Rick wrote:
> I'm not sure how old you or Trey are, Paul, but this lyric could not have
> been written any other way. "Where it's at" was common usage during the
> hippie days, as in "Smokin' hash is where it's at." "It" refers to a state
> of coolness or hipness or whatever you want it to mean as long as it's
good.
> Joni is making a rebuttal to her lover's attempt at profundity: Being in
the
> darkness is not where it's at.
Right on, Rick! As soon as I read this the song "Creeque Alley" came into
my head. I think that the Mamas and the Papas were the first to use the
expression in a song. I used to love to sing this one. For those not of
hippie age, this was the autobiography of the group put to song. I've
posted the lyrics below. By the way "Mitchie" refers to Michelle Phillips
and not Joni Mitchie ;-) And for PC considerations the term "fat" was slang
back then for making lots of money (but there is an obvious double entendre
re Mama Cass) Kakki
John and Mitchie were gettin' kinda itchy just to leave the folk music
behind
Zal and Denny workin' for a penny
tryin' to get a fish on the line
In a coffee house Sebastian sat ...
and after every number they passed the hat
McGuinn and McGuire just are gettin' higher
in L.A. you know where that's at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass.
Zallie said 'Denny, you know there aren't many
who can sing a song the way that you do' (Let's go South)
Denny said 'Zallie, golly, don't you think that I wish
I could play guitar like you'
Zal, Denny and Sebastian sat (at the Night Owl)
McGuinn and McGuire still are gettin' higher
in L.A. you know where that's at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass.
When Cass was a Sophomore, planned to go to Swarthmore,
But she changed her mind one day
Standing on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhike,
Take her to New York right away
When Denny met Cass he gave her love bumps
Call John and Zal, and that was the Mugwumps
McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher
but that's what they were aiming at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass.
Mugwumps , hi-jumps, low slumps, big bumps,
don't you work as hard as you play
Drink-up, break-up, everything is shake-up
Guess it had to be that way
Sebastian and Zal formed the Spoonful
Michelle, John and Denny gettin' very tuneful
McGuinn and McGuire just are catchin' fire
in L.A. you know where that's at
And everybody's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.
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 card
Tents, low rents, and keepin' out the heat's hard
Duffy's good vibrations, and our imaginations,
can't go on indefinitely
And California Dreaming is becoming a reality.
