it, or current events, or anything else for
that matter. Some examples of alternate verses......
Mama don't allow no banjo playin' 'round here
Mama don't 'low no bass playin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no fiddle playin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no steel playin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no mandolin playin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no jug band music 'round here
Mama don't allow no hand clappin' `round here
Mama don't allow no foot stompin' `round here
Mama don't allow no cigar smokin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no midnight ramblin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no talkin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no singin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no nuclear testin' 'round here
Mama don't allow no anarchism 'round here
Mama don't allow no pacifism 'round here
Mama don't allow no uppity airs 'round here
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MAMA DON'T ALLOW NO EASY RIDERS HERE
As recorded by Tampa Red & His Hokum Jug Band:
I said, Mama don't 'low no easy ridin' in here
Mama don't 'low no easy ridin' in here
Lord, child, we don't care what Mama don't 'low
We gonna boot that thing anyhow
But Mama don't allow no easy ridin' in here
I said Mama don't 'low no jug-knockin' in here
Mama don't 'low no jug-knockin' in here
Brother, I don't care what Mama don't low
I'm gon' knock one jug anyhow
But Mama don't 'low no jug-knockin' in here
Mama don't 'low no cow-cow-cowin' in here
I said, Mama don't 'low no cow-cow-cowin' in here
Honey, we don't care what mama don' 'low
I'm 'on' cow-cow-cow once anyhow
But Mama don't allow no cow-cow-cowin' in here
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MAMA DON'T ALLOW NO LOW-DOWN HANGIN' AROUND
As recorded by Byrd Moore:
Mama don't 'low them kids that don't care
Papa don't 'low that I won't a-have it here
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
I don't care what a-Mama don't 'low
Gonna have my fun, oh, anyhow
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Told me, honey, that you'd be true
Sit right close, don't let the sun shine through
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Up in the mornin', oh, please don't rain
I looked in the pantry, see the same old thing
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
I don't care what-ta Mama don't 'low
Gonna have my fun, oh, anyhow
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Told me, honey, like to change your name
Oh, quit your worrying, or you won't see me again
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
I don't care what a-Mama don't 'low
Gonna have my fun, oh, anyhow
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Told me, honey, that you'd be true
Sit right close, don't let the sun shine through
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Mama don't 'low them kids that don't care
Papa don't 'low that I won't-a-have it here
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
Mama don't 'low them kids that don't care
Papa don't 'low that I won't-a-have it here
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
I don't care what-ta Mama don't 'low
Gonna have my fun anyhow
Mama don't 'low no low-down hangin' around
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