About the song
“Creeque Alley” by The Mamas & The Papas is a unique track, functioning both as a catchy song and a mini-autobiography. Written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1966, it details the group’s formation and early struggles.
Themes:
- Origin Story: The lyrics chronicle the individual journeys of the group’s members before coming together. It references John and Michelle’s time in the folk group “The New Journeymen” in the Virgin Islands (“Creque Alley” is the location of a club they frequented). It also mentions Denny Doherty and Zal Yanovsky (later of the Lovin’ Spoonful) trying to make it as folk singers. Finally, Cass Elliot’s arrival (“Mama Cass”) completes the picture.
- Struggle and Aspiration: The song doesn’t shy away from the financial difficulties the group faced in their early days (“greasin’ on American Express cards”). Yet, it portrays their unwavering optimism and creative spirit (“Duffy’s good vibrations, and our imaginations, can’t go on indefinitely”).
- Folk to Folk-Rock: There’s a subtle hint at their musical transition. Lines like “John and Mitchie were gettin’ kinda itchy just to leave the folk scene music behind” suggest their openness to exploring a new sound, which would blossom into their signature folk-rock style.
Overall, “Creeque Alley” is a nostalgic look back at the group’s humble beginnings, capturing their camaraderie, ambition, and the challenges that ultimately led to their success.
Video
Lyrics
John and Mitchy were gettin’ kind of itchyJust to leave the folk music behindZal and Denny workin’ for a pennyTryin’ to get a fish on the lineIn a coffee house Sebastian satAnd after every number they’d pass the hatMcGuinn and McGuire just a gettin’ higherIn L.A., you know where that’s atAnd no one’s gettin’ fat except Mama Cass
Zally said Denny, you know there aren’t manyWho can sing a song the way that you do, let’s go southDenny said Zally, golly, don’t you think that I wishI could play guitar like youZal, Denny and Sebastian sat (at the Night Owl)And after every number they’d pass the hatMcGuinn and McGuire still a gettin’ higherIn L.A., you know where that’s atAnd no one’s gettin’ fat except Mama Cass
When Cass was a sophomore, planned to go to SwarthmoreBut she changed her mind one dayStandin’ on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhikeTake me to New York right awayWhen Denny met Cass he gave her love bumpsCalled John and Zal and that was the MugwumpsMcGuinn and McGuire couldn’t get no higherBut that’s what they were aimin’ atAnd no one’s gettin’ fat except Mama Cass
Mugwumps, high jumps, low slumps, big bumpsDon’t you work as hard as you playMake up, break up, everything is shake upGuess it had to be that waySebastian and Zal formed the SpoonfulMichelle, John, and Denny gettin’ very tunefulMcGuinn and McGuire just a catchin’ fireIn L.A., you know where that’s atAnd everybody’s gettin’ fat except Mama CassDi di di dit dit dit di di di dit, whoa
Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can’t be trustedAnd Mitchy wants to go to the seaCass can’t make it, she says we’ll have to fake itWe knew she’d come eventuallyGreasin’ on American Express cardsIt’s low rent, but keeping out the heat’s hardDuffy’s good vibrations and our imaginationsCan’t go on indefinitelyAnd California dreamin’ is becomin’ a reality