Album: A Real Mother for Ya (1977)

License This Song 

• Wanna buy a new car
  But the price ain't right, haha
  Be a downside cheaper, yes, it would
  Star riding a bike, huh, listen
  
  They are making milk out of powder, daddy-o
  Got the baby's crying, oh, baby
  Rich gone up higher, yes, it is
  Got the parents lying
  
  Lord , it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  Make you wanna run for cover, yes, babe
  And if you look you will discover, yeah
  Lord, it's a real mother for ya, yeah, ow!
  
  Good god
  Listen
  
  Got to go to a disco
  Throw your troubles away
  Dance to the music, yeah
  That the DJ's play, feeling alright
  
  And then the lights come on, yeah
  Like you knew they would, haha
  Go home and face the music
  That don't sound too good, listen
  
  Lord , it's a real mother for ya
  Make you wanna run for cover, yes, babe
  And if you look you will discover, yeah
  Now it's a real mother for ya, yeah, ow!
  
  Lord , it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  Make you wanna run for cover, yes, it will
  And if you look you will discover, yeah
  Now, it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  Say it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  
  Ow, get out of here!
  Goodness
  Too cold
  Cold-blooded, cold-blooded, I'm telling you the truth
  Let me start here this jam-session
  
  Gimme three gallons of low lead!
  You got it full, nothing else
  Better stop and give me two hot dogs and a strawberry soda
  (It's a real mother for ya) Yeah
  Well, it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  Oooh, it's a real mother for ya, yeah
  Ooo hooo hooo (For ya), yeah Writer/s: JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

• Robert James Piellusch from Kalamazoo, MichiganI was a D.J. at our college radio station in 1977 and we played this song "all the time." I have always loved the play on words and I don't know who the person is that made the negative comment, but they have no idea what they are talking about. Great song and I am posting it for mother's day in 2021 !
• Glenn from Upstate Sc I really enjoyed his music
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1977 {September 10th} Johnny 'Guitar' Watson performed "A Real Mother For Ya" on the nationally syndicated television program, 'Soul Train'...
  At the time the song was at position #43 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, it was also in it's fifteenth and final week on the chart, and ten weeks earlier it had peaked at #5 {for 2 weeks}...
  It reached #41 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
  Between 1955 and 1995 the Houston, Texas native had twenty records on the Hot R&B Singles chart, three made the Top 10...
  Besides the above "A Real Mother For Ya", his two other Top 10 records were "These, Lonely Lonely Nights" {#10 in 1955} and "Cuttin' In" {#6 in 1962}...
  John Watson Jr. passed away at the age of 61 on May 17th, 1996 {heart attack}...
  May he and Don Cornelius {1936 - 2012} R.I.P.
• David from Chesapeake, VaI thought it would be a shame for the only comment about this wonderful artist to be negative. To assume that people didn't know what "mother" meant in 1977 is pretty lame. Johnny was a cult favorite that was very popular with those in America who heard him. His songs got plenty of airtime where I grew up. He did not gain widespread notoriety because he was with a record label that was not very successful. It was hard for a black artist to sign with the major record companies in that time period. I loved his music and I'm sure there are many others who did also.

More Songfacts:

Tomorrow PeopleZiggy Marley & the Melody Makers

"Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae."

Y.M.C.A.The Village People

Village People lead singer Victor Willis, who co-wrote "Y.M.C.A.," insists it isn't a gay song - it's about hanging out with your buddies.

Private DancerTina Turner

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits wrote "Private Dancer," which went to Tina Turner when he realized it wasn't a song for a man to sing.

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" is a very inspiring song, but it's really about heartbreak: David Coverdale wrote it when his first marriage was falling apart.

Candy GirlNew Edition

In the UK, the first #1 hit with a rap was "Candy Girl" by the American boy band New Edition in 1983.

Everybody Have Fun TonightWang Chung

"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a rare hit with the band's name used as a verb: "Everybody Wang Chung tonight." The band says it can mean whatever you'd like it to.

Editor's Picks

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."