Thread: The Mamas And Papas – Creeque Alley

Help to understand the song.

John and Mitchy were gettin' kind of itchy
Just to leave the folk music behind; (John and Mitchy didn't want to leave folk music? Were they uncomfortable to leave folk music?)
Zal and Denny workin' for a penny
Tryin' to get a fish on the line. (what is "get a fish on the line"?)
In a coffee house Sebastian sat,
And after every number they'd pass the hat. (what is "pass the hat" - to gather money from people?)
McGuinn and McGuire just a-gettin' higher in L.A.,
You know where that's at.
And no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.

Zally said, "Denny, you know there aren't many
Who can sing a song the way that you do; let's go south."
Denny said, "Zally, golly, don't you think that I wish
I could play guitar like you."
Zal, Denny, and Sebastian sat (at the Night Owl)
And after every number they'd pass the hat.
McGuinn and McGuire still a-gettin higher in L.A.,
You know where that's at.
And no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.

When Cass was a sophomore, planned to go to Swathmore
But she changed her mind one day.
Standin' on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhike,
"Take me to New York right away."
When Denny met Cass he gave her love bumps; (love bumps?)
Called John and Zal and that was the Mugwumps. (mugwumps?)
McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher
But that's what they were aimin' at.
And no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.

Mugwumps, high jumps, low slumps, big bumps---
Don't you work as hard as you play. (what are these two lines about?)
Make up, break up, everything is shake up;
Guess it had to be that way.
Sebastian and Zal formed the Spoonful; (Spoonful?)
Michelle, John, and Denny gettin' very tuneful.
McGuinn and McGuire just a-catchin' fire in L.A., (cathcing fire?)
You know where that's at.
And everybody's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.

Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can't be trusted, (and this whole part is a bit difficult to understand, looks like everything goes wrong, but california dreaming is becoming a reality?)
And Mitchy wants to go to the sea.
Cass can't make it; she says we'll have to fake it---
We knew she'd come eventually.
Greasin' on American Express cards;
Tents low rent, but keeping out the heat's hard.
Duffy's good vibrations and our imaginations
Can't go on indefinitely.
And California dreamin' is becomin' a reality...

Well, there are many stories behind every part of it, That's why it has "Analysis".
So i just find two sources for you (whichever you prefer), that will explain you everything, perfectly!

=> 1) Creeque Alley - An Analysis
2) Untitled Document

Hope i helped!

interesting, ty

Originally Posted by pushvv

Help to understand the song.

First, I want to say that The Mamas and The Papas are one of my all-time favorite groups, и я обожаю Cass Elliot -- она была богиня, и всё. So it made me very happy to see that they have some fans in Russia!

A few comments about your specific questions:

John and Mitchy were gettin' kind of itchy
Just to leave the folk music behind; (John and Mitchy didn't want to leave folk music? Were they uncomfortable to leave folk music?)

No, the opposite -- "to be itchy to do something" means that you are very eager and impatient.

And after every number they'd pass the hat. (what is "pass the hat" - to gather money from people?)

Yes, exactly -- "to pass the hat" means "to request voluntary donations of money."

When Denny met Cass he gave her love bumps; (love bumps?)

"Love bumps" can be interpreted as (1) a euphemism for a sexually transmitted disease like herpes or genital warts; or (2) more innocently, госиная кожа от любви. I don't know which sense is meant here (but most likely it's the second meaning).

Called John and Zal and that was the Mugwumps. (mugwumps?)

"Mugwumps" was the name of their group.

McGuinn and McGuire just a-catchin' fire in L.A., (cathcing fire?)

Here, "to catch fire" means "to become popular and successful."