Shaddap You Face

Album: Shaddap You Face (1979)
Charted: 1
Play Video
  • 'Allo, I'm-a Giuseppe, I got-a something special-a for you, ready?
    Uno, duo, tre, quatro!

    When I was a boy just about the eighth-a grade
    Mama used to say "don't stay out-a late with the bad-a boys
    Always shoot-a pool Giuseppe going to flunk-a school!"
    Boy it make-a me sick all the t'ing I gotta do
    I can't-a get-a no kicks, always got to follow rules
    Boy it make-a me sick just to make-a lousy bucks
    Got to feel-a like a fool
    And-a mama used to say all-a time

    What's-a matter you? Hey! Gotta no respect?
    What-a you t'ink you do, why you look-a so sad?
    It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place
    Ah shaddap-a you face!
    That's-a my mama, I can remember!

    Big accordion solo!
    Ah, play 'dat again!
    Really nice, really nice!

    But soon-a come-a day, gonna be a big-a star
    Den I make-a T.V. shows and-a movies
    Get-a myself a new car but still I be myself
    I don't want-a to change a t'ing
    Still a-dance and a-sing
    I think-a about-a mama, she used to say

    What's-a matter you? Hey! Gotta no respect?
    What-a you t'ink you do, why you look-a so sad?
    It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place
    Ah shaddap-a you face!

    Mama, she said it all-a da time!

    What's-a matter you? Hey! Gotta no respect?
    What-a you t'ink you do, why you look-a so sad?
    It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place
    Ah shaddap-a you face!
    That's-a my mama!

    Hello everybody!
    'At's out-a dere in-a radio and-a T.V. land
    Did you know I had a big-a hit-a song in-a Italy with-a dis?
    Shaddap-a you face, I sing-a dis-a song, all-a my fans applaud, Dey clap-a da hands
    Dat-a make me feel-a so good
    You ought to learn-a dis-a song, it's-a real-a simple
    See, I sing "what's-a matter you?", you sing "hey!"
    Den I sing-a da rest and den at de end we can all-a sing
    Ah, Shaddap-a you face!
    Okay, let's-a try it, really big
    Uno, due, tre, quattro!

    What's-a matter you? (Hey!) Gotta no respect? (Hey!)
    What-a you t'ink you do (Hey!) why you look-a so sad? (Hey!)
    It's-a not so bad (Hey!) it's-a nice-a place
    Ah shaddap-a you face!

    That's great, we gonna do it better this time!
    What's-a matter you? (Hey!) Gotta no respect? (Hey!)
    What-a you t'ink you do (Hey!) why you look-a so sad? (Hey!)
    It's-a not so bad (Hey!) it's-a nice-a place
    Ah shaddap-a you face!

    Okay, one time for mama, everybody!
    What's-a matter you? (Hey!) Gotta no respect? (Hey!)
    What-a you t'ink you do (Hey!) why you look-a so sad? (Hey!)
    It's-a not so bad (Hey!) it's-a nice-a place
    Ah, shaddap-a you face! Writer/s: JOSEPH DOLCE, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER
    Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Tom from Florida, UsaMy NYC-Italian boyfriend in '88 loved this song, certainly "whatsamatta you" (tho he could've also got it from Bullwinkle or that one Bugs Bunny/Taz cartoon); he always said much livelier than the song, however. :) (3/30/21)
  • Chicken Joe from Cairns, AustraliaI knew Joe Dulce when we grew up in the back blocks of Brunswick. His mother used to used to call out to him: "Hey Joe. Don't forget your lunch." He used to say aghhhh mum. Shaddup a ya your face! That's a true story! Guido pollo.
  • Mike from Boston, MaIt was rumored that this was the one song that DJ's
    "hated" to play at the time. I do not know why at all.
  • Eugene from Minneapolis, MnThis song got as high as #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 and it was his one and only appearance on that chart.
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesAnnabelle: yes, "Shaddup-a you face" is "Shut up your face." Chico Marx popularized this corny pseudo-Italian way of speaking in the 1920s. Try going to an Old Time Radio website and listening to episodes of "Life with Luigi".
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrI wonder if the title is a play on the words, "Shut Up Your Face"? Maybe some guy said "Shut Up" to someone, and that someone probably misheard the words "Shut Up" as "Shaddup".
  • Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaIf you have the 45 of this, play the flip side. It's a mindless little ditty, 'Aint in no hurry', and in the middle of it all he starts going on "hey folks, this is the big B side of the record". It's hilarious.
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiaa while ago it was the anniversary of that particular song here in Australia....a few of my radio announcer buddies , tried to contact Joe for an interview .... no problem but he wanted a fee.... bit rich...... it was a one hit wonder...obviously needed the cash.......
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

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.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.