"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by

Tandyn Almer Tandyn Douglas Almer (July 30, 1942 – January 8, 2013) was an American songwriter, musician, and record producer who wrote the 1966 song "Along Comes Mary" for the Association. He also wrote, co-wrote, and produced numerous other songs pe ...

, originally recorded by American

sunshine pop Sunshine pop (originally known as soft pop) is a subgenre of pop music that originated in Southern California in the mid-1960s. Rooted in easy listening and advertising jingles, sunshine pop acts combined nostalgic or anxious moods with "an appre ...

band

the Association The Association is an American sunshine pop band from California. During the late 1960s, the band had numerous hits at or near the top of the ''Billboard'' charts (including " Windy", " Cherish", " Never My Love" and "Along Comes Mary") and ...

. It was the group's first hit, released on their debut album, '' And Then... Along Comes the Association'' (1966).

Background

"Along Comes Mary" is sung from the point of view of a once-disillusioned young man talking about the "tribulations no one ever sees" and who "curse those faults in me." The singer believes Mary gives him comfort and improves his life. An acquaintance of Almer claimed in an interview that "Mary" refers to marijuana, though it is unclear if Almer ever confirmed this. In the

Young People's Concert The Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic are the longest-running series of family concerts of classical music in the world. Genesis They began in 1924 under the direction of "Uncle" Ernest Schelling. Earlier Family Matinees had ...

titled ''What Is a Mode?'' Leonard Bernstein explained that the song was composed in the Dorian

mode Mode ( la, modus meaning "manner, tune, measure, due measure, rhythm, melody") may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' MO''D''E (magazine)'', a defunct U.S. women's fashion magazine * ''Mode'' magazine, a fictional fashion magazine which is ...

Charts

Bloodhound Gang version

American rock band Bloodhound Gang recorded a version of "Along Comes Mary" with new punk music to accompany the lyrics. It first appeared on the 1998 soundtrack to the film''

Half Baked ''Half Baked'' is a 1998 American stoner comedy film starring Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harland Williams, and Guillermo Díaz. The film was directed by Tamra Davis, co-written by Chappelle and Neal Brennan and produced by Robert Simonds. ...

'' before appearing on Bloodhound Gang's third studio album, ''

Hooray for Boobies ''Hooray for Boobies'' is the third studio album by American alternative rock and rap band Bloodhound Gang. It was released on October 4, 1999, in the United Kingdom and on February 29, 2000, in the United States. Produced by Jimmy Pop and Richar ...

'', the following year. "Along Comes Mary" was released as the album's first single in May 1999 and reached 5 in Austria, No. 6 in Germany, and No. 13 in Switzerland. The song was certified gold in both Austria and Germany.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other covers

In 1966,

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

included the song on his album ''

Hugh Masekela's Next Album ''Hugh Masekela's Next Album'' is the fourth studio album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in New York City and released in December 1966 via MGM Records label. The album consists mainly of covers of pop songs. Tra ...

'', and in 1967,

Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, known as the most successful non-Latino Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, even as he continued to perform music of Afro-Jazz, ...

covered it for his album ''Along Comes Cal''. That same year, Baja Marimba Band's had a minor hit with their cover of the song. In 1968,

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...

included a version on his album ''

Giblet Gravy ''Giblet Gravy'' is the fourth album by jazz/soul guitarist George Benson. Track listing Personnel Musicians *George Benson – guitar *Albertine Robinson, Eileen Gilbert, Lois Winter – vocals *Eric Gale – guitar, tracks 2, 4, 5, 7 *Car ...

'', and in 1986 a cover appeared on

R. Stevie Moore Robert Steven Moore (born January 18, 1952) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter who pioneered lo-fi (or "DIY") music. Often called the "godfather of home recording", he is one of the most recognized artists of the cas ...

's album ''

Glad Music ''Glad Music'' is the sixth vinyl record album by American multi-instrumentalist R. Stevie Moore (RSM). It was the second of four RSM albums released by New Rose Records in Paris. ''Glad Music'' differed from most Moore record albums by being ...

''. In 1995, the Manhattan Transfer covered the song for their album ''

Tonin' ''Tonin is the sixteenth studio album by The Manhattan Transfer. It was released in 1995 on Atlantic Records. The expression "tonin'" is associated with the vocal groups of the 1950s and 1960s. The songs on this album are favorites of the band ...

'', and the following year, 24-7 Spyz covered it for their album '' 6''. In 2005, a cover of the song appeared on

the Guess Who The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of " Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After ...

's compilation album ''Let's Go'', and

Plainsong Plainsong or plainchant (calque from the French ''plain-chant''; la, cantus planus) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. When referring to the term plainsong, it is those sacred pieces that are composed in Latin text ...

also released a cover on their self-titled album.Plain Song – allmusic
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References

{{Authority control 1966 singles 1966 songs 1997 singles The Association songs Bloodhound Gang songs Geffen Records singles Songs about cannabis Songs written by Tandyn Almer Valiant Records singles

Background

Charts

Bloodhound Gang version

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other covers

See also

References