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 the lyrics in 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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