Album: Bobby Bloom (1970)

Charted: 3 8

License This Song 

• Vernon'll meet me when the BOAC lands
  Keys to the M.G. will be in his hands
  Adjust to the driving and I'm on my way
  It's all on the right side in Montego Bay, sing out
  
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Come sing me la
  Come sing me Montego Bay
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  
  And Gillian'll meet me like a brother would
  I think I remember but it's twice as good
  Like how cool the rum is from his silver tray
  I thirst to be thirsty in Montego Bay, sing out
  
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Come sing me la
  Come sing me Montego Bay
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  
  I'll lay on a Lilo 'til I'm lobster red
  I still feel the motion here at home in bed
  I tell you it's hard for me to stay away
  You ain't been 'til you been high in Montego Bay, sing out
  
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  Come sing me la
  Come sing me Montego Bay
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  
  Let's dance in the streets
  
  Yeah, sing me la (la)
  Come sing me Montego Bay
  Whoa oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh oh
  
  Oh, what a beautiful morning
  Oh, what a beautiful day
  And I've got a beautiful feeling
  Everything's going my way Writer/s: Bobby Bloom, Jeff Barry, Robert Bloom
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Jamaican Dude from Montego Bay AmaicaDriving on the left side of the road means the controls are on the right side of the car (i.e. driver's seat, steering wheel and pedals are all on the right side). Coming from the USA, you have to remember to enter the car from the opposite door. Also, especially in the seventies where manual would be common, you will have to operate the gear stick with your other hand. So an American would be initially confused and so make note of the difference.
• Eric from CaliforniaIn the Freddy Notes cover version of the song he changes BOAC (the airline) to Boeing (the manufacturer) which is kind of funny.
• Kenny from UsTo Don from Maggie Valley: I've always assumed the singer was being playfully sarcastic and taking advantage of the word "right" having two meanings to make a pun. Yes, it can mean "the opposite of left", which is how you're taking it - or it can also mean "OK" or "acceptable". So when they say "it's all on the right side in Montego Bay", I consider it a pun. Yes, you're driving on the left but it's OK because it's all OK in Montego Bay.
• Scotty from Springfield OrI wonder if the lyrics are printed on the back of the Montego Bay album as "lyric sites" can't seem to agree on the post bridge phrase "come sing me"
• Don from Maggie Valley, North Carolina Question about this song. If I’m correct, they drive on the left side of the road in Jamaica? Both Bobby Bloom and Jeff Barry (writers) are American. After “Vernon” hands over the keys to the MG, the singer has to “adjust to the driving.” That makes sense, since Americans drive on the right side.
  
  But then the next line says “it’s all on the right side of Montego Bay”. That doesn’t make sense. If it’s on the right side, and you’re American, you don’t have to adjust. But since they do drive on the left, an American would have to adjust.
  
  Love this song. But my OCD is trying to figure this out, lol.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI lived in Oklahoma when this song came and you can bet that last line made it sell better there.
• AnonymousThe line actually is, "Come sing ALOUD, come sing me Montego Bay" (not Come sing me la!...that doesn't make any sense, and I've been singing this song since I was 5!)
• Anne from HereThe line is "Vernon will meet me when the BOAC lands." BOAC was the acronym for British Overseas Airways Corporation, which flew into Montego Bay International Airport.
• Mavis from Upper MidwestHow is it this very cool song has so few comments? Crank this up and you’ve got instant summer!
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 19th 1970, Bobby Bloom performed "Montego Bay" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
  Thirteen days earlier on September 3rd it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #88; and on November 22nd, 1970 it peaked at #8 {for 1 week} and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
  He had three other records make the Top 100 chart and all three were in 1970; "Where Are We Going" {#84}, "Make Me Happy" {#80}, and "We're All Goin' Home" {#93}...
  May he R.I.P. {1946 - 1974}.
• Guy from Woodinville, WaThis song truly does capture the ambiance of Montego Bay and Jamaica's laid-back "no worry, mon" culture. Great early example of reggae. Maybe the first reggae on the charts...?

More Songfacts:

Walkin' On The SunSmash Mouth

You wouldn't know it from the upbeat melody, but "Walkin' On The Sun" by Smash Mouth is about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

How To Save A LifeThe Fray

"How To Save A Life" by The Fray was inspired by a teenager lead singer Isaac Slade mentored at a camp for troubled youth in Colorado.

Just DanceLady Gaga

"Just Dance" was Lady Gaga's first hit, and it also brought the techno-synth sound that had been popular in Europe for the previous decade to the United States.

Don't ChaThe Pussycat Dolls

Sir Mix-A-Lot is credited as a writer on The Pussycat Dolls' biggest hit, "Don't Cha," because it interpolates his 1988 song "Swass," where he goes, "Don't you wish your boyfriend was swass like me?"

Can't Get You Out Of My HeadKylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" received more airplay during the 2000s than any other song in the UK.

Rock And RollLed Zeppelin

According to Jason Bonham, who has filled in for his father on Led Zeppelin reunions, "Rock And Roll" is the hardest Led Zep song to play on drums.

Editor's Picks

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.