YOU'VE GOT TO SEE MAMMA EV'RY NIGHT (OR YOU CAN'T SEE MAMMA AT ALL)
(Music: Con Conrad / Lyrics: Billy Rose)

The Southern Serenaders - 1923
Aileen Stanley & Billy Murray - 1923
Sophie Tucker - 1923
Marion Harris - 1923
Dolly Kay - 1923
The Two Gilberts - 1924
Roy Acuff & His Crazy Tennesseeans - 1936
Rice Brothers' gang - 1938
Kay Starr - 1948
Kay Starr - 1950
Peggy Lee - 1956

Also recorded by:
Dick Hyman & The Three Deuces; The Tennessee Ten;
Lizzie Miles ...... and many others.




As recorded by MARION HARRIS, 28th February 1923:

Daddy dear, listen here, Mamma's feeling blue
I don't see much of you, and that will never do
Once a week Mamma's cheek gets a kiss or two
I'm not showing you the door, but I must lay down the law

You've got to see Mamma ev'ry night
Or you can't see Mamma at all
You've got to kiss Mamma, treat her right
Or she won't be home when you call

If you want my company,
You can't fifty-fifty me
You've got to see Mamma ev'ry night
Or you can't see Mamma at all

Now Monday night I sat alone
Tuesday night you didn't phone
Wednesday night you didn't call
And on Thursday night, the same old stall

Friday night you dodged your path
Saturday night you took your bath
Sunday night you called on me
But you brought three gals for company

(Instrumental Break)

You've got to see Mamma ev'ry night
Or you can't see Mamma at all
You've got to kiss Mamma, treat her right
Or she won't be home when you call

Now I don't like the kind of sheik
Who does his sheiking once a week
You've got to see Mamma ev'ry night
Or you can't see Mamma at all

You don't need no handicap
You just run from lap to lap
When I get my razor sharp
You'll have wings and play a harp
You've got to see Mamma ev'ry night
Or you can't see Mamma at all


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - March 2019)


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As recorded by KAY STARR, 1948:

You gotta see your mamma every night,
Or you can't see your mamma at all!
You've got to kiss your mamma, treat her right,
Or I won't be home when you call!

Now I don't like that kind o' man
That makes love on the installment plan!
You gotta see your mamma every night,
Or you won't see your mamma at all!

Monday night, you didn't show,
Tuesday night, you claimed no dough,
Wednesday night, that same old stall,
Thursday night, you didn't call.

Friday night, you dogged my path,
Saturday night, you took your bath,
Sunday night, you had a date,
And from the looks of everything it's clear that I don't rate!

Hey you, you better show tonight,
Or you won't see your mamma at all!
You better kiss me, you better hold me right,
Or I won't be home when you call!

Now I don't like that kind o' man
That operates on the installment plan.
You better see me, you better make things right,
Or you won't see your mamma at all!

Cut out all this stallin',
Cut in some callin',
Or you won't see your mamma at all!


(Contributed by Peter Akers - September 2008)


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Alternate last verse as recorded by PEGGY LEE:

I don't want that kind of man
Who works on the installment plan
You've got to see Mamma every night
Or you can't see your Mamma at all