Shaddap You Face
by Joe Dolce

Album: Shaddap You Face (1979)
Charted: 1
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  • '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
    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

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