No Sugar Tonight by The Guess Who

Album: American Woman (1970)

Charted: 1

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John Presho, who knew Randy Bachman and worked security for his band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, gave us this account of how the song came together:
"Randy told me that the inspiration for writing 'No Sugar Tonight' came to him from an experience he had walking in downtown Berkeley, California. Randy was walking and talking with a band mate when he looked up and saw four big biker guys walking on the same sidewalk approaching them. Randy made up his mind to cross the street rather than confront the bikers, then he heard the skidding of car tires. Just as Randy was stepping off the sidewalk the car came to a skidding stop and a biker lady got out of the car, walked over to one of the bikers and engaged in a heated conversation with him. When the argument ended the biker lady walked back to the car, opened the door, turned around, then shouted to the biker, 'One more thing honey, you're not getting any sugar tonight' indicating he was not going to get any sex that night from her. The car took off, Randy crossed the street went back to his hotel and started writing the song based on that experience."
This was the last Guess Who hit Randy Bachman played on. He left due to his Mormon religious beliefs before this became popular, and went on to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The band did not tour America when this was a hit there because Bachman left the group. They reunited and toured in 2000, 30 years after this was a hit.
At the same time this was released as a single, it was included as the B-side of The Guess Who's hit "American Woman."
On the album, this goes seamlessly into "New Mother Nature." Disc jockeys usually play them together. Guess Who vocalist Burton Cummings was not finished with "New Mother Nature," and Bachman was not done with "No Sugar Tonight," so they put the 2 songs together to make a complete piece on the album.
In 2001, this was honored by a Canadian music association for getting over 100,000 plays on Canadian radio.

Comments: 28

Travelinrob from FlI always thought this song was about diabetes. No sugar, it's killing us all, and mother nature taking over.
Marabunta from Brooklyn, NyOf course they're gonna change the lyrics to No sugar tonight, in your coffee/tea. They wanted to be played on the radio. If they dared to sing the lyrics in a sexually suggestive way, they would've been banned. Today, they just bleep the curse word. "When we lay in bed, you ain't gettin' no sugar tonight" is suggestive, but no cursing. If you go to a country where they don't speak English, you'll hear "F"bombs in hip hop in all their glory. No FCC or censorship board to interfere.
Papaferg from Louisville KyOn day in Cali, Randy crossed the street in Berkeley to avoid 4 bikers on the side walk, a car pulled up and and started yelling at one of the bikers, you’re not getting any sugar tonight, Randy heard this and walked to his hotel and started writing this song.
AnonymousI was made from the beginning it won't get me!
Djm from FloridaI’m under the impression that a band named Bang sold this song to the Guess Who for drug money?
Paula from Usa New Mother Nature is a common phrase for a new age in this world. It's in plain sight but hidden from those who don't want to see. This song has been on my mind for a long time, its a super catchy tune, but their music is. I can think of a couple of their songs that have real meaning for those who really listen to the wording instead of the "feel good vibes". It is made that way so people will be serenaded into the new age blindly and blissfully.
Billy Conneely from Chicago I LlinoisWas in the military when this song was out we all agreed this song was about pot. Another song out at the time was definitely about pot: Along Comes Mary by the Association "will you sterugle much when told that a gentle touch as hers will make you not the same". Enough said.
Tiffymc86 from Reedley, CaWouldn't this be the perfect Splenda/Sugar substitute commercial song?
Ian from KentuckyI feel like it's about the end of the world.
Ed from Asheville, NcLarry/Cleveland. I need to disagree with your comment that No Sugar/New Mother Nature are not two separate songs put together. According to Burton Cummings on his live album "Up Close & Alone" they are indeed two separate songs, written in the same key, which fit together very well.
Larry from ClevelandThis isn't two songs put together. Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings wrote the music together. They both then wrote different lyrics for the song, and decided to use both.
Dc from Seattle, WaI think that this is the easiest rock song to figure out the meaning, even the title tells it right there!!
Drano from Anaheim, CaIt has always fascinated me that Bachman and Cummings found a way to put two different songs together to make this one incredibly,rememberable piece of art. I love hearing it to this day and will never forget it!!! Drano
Judy from Enid, OkI love this song so much...whenever it comes on the radio I turn it up super loud!
-Judy
Valerie from None Of Ur Buisness!!, Bci LOVE this song! i had it stuck in my head ALL DAY yesterday! 'no sugar tonite in my coffee!!'
=) =)
Richard from Lansing, MiHey Kelly, "New Mother Nature" is the drug song, weed to be exact. "No Sugar Tonight" was born out of Randy's experience with some tough looking gang members that were approaching him in Oakland, CA. They were backed off of him by the gang leader's old lady telling him that if he didn't go with him right now he wasn't getting 'No Sugar Tonight'.
Little Girl from A Placeactually saskatoon is in saskatchewan canada .. i live there...
Josie from Funkytown, NcI think it's funny that in the fifth and sixth lines of this song it says,"No sugar tonight in my coffee/ No sugar tonight in my tea." Randy Bachman was a strict Morman, meaning he could have neither of these beverages.
Allan from Vanderhoof, CanadaRandy actually released an album, Every Song Tells A Story, which was from the TV show. He goes through a lot of the different songs, both from Guess Who and BTO days, telling stories about how they came about. Great stuff. He's a natural storyteller.
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaFunny, George. That story really makes sense.
Warrinder from A TownThis song is actually called "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature". It's two song put together. "no Sugar Tonight" was written by Randy Bachman and "New Mother Nature" was by Burton Cummings.
Carl from Texarkana, Arthe original lyrics to No Sugar tonight are "No p***y tonight for dave foley, no p***y tonight in his tea" few know that.
Steve from Vict, CanadaThe story by George,Saskatoon is correct except that,when I heard Randy tell the story the city was San Fransisco.
Reg from Kemptville, On, CanadaI once saw a special on TV where Randy Bachman told the story of walking in L.A. that George of Saskatoon refers to.
Randy said that he had that tune but only few lines (inspired by that experience), not a complete song. When he played that for Burton Cummings, Burton also had a partial song in the same key. Hence the combination of 'No Sugar' and 'New Mother Nature'.
-Reg, Kemptville, Ontario
George from Saskatoon, CanadaAs told by Randy Bachman: He was walking in LA late at night when he was approached by some rather scary looking guys , he crossed the street and so did they , as luck would have it, just as he thought he was going to get mugged a car pulled up and a black woman got out and started yelling at one of the guys who was obviously her boyfriend , one of the things she told him was that if he didn't get in the car he wasn't going to have no sugar tonight. They left and Randy went on his way
Kelly from Los Angeles, CaI heard (but I definitely be wrong) that the "No Sugar" part refers to quitting drugs, and the "New Mother Nature" part refers to doing drugs. Anyone know for sure?
Randy from Beaumont, TxThey were even further honored when playing at the White House (Nixon Inauguration I think), Pat Nixon asked them NOT to perform "American Woman" because of the anti-American lyrics. Personally, I would have played it anyway
Marc from Edmonton, CanadaCummings mentioned in a radio interview that the lyrics were inspired by a black woman he overheard referring to her husband/boyfriend that 'He ain't getting no sugar tonight!'

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