Category: Songs

Kissin' in the Back Row

Source: Tony Macaulay and Roger Greenaway, ‘Kissin’ in the Back Row’, song recorded by The Drifters, 1974. Lyrics reproduced from http://www.metrolyrics.com/kissin-in-the-back-row-of-the-movies-lyrics-the-drifters.html

Text: Your mama says that through the week
You can’t go out with me
But when the weekend comes around
She knows where we will be

Kissin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
Holdin’ hands together, you and I
Holdin’ hands together

Smoochin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
We could stay forever, you and I
We could stay forever, you and I
Huggin’ and a kissin’ in the back row of the movies

Every night, I pick you up from school
‘Cause you’re my steady date
But Monday to the Friday night
I leave you at the gate, yeah

You know, we can’t have too much fun
‘Til all your homework’s done
But when the weekend comes
She knows where we will be, oh

Kissin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
Holdin’ hands together, you and I
Holdin’ hands together, baby

Smoochin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
We could stay forever, you and I
We could stay forever, you and I
Huggin’ and a kissin’ in the back row of the movies

Oh, I sit at home at night and watch TV
I still think of you
But Monday to the Friday night
We share a joke of two, yeah

You know, they don’t knock on my door
At the Friday night for sure
But when the weekend comes
She knows where we will be, yeah

Kissin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
Holdin’ hands together, you and I
Holdin’ hands together, baby

Smoochin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you, yeah
We could stay forever, you and I
We could stay forever, you and I
Huggin’ and a kissin’ in the back row of the movies, yeah

Kissin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
Holdin’ hands together, you and I
Holdin’ hands together, baby

Smoochin’ in the back row
Of the movies on a Saturday night with you
Where we could stay forever, you and I

Comments: American vocal group The Drifters was founded in 1953, and different permutations of the line-up have continued to the present day. This song was a hit in the UK, where it reached number two in the charts in 1974.

Wake Up Little Susie

Source: Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, ‘Wake Up Little Susie’, song recorded by the Everly Brothers, 1957. Lyrics reproduced from http://www.metrolyrics.com/wake-up-little-susie-lyrics-everly-brothers.html

Text: Wake up little Susie, wake up
Wake up little Susie, wake up
We both fell sound asleep
Wake up little Susie and weep
The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock
And we’re in trouble deep

Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say “Ooh la la”?

Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well I told your mama that we’d be in by ten
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
We gotta go home

Wake up little Susie, wake up
Wake up little Susie, wake up
The movie wasn’t so hot
It didn’t have much of a plot
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked
Our reputation is shot

Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say “Ooh la la”?

Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie

Comments: Felice (1925-2003) and Boudleaux Bryant (1920-1987) were an American husband and wife song-writing team. ‘Wake Up Little Susie’ was recorded by the Everly Brothers and topped the US Billboard pop and country charts, and reached number 2 in the UK pop charts. The lyrics refer to two teenagers falling asleep at an American drive-in and breaking a ten o’clock curfew. Phil Everly died on 3 January 2014, aged 74.

Come out of the Kitchen, Mary Ann

Source: ‘Come out of the Kitchen, Mary Ann’, sung by M.J. O’Connell, songwriters James Kendis and Charles Anthony Bayha, recorded 1 February 1917, Victor 18221

Text: Mary Ann was a picture fan
But she worked hard all day.
Washing dishes, still she had wishes to star in a photo play.
One day Mary fell asleep it seems
Mary had a very lovely dream.
She dreamed a fairy came to her that day
And she thought she heard it say.

Come out of the kitchen, Mary darlin’
Come out of the kitchen, Mary Ann.
Why waste your time cooking Irish stew
When Mary Pickford and Theda Bara will step aside for you.
How would you like to be shown with Charlie Chaplin
Your picture pasted on each garbage can?
Easy money, nothing to do
Just let him kick you black and blue.
Come out of the kitchen, Mary Ann.

In her dreams, Mary posed it seems within a burning barn
And from out the smoke
Her brave hero spoke,
“I’ll save you from all harm”.
The missis heard her screaming, yelled “Awake”,
“Look here Mary, you’re burning all the cake”.
She lost the job and now she dreams all day
Waiting for someone to say.

Come out of the kitchen, Mary darlin’
Come out of the kitchen, Mary Ann.
A girl like you was never meant to work.
Why all you need is a different face and you’d look like Billie Burke.
How would you like to be kissed by Douglas Fairbanks,
Have Francis Bushman love you as he can?
Dressed up like Valeska Suratt and
Imagine being paid for that.
Come out of the kitchen, Mary Ann.

Comment: All of the names given were stars of American films of the time.

Take Your Girlie to the Movies

Source: ‘Take your girlie to the movies’, sung by Billy Murray, composer Pete Wendling, lyrics Bert Kalmar, Edgar Leslie, recorded 19 June 1919, Victor 18592

Text: Beatrice Fairfax gives advice
To anyone in love
That’s why Johnny Gray
Wrote to her one day
‘When I call to love my girl
Her folks are always there
That’s why I’m blue
What shall I do?
And Beatrice said, “never despair”

Take your girlie to the movies
If you can’t make love at home
There’s not little brother there who always squeals
You can say an awful lot in the seven reels
Take your lessons at the movies
And have love scenes of your own
Tho she’s just a simple little ribbon clerk
Close your eyes and think you’re kissing Billie Burke
Take your girlie to the movies
If you can’t make love at home

Sweethearts always used to spoon
In a big morris chair
Young folks of today
Have a different way
Far away from cranky dad
And mother’s eagle eye
It’s lots of fun
Here’s how it’s done
So come on and give it a try

Take your girlie to the movies
If you can’t make love at home
Find a cozy corner where it’s nice and dark
Don’t catch influenza, kissing in the park
Take your tips from Douglas Fairbanks
And have love scenes of your own
Going to your seat you’ve got a dandy chance
You can shine your shoes on someone else’s pants
Take your girlie to the movies
If you can’t make love at home

Comment: Dear Beatrice Fairfax was an American newspaper advice column, written by Marie Manning.