What Are The Mamas & the Papas Singing About in “Creeque Alley”?

mamas papas
One of the great songs by The Mamas & the Papas is the song “Creeque Alley,” which was released in April 1967. It is a fun song that clearly is telling some kind of story, but one may find it hard to follow.

In this video below, posted by RollingStones50yrs, a performance of “Creeque Alley” by The Mamas & the Papas is inter-cut with photos illustrating the references in the song.  “Creeque Alley” is about the band’s early years and some of their friends in the folk scene in the 1960s. The video also includes some interviews about the song.

So, to learn more about John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips (as well as some of their friends), check out this video of “Creeque Alley.”

Of course, it is a lovely song whether or not you catch all of the references. But it is still interesting to know a little more about it.

For a more detailed analysis of “Creeque Alley,” check out this website. For example, the website explains how the final lyrics describes the band members’ journey to the Virgin Islands in 1965, Cass Elliot’s vocal range, and the group’s return to the U.S. and relocation to California.

Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can’t be trusted,
And Mitchie 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.

Of course, that last line is a reference to the band’s hit “California Dreamin’,” released in December 1965.

In fact, the name of the song Creeque Alley (pronounced like “creaky”) comes from “a narrow area of alleys that spiderweb the docks which historically carried ship cargo and pirate booty to the warehouses lining the waterfront on the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.” Another website with analysis of the song is here.

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    Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair

    scott mckenzie san francisco Scott McKenzie, who sang “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair),” passed away on Saturday. McKenzie, who was 73, had been living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease that affects the nervous system.

    McKenzie’s most famous song as a singer was “San Francisco,” which was released in May 1967 in honor of the upcoming Monterey Pop Festival and became an instant hit. John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas wrote the song, but McKenzie had inspired him to write it. As Monterey was preparing for the festival and concerned about the large crowds, the song was written as a plea to make the event a peaceful one. The song, of course became a song for a generation and went far beyond that festival. Wikipedia notes that the song became an anthem for young people during Czechoslovakia’s 1968 Prague Spring uprising. The song has appeared in movies such as Forrest Gump (1994) and has been covered by a number of artists. Note that the song subtitle “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in your Hair)” differs from the line used in the song, “Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.”

    McKenzie’s website states that after the song was a hit, “Scott ‘dropped out’ in the late 60’s. In 1970 he moved to Joshua Tree, a California desert town near Palm Springs.” He then lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia for a decade before touring as part of The Mamas & the Papas into the 1990s. In 1988, he co-wrote the Beach Boys hit “Kokomo” with John Phillips, Mike Love and Terry Melcher. McKenzie performed off and on until recently, and he recorded “Gone to Sea” in 2009. He had been in and out of the hospital since 2010 and he likely had a heart attack earlier this month. He asked to leave the hospital and died at home . . . in Los Angeles. RIP.

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