Mistress Mabel

Album: Here We Stand (2008)
Charted: 23
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frontman Jon Fratelli told The Sunday Mail May 4, 2008 about this song: "The first single, it has a lot of little ideas crammed into a small space. Lyric-wise it's the only song that is total nonsense. I started with the little keyboard synth part that runs all the way through it, which is weird as it's the only song I have written that came from a musical idea. Usually I sit writing by strumming the guitar rather than building from a little idea."
  • The band debuted this at their Queen Margaret Union show on February 22, 2008.
  • Jon Fratelli admitted to the Guardian newspaper June 27, 2008: "Mistress Mabel is absolutely the worst lyrics I've ever written. I'd had the song for ages and just couldn't think of lyrics that meant anything to me."

    When we asked Jon in 2013 if he still felt this way, he replied, "Of course."

Comments: 1

  • Amy from Liverpool, United Kingdomi always thaught it was about an unfit mother :S oh well
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.