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6.17am
1 November 2012
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I noticed long ago that Paul uses the word “mama” a lot on his first solo album — but as far as I remember, nowhere else (neither on Beatles songs, nor on solo or Wings albums afterwards).
Especially that song “That Would Be Something “
See you in the falling rain, mama
see you in the falling rain.
see you in the falling RAIN, mama
see you in the falling rain.
There must be like 20 “mamas” in that song.
Where did he get that from? And why didn’t he do it otherwise?
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
6.42am
17 January 2013
Offline He uses it in “Cut Me Some Slack”… but you’re right, I can’t think of any before that. God I love that McCartney album. 
"Please don't bring your banjo back, I know where it's been.. I wasn't hardly gone a day, when it became the scene.. Banjos! Banjos! All the time, I can't forget that tune.. and if I ever see another banjo, I'm going out and buy a big balloon!"
11.01am
31 March 2008
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Don’t forget Only Mama Knows on Memory Almost Full (2007).
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12.10pm
19 April 2010
Offline It’s Elvis’ influence – “That’s all right mama” was a hugely influential song in the 50’s and early 60’s. That’s All Right was Elvis’ first hit – and so it’s the song that pushed all these guys into rock and roll.
And a lot of singers will riff the word mama when they’re just fooling around (singers from Paul’s era) and jam singing. Paul had the confidence to outright use it in That Would Be Something .
Dylan used the word in 1964 with the song Mama You’ve Been on My Mind.
Mama is a sort old blues/train music word – almost like punctuation or the way the word Baby became used in the 60’s and forward.
It’s roots are from black music.
For all the younger members on this site, it is awesome that you are keeping the Beatles legacy alive. And if you really want to understand their musicality, I suggest you check out the music they grew up listening to – music from the 30’s 40s and early 50s.You don’t have to like it, but it’s worth hearing to know what they listened to as kids – it explains their music – such as Honey Pie from the White Album .
The music their parents had on in the house on the radio etc. That’s what developed them and influenced them. By the time the 60s and 70s came, they were inventing new music – but still influenced by what they heard as kids.
When we read their biographies each one of them will say something to the effect of “there was always music on in my house” – if you have kids – turn off the TV turn on some music – you may have a John Paul George or Ringo under your roof!
"She looks more like him than I do."
2.53pm
1 December 2009
Offline “Hi Hi Hi ” has got a couple of “mama”s too. And James Taylor also used to use “mama” in a lot of his songs in those days, didn’t he, Funny Paper? It was like one of those vaguely “countercultural” terms of endearment that were very much of the times – calling your significant other “my old lady” or “old man”, stuff like that. It all seems pretty passé 40 years later – one reason why you don’t hear it much anymore, except as a kind of self-conscious throwback.
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
4.47pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline robert said
It’s Elvis’ influence – “That’s all right mama” was a hugely influential song in the 50’s and early 60’s. That’s All Right was Elvis’ first hit – and so it’s the song that pushed all these guys into rock and roll.And a lot of singers will riff the word mama when they’re just fooling around (singers from Paul’s era) and jam singing. Paul had the confidence to outright use it in That Would Be Something .
Dylan used the word in 1964 with the song Mama You’ve Been on My Mind.
Mama is a sort old blues/train music word – almost like punctuation or the way the word Baby became used in the 60’s and forward.
It’s roots are from black music.
For all the younger members on this site, it is awesome that you are keeping the Beatles legacy alive. And if you really want to understand their musicality, I suggest you check out the music they grew up listening to – music from the 30’s 40s and early 50s.You don’t have to like it, but it’s worth hearing to know what they listened to as kids – it explains their music – such as Honey Pie from the White Album .
The music their parents had on in the house on the radio etc. That’s what developed them and influenced them. By the time the 60s and 70s came, they were inventing new music – but still influenced by what they heard as kids.
When we read their biographies each one of them will say something to the effect of “there was always music on in my house” – if you have kids – turn off the TV turn on some music – you may have a John Paul George or Ringo under your roof!
Am currently listening to some of the music from that time period (30’s & 40’s – Al Bowlly, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby etc) having got a cd out of the library on the off chance. Ive always loved it when these type of songs would come on during movies or tv programmes but never got any of it for some reason, however listening to it now I find there is a real warmth in the music that is missing from a lot of what came later. Can easily sink back in a chair or lie on the grass during a sunny day and be taken away so silkily and smoothly.
Listening back to this type of music you can understand why teenagers wanted something new and more exciting in the 50’s and 60’s but that shouldn’t take away the quality that remains in these recordings.
Edit: These recordings would be incredible when played on vinyl with the crackling and sensation you get from playing LPs. Cant help feeling im missing a large part thru a cd rip.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
6.44pm
1 November 2012
Offline vonbontee said
“Hi Hi Hi ” has got a couple of “mama”s too. And James Taylor also used to use “mama” in a lot of his songs in those days, didn’t he, Funny Paper? It was like one of those vaguely “countercultural” terms of endearment that were very much of the times – calling your significant other “my old lady” or “old man”, stuff like that. It all seems pretty passé 40 years later – one reason why you don’t hear it much anymore, except as a kind of self-conscious throwback.
Yes, and my impression is that it’s not strictly a rock or blues thing, but a kind of hippie country rock kind of thing — hard to pin down the sub-genre exactly.
I can’t think off hand of a JT song that does that, I’ll have to think about it.
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
8.45pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
2.24pm
27 December 2012
Offline Zig said
John also used it in HIAWG.“Happiness Is A Warm Gun , mama.”
I thought it was just for the lip effect ad-lib, then again I dismissed it being one since I hear mama often here.
5.26pm
21 November 2012
Offline I always thought ”mama” sounds so weird being used in songs. So lame.
1.54am
19 April 2010
Offline It’s Elvis – his first hit – It’s Alright Mama – that’s where it comes from
"She looks more like him than I do."
8.05pm
19 April 2010
Offline Zig said
John also used it in HIAWG.“Happiness Is A Warm Gun , mama.”
John also used it in I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier Mama
"She looks more like him than I do."
