Your Mama Don’t Dance

by Loggins and Messina – Key of C

This was influenced by a 1963 song by The Rooftop Singers called Mama Don’t Allow which is about a kid whose mama won’t tolerate guitar playing. It reached #55 in the US that year.

Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina wrote this song early on in their partnership, writing it in the studio one day while they were waiting for their band to arrive. They didn’t think much of it, but when they recorded it about eight months later, it became a huge hit in America, climbing to #4.

Much to their dismay, it endured as their best-known song, which was frustrating because it was sort of a throwaway and didn’t represent their sound. Loggins and Messina were both accomplished songwriters and musicians, who along with their top-notch band, made music that was far more complex in both music and lyrics. Tracks like Angry Eyes and Till The Ends Meet are what they considered far more substantial, but for many listeners, Loggins and Messina are most associated with Your Mama Don’t Dance.

Your [C] mama don't dance and your [F] daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll.
Your [F] mama don't dance and your daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll.
When [G] evening comes around and it's [F] time to hit the town.
Where do you [C] go, to Rock and roll

The [C] old folks say that ya [F] gotta end your date by [C] ten. 
If you're [F] out on a date and you ring her home late it's a [C] sin.
You [G] know there's no excuse. 
You [F] know you're gonna lose you never [C] win.   I'll say it again.

And it's all because

Your [C] mama don't dance and your [F] daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll. 
Your [F] mama don't dance and your daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll. 
When [G] evening comes around and it's [F] time to hit the town. 
Where do you [C] go, to Rock and roll

You [ F ] pull into a drive-in and find a place to park 
You [ F ] hop into the backseat where you know its nice and dark 
You're [ F ] just about to groovin, thinking it's a breeze 
Then there's a [ F ] light in your eyes and a guy says 
[NC] Out of the car long hair 
[G] Louie, you're coming with [F] me, said the local [C] police

And it's all because

Your [C] mama don't dance and your [F] daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll. 
Your [F] mama don't dance and your daddy don't Rock and [C] Roll. 
When [G] evening comes around and it's [F] time to hit the town. 
Where do you [C] go, to Rock and roll
Where do you go, to rock and roll
Where do you go, to rock and roll [C]  [G-C]