“Mother-in-Law” – Ernie K-Doe
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“Mother-in-Law” is a New Orleans R&B song, written by legendary producer, songwriter, arranger, and musician Allen Toussaint. It was recorded by R&B singer Ernie K-Doe, with Toussaint on the piano. The song was a big hit in 1961, reaching #1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the US R&B chart.
The lyrics play on the stereotype of mothers-in-law as meddlesome and overbearing. Toussaint didn’t have any experience with a mother-in-law when he wrote “Mother-in-Law” (he was unmarried at the time), but he believed “it was the kind of a song with . . . a message that anyone would understand and either like or dislike”. The songwriter said his grandmother was “horrified” by the song initially but forgave him for it later.
Ernie K-Doe, a flamboyant, larger-than-life showman, said the following about his most popular recording:
''There aren't but three songs that will last for eternity. One is 'Amazing Grace.' Another is 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' And the third is 'Mother-in-Law,' because as long as there are people on this earth, there will always be mother-in-laws.''
“Mother-in-Law” is a New Orleans R&B song, written by legendary producer, songwriter, arranger, and musician Allen Toussaint. It was recorded by R&B singer Ernie K-Doe, with Toussaint on the piano. The song was a big hit in 1961, reaching #1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the US R&B chart.
The lyrics play on the stereotype of mothers-in-law as meddlesome and overbearing. Toussaint didn’t have any experience with a mother-in-law when he wrote “Mother-in-Law” (he was unmarried at the time), but he believed “it was the kind of a song with . . . a message that anyone would understand and either like or dislike”. The songwriter said his grandmother was “horrified” by the song initially but forgave him for it later.
Ernie K-Doe, a flamboyant, larger-than-life showman, said the following about his most popular recording:
''There aren't but three songs that will last for eternity. One is 'Amazing Grace.' Another is 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' And the third is 'Mother-in-Law,' because as long as there are people on this earth, there will always be mother-in-laws.''
