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Beans in My Ears

Pete Seeger
Language: English


Pete Seeger

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Dangerous Songs?

Beans in My Ears is a song created and sung by protest singer, Len Chandler. It became a hit single when covered by The Serendipity Singers, reaching #30 in June, 1964. Doctors protested that many children were actually putting beans in their ears and so it was banned in some places such as Boston. It was also covered by Lonnie Donegan in 1964.

The insistent chorus goes

My mommy said not to put beans in my ears, beans in my ears, beans in my ears.


The song was covered by Pete Seeger in his 1966 album Dangerous Songs!?. Seeger's version satirically attacked Lyndon B. Johnson's involvement in the Vietnam War. In addition to Chandler's original lyrics, Seeger sang that "Mrs. Jay's little son Alby" had "beans in his ears", which, as the lyrics imply, ensures that a person does not hear what is said to them. To those opposed to continuing the Vietnam War, the phrase suggested that "Alby Jay", a loose pronunciation of Johnson's nickname "LBJ", did not listen to anti-war protests as he too had "beans in his ears".

Wikipedia
My mommy said not to put beans in my ears
Beans in my ears, beans in my ears
My mommy said not to put beans in my ears
Beans in my ears

Now why would I want to put beans in my ears
Beans in my ears, beans in my ears
Now why would I want to put beans in my ears
Beans in my ears

You can't hear the teacher with beans in your ears
Beans in your ears, beans in your ears
You can't hear the teacher with beans in your ears
Beans in your ears

What's that you say, let's put beans in our ears
Beans in our ears, beans in our ears
What's that you say, let's put beans in our ears
Beans in our ears

You'll have to speak up, I got beans in my ears
Beans in my ears, beans in my ears
You'll have to speak up, I got beans in my ears
Beans in her ears

Say mommy, we've gone and put beans in our ears
Beans in our ears, beans in our ears
Say mommy, we've gone and put beans in our ears
Beans in our ears

That's nice, boys, just don't put those beans in your ears
Beans in our ears, beans in our ears
That's nice, boys, just don't put those beans in your ears
Beans in our ears

I think that all grown ups have beans in their ears
Beans in their ears, beans in their ears
I think that all grown ups have beans in their ears
Beans in their ears

2010/7/2 - 00:14




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