The Association — Along Comes Mary
Album: And Then… Along Comes the AssociationAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1275
Length: 2:49
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Every time I think that I'm the only one who's lonely
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales of all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales of all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
Comments (70)add comment
And I was foolish enough to think it's Bloodhound Gang's original....
cely wrote:
Don't forget the hand claps!
Listening to this for the first time in years makes me realize how stripped down it is. A little drum, a little bass, a little acoustic guitar. It's almost all vocal, but it still rocks in that oldies way.
Don't forget the hand claps!
ExploitingChaos wrote:
They squeezed every word in that they possibly could. I imagine the many frustrating takes it took to get the words right.
There's hella lot happening here for 2:50 minutes!
They squeezed every word in that they possibly could. I imagine the many frustrating takes it took to get the words right.
One of their best songs! Thanks for the flash from the past!
Geecheeboy wrote:
Same here! I bought the 45 when it came out. I was 11yrs old! PS: I had no idea that Mary was a euphemism for Marijuana!
Thank you so much for the lyrics. I've been listening and liking this song for more than 57 years, and never could make out the words.
Same here! I bought the 45 when it came out. I was 11yrs old! PS: I had no idea that Mary was a euphemism for Marijuana!
Thank you so much for the lyrics. I've been listening and liking this song for more than 57 years, and never could make out the words.
For many years I have thought that The Association was formed by students at the Pasadena City College in the early '60s, but I cannot now find anything online that supports that. I can find that some of the early members performed at Pasadena and Glendale clubs before they had the name "The Association", so they were definitely in the vicinity.
Anyone have a similar recollection?
Anyone have a similar recollection?
awhfman wrote:
Yes!
Listen to the bassline! Awesome! Jerry Scheff!
Yes!
Listen to the bassline! Awesome! Jerry Scheff!
I actually LOVE the Association's hits. They had some great songs, beautiful harmonies- love me those 7ths
great tune
nomnol wrote:
I Agree! That is why we come here. Thanx RP!
This is Radio Paradise doing what Radio Paradise does well. Thanks for the memories.
I Agree! That is why we come here. Thanx RP!
+1 for cool band name.
This is Radio Paradise doing what Radio Paradise does well. Thanks for the memories.
I'm enjoying how the real handicaps are not perfectly in sync, as opposed to the drum triggers of today.
QuantumShaman wrote:
That was pretty cool - interesting intro and a rare instance of a live performance in that era.
Be certain to check out this version, from The Smothers Brothers Show.
That was pretty cool - interesting intro and a rare instance of a live performance in that era.
eileenomurphy wrote:
Apparently her last name was Jane. Who knew. Rather sly reference.
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
This song is a tongue in cheek reference to marijuana! I bought the 45 when it came out, I was 11yrs old. I had no idea of the deep meaning. It was a great tune & they played it on NYC AM radio stations.
Apparently her last name was Jane. Who knew. Rather sly reference.
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
Where I went to elementary school, (East Rochester,NY) in the sixties, we could leave school grounds at lunchtime and eat greasy cheeseburgers at these little diners that were "downtown" just a couple of blocks away. This song was regularly played on the little 'jukebox' contraption that was at each of the booths. A quarter for three songs, I think.
Sorry, just the nostalgic ramblings of an old man. :-)
Sorry, just the nostalgic ramblings of an old man. :-)
This song is a tongue in cheek reference to marijuana! I bought the 45 when it came out, I was 11yrs old. I had no idea of the deep meaning. It was a great tune & they played it on NYC AM radio stations.
konakid wrote:
Great song! Thanks for the lyrics. After all these years I never knew what they were saying. Very much up for interpretation......
I still don't understand anything but Sweet as a Bunch and Along Comes Mary. ..and something about Psychodrama
Must read now.
Great song! Thanks for the lyrics. After all these years I never knew what they were saying. Very much up for interpretation......I still don't understand anything but Sweet as a Bunch and Along Comes Mary. ..and something about Psychodrama
Must read now.
justin4kick wrote:
The song is in The Queen's Gambit, a Netflix series I highly recommend
Make sure you watch these guys on Monterey Pop videos. So neat and tight!
The song is in The Queen's Gambit, a Netflix series I highly recommend
Make sure you watch these guys on Monterey Pop videos. So neat and tight!
The song is in The Queen's Gambit, a Netflix series I highly recommend
Clap
Clap
Clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap
Clap
Clap, clap, clap
Detroit 1967 AM radio called this one a "psychedelic burn". I didn't really understand what that meant but I liked it anyway. Simpler times.
Was part of the daily soundtrack while cruising SoCal on my Triumph Daytona. Them was the days.
There's hella lot happening here for 2:50 minutes!
ImaOldman wrote:
For me it automatically reminds me of the Albert Brooks movie Modern Romance. He s just broken up with his girlfriend Mary, feeling sad, and every song he hears on the car radio is a love song. He keeps punching the preset buttons as another love song plays on each station, with the last song being Along Comes Mary. That scene always cracked me up.
When I hear this all I can think about is American Bandstand! RIP Dick Clark
For me it automatically reminds me of the Albert Brooks movie Modern Romance. He s just broken up with his girlfriend Mary, feeling sad, and every song he hears on the car radio is a love song. He keeps punching the preset buttons as another love song plays on each station, with the last song being Along Comes Mary. That scene always cracked me up.
Dug it during the day and dig it now. I don't think I have heard it in 30 years.
bh1 wrote:
The song is about weed.
It's like a proto I am the walrus! Imagine the glee club on acid.
The song is about weed.
I have a 45 that looks just like the one pictured here! 
Isn’t Mary a euphemism?
jp33442 wrote:
Why would you listen to oldies radio?
Warning - no excuses accepted.
Oh shit another song that got played to death on oldies radio
Why would you listen to oldies radio?
Warning - no excuses accepted.
Never heard the original - only Bloodhound's version. Cool.
Listening to this for the first time in years makes me realize how stripped down it is. A little drum, a little bass, a little acoustic guitar. It's almost all vocal, but it still rocks in that oldies way.
Oh shit another song that got played to death on oldies radio
This song is the smooth, hip, California-dreaming kinda prom experience you never had. Only the awkward ones.
It's like a proto I am the walrus! Imagine the glee club on acid.
I always enjoyed the lyrics. Even though I couldn't catch up with them. Maximum clever wordplay,
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Am I the only one that remembers this first from the Half Baked soundtrack, the cover by Bloodhound Gang?
This is well known as one of the more difficult pop songs to play/sing. It's surprising, but try it.
Great memories! Thanks Bill!
I saw them play an assembly at Pasadena High School just before this song broke out. It made quite an impression on me, after the show I remember a gym coach remarking that they we a 'pretty good band but why did they have to play so loud?' That did it for me. I bought the album the next day.
Blast from the past in my teenage life. It was a blast!
60's pop always brightens my day
I'm still very much in love with the wild multi-layered brilliance of this complex yet poppy song! I wonder and marvel at its orchestral vocals, as I have since I was 4...
When I hear this all I can think about is American Bandstand! RIP Dick Clark
woah...way back in the time machine.....LOVE IT! innocence,sunshine and lollipops.
Think Mike Myers might have heard this when he was working on Austin Powers.
Very poppy, but good to hear The Association once in a while. Makes me think of Rotary Connection for some reason. Why no Rotary Connection on RP?
Wow, imagine how WILD this might have seemed to all the old fogies back in '66! I think it STILL rocks...
Not music related:
I was in Korea in the early 70's and found similar translations. I always remembered that they spoke more English than I did Korean. With that said: my favorite was a Green Bay Packers t-shirt I found. It was in Dallas Cowboys colors and said "Green Bay Peckers"
I was in Korea in the early 70's and found similar translations. I always remembered that they spoke more English than I did Korean. With that said: my favorite was a Green Bay Packers t-shirt I found. It was in Dallas Cowboys colors and said "Green Bay Peckers"
I'm five years old and dancing around like a madbrain because *I* am Mary!
I'm digging the 60s and 70s groove, Bill, especially when it's not the usual stuff like Beatles and Pink Floyd. This makes my evening.
bobcouch wrote:
"Windy" was a favorite of mine.
Got a transistor radio for Christmas and listening to this song now brings back fond memories.
Man, that hand held radio was just the coolest gift at the time.
This was that "other" sound going on in the '60s. Along with the "McCoys" the "Youngbloods" and others. I remember them as "groovy". lol Their other great song was "Windy". I loved that song!
"Windy" was a favorite of mine.
Got a transistor radio for Christmas and listening to this song now brings back fond memories.
Man, that hand held radio was just the coolest gift at the time.
They played at my high school in Pasadena in 1967 or 68. I remember the teachers asking why it had to be so loud.
Great song! Thanks for the lyrics. After all these years I never knew what they were saying. Very much up for interpretation......This looks somewhat like my copy, sorta scuffed from being in the case with the rest of the 45s without a sleeve but only my name on it.
Skydog wrote:
I've lost count of how many times I've uttered that phrase.
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
I've lost count of how many times I've uttered that phrase.
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
bobcouch wrote:
I was too young to remember their heyday but The Association always struck me as belonging in a "so-square-that-they're-cool" pigeonhole. I think they reassured suburban parents that they were still hip to all the new 60s stuff that was going down.
They were square but that was cool. Now they're dated but somehow that might be cool too...in a hey-your-grandad-listens-to-Snoop-Dogg way.
This was that "other" sound going on in the '60s. Along with the "McCoys" the "Youngbloods" and others. I remember them as "groovy". lol Their other great song was "Windy". I loved that song!
I was too young to remember their heyday but The Association always struck me as belonging in a "so-square-that-they're-cool" pigeonhole. I think they reassured suburban parents that they were still hip to all the new 60s stuff that was going down.
They were square but that was cool. Now they're dated but somehow that might be cool too...in a hey-your-grandad-listens-to-Snoop-Dogg way.
This was that "other" sound going on in the '60s. Along with the "McCoys" the "Youngbloods" and others. I remember them as "groovy". lol Their other great song was "Windy". I loved that song!
Is that a 45 signed by the band?
KOOKY COOL
jeez look at that scribbled-on 45 aiee-carumba man (did you have a Power Wheel coloradojohn : )
jeez look at that scribbled-on 45 aiee-carumba man (did you have a Power Wheel coloradojohn : )
Whoah, what a blast from the past, Captain! Mom and Dad are smooching in the dining room, my little brother and I are playing with our Hot Wheels on the floor of the living room, this is on Dad's new hi-fi, and everything is groovy! Too bad it didn't last... Great song!
I've heard this 100's of times by Bloodhound Gang on the Half Baked soundtrack, but had no idea it was a cover... huh...
great blast from 60's flute and all
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch