Mama Don't 'Low

DESCRIPTION: "Mama don't 'low no banjo playin 'round here... Well, I don't care what mama don't 'low, Gonna play my banjo anyhow...." Mama forbids all sorts of things, from jazz playing to motorcycle riding, but the singer is not discouraged
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recording, Charlie Jackson)
KEYWORDS: music mother nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 452, "Mama Don't Allow No Low Down Hanging Around" (1 text)
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 21, "Mama Don't 'Low" (1 text)
DT, MAMADONT
Roud #11793
RECORDINGS:
Allen Bros., "No Low Down Hanging 'Round" (Victor 23536, 1930; Bluebird B-5448, 1934; Montgomery Ward M-4797, 1935)
Connie Boswell & her Swing Band, "Mama Don't Allow It" (Decca 747, 1936)
Milton Brown & his Brownies, "Mama Don't Allow It" (Decca 5281, 1936)
Smilie Burnett, "Mama Don't Like Music" (Perfect 13011, 1934)
Bill Boyd & his Cowboy Ramblers, "Mama Don't Like No Music" (Bluebird B-5855, 1935; Bluebird B-6235/Montgomery Ward M-4791, c. 1936)
Charlie Jackson, "Mama Don't Allow It" (Paramount 12296, 1925)
Leon's Lone Star Cowboys, "Mama Don't Allow It" (Champion 49151, n.d.; Decca 5423, 1937; Montgomery Ward 8045, 1939)
Riley Puckett, "Mama Don't Allow No Low Down Hanging Around" (Columbia 15261-D, 1928)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Johnny and Jane" (lyrics)
NOTES [95 words]: The Brown text is very distinct from the common, bluegrass/jazz-type arrangements of this piece; the first verse and chorus are"
Well, I get up in the morning,
See no rain;
Looked in the pantry,
See the same old thing.
Mama don't allow no low down hanging around.
Chorus:
Mama don't allow it,
Sister don't care.
Papa don't 'low it,
Won't have it here.
Mama don't low no low down hanging around.
But the ending is familiar: "Well, I don't care What your mama don't 'low, Gonna have fun anyhow." Clearly the same song, with the popular texts presumably a modern adaption. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.3
File: FSWB021

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography