The Jackson 5

Released: August 28, 2012

Songwriter: Randy Newman

Producer: The Corporation

Have some whiskey in your water, have some sugar in your tea
What’s all these crazy questions they’re asking me?
This is the craziest party that could ever be
Don’t turn on the lights, ‘cause I don’t want to see

Mama told me not to come (mama mama told me not to come yeah)
Mama told me not to come (mama, mama, told me)
She said, “that ain’t no way to have fun, son”

Open up this window, let some air into this room
I think I’m almost choking from the smell of stale perfume
Well, that cigarette you’re smoking about to scare me half to death
Open up the window, sucka’ so I can catch my breath

Mama told me not to come (mama mama told me not to come)
Mama told me not to come (mama mama told me not to)
She said, “that ain’t no way to have fun, son”

Mama told me (mama yelling)
Mama told me (mama yelling)
(Mama you didn't listen to me)
(But mama, but mama, let me explain!)
(Anything, anything but the whip!)

The radio was blasting someone’s knocking at the door
I’m looking at my girlfriend she’s passed out on the floor
I seen so many things there, I ain’t never seen before
Please don’t tell me what it is (I don’t want to see no more)

Mama told me not to come (mama mama told me not to come)
Mama told me not to come (mama mama told me not to come)
She said, “that ain’t no way to have fun, son”
Got to leave this place

Oh, man, come on, stay. (No man, we gotta go)
Yea, we gotta leave (No, man. I got the keys here alright? You can’t go nowhere)
Hey man, I gotta go, man, it’s past my bedtime (what you doin’ there, kid?)
I’m opening the door (Come on man, I don’t want to miss the Flintstones)

Take your soda pop and go home, boy (why don’t you stay … 40 seconds … Na, na. See that’s what I’m talking about)

Mama told me, mama told me, mama, mama, mama not to come
Mama told me not to come (See that’s what I’m talking about. I’m gonna stay)
Mama told me not to come

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

more tracks from the album

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls

From the albums

Unreleased Songs
Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls (2012)

The Jackson 5 popular songs

Mama Told Me Not ComeThe Jackson 5

The Jackson 5

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls