Coconut by Nilsson Lyrics Meaning – Squeezing Out the Significance of a Cult Classic
Lyrics
His sister had another one she paid it for the lime
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ’em bot’ up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ’em bot’ up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ’em bot’ up
She put the lime in the coconut, she call the doctor, woke ‘I’m up
And said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?”
I said “doctor, to relieve this belly ache”
I said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?”
I said “doctor, to relieve this belly ache”
Now lemme get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut, you drank ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank ’em bot’up
Put the lime in the coconut, you call your doctor, woke ‘I’m up
Said “doctor, ain’t there nothing’ I can take?”
I said, “doctor, to relieve this belly ache”
I said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?’
I said, “doctor, to relieve this belly ache”
You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ together
Put the lime in the coconut and you’ll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning”
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Woo-oo-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
His sister had another one she paid it for a lime
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ’em bot’ up
She put the lime in the coconut, she called the doctor, woke ‘I’m up
And said, “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?’
I said, “doctor, to relieve this belly ache”
I said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?”
I said, “doctor, now lemme get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut, you’re such a silly woman
Put a lime in the coconut and drink ’em bot’ together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you’ll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink ’em both down
Put the lime in your coconut, and call me in the morning
Woo, ain’t there nothin’ you can take?
I say, woo, to relieve your belly ache
You say, well woo, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?
I say woo, woo, to relieve your belly ache
You say ya, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?
I say wow, to relieve this belly ache
I said “doctor, ain’t there nothing I can take?”
I said, “doctor, ain’t there nothing I can take?”
I said, “doctor, ain’t there nothing I can take?”
I said, “doctor you’re such a silly woman”
Put the lime in the coconut and drink ’em both together
Put the lime in the coconut, and you’ll feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink ’em bot’ up
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning
Yes, you call me in the morning, you call me in the morning
I’ll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I’ll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I’ll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning
I’ll tell you what to do and if you call me in the morning
I’ll tell you what to do
A whimsical tune that seems to twirl through the ear canals with the ease of an island breeze, ‘Coconut’ by Harry Nilsson is more than just a concoction of catchy notes and nonsensical words. This seemingly simple song hides layers of meaning under its playful exterior, much like the fibrous husk concealing the milk and meat inside an actual coconut.
Peeling back the layers, one discovers that ‘Coconut’ is a song rich with metaphor, poking fun at human nature while also serving as a satirical take on quick fixes and easy solutions. Let’s unravel the enigma behind Harry Nilsson’s quirky hit and explore what makes it a timeless piece in the world of music.
The Sweet Symphony of Silliness – A Closer Look at ‘Coconut’
On the surface, ‘Coconut’ rides the wave of absurdity, interweaving brother, sister, and lime with the swig from a tropical drink. It, however, subtly mocks the folly of over-complication – an elegy to our tendency to overlook simple solutions for manufactured troubles. The refrain, looping over the same cheerfully eccentric tune, becomes a mantra too delightful to escape.
Nilsson’s songwriting genius is masterful at juxtaposition. Here, he pairs the trivial action of mixing lime with coconut with the urgent call to a doctor, stressing the contrast between the lightness of life’s pleasures and our often heavy-handed response to minor discomforts.
Echoing the Absurdity of Quick Remedies and Unwanted Advice
‘Coconut’ spins a yarn about the quest for instant relief, embodying our desperate reaches for cure-alls. The repetitive verses hammer in our relentless search for a panacea, while the doctor’s lines—echoing the advice to put the lime in the coconut—mirror the cyclical nature of self-perpetuating remedies and our eagerness to cling to them.
Behind the sing-along chorus lies a satirical jab at society’s tendency to offer unsolicited advice that often loops back to where the problem started—an endless cycle Nilsson illustrates with vocal harmonies and deceptively simple lyricism.
The Underbelly of a Bellyache – The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Under its veneer of tropical whimsy, ‘Coconut’ is a vortex drawing in broader themes—the absurdity of overthinking, the frivolity of self-diagnosis, and the comical side of human error. Nilsson’s bellyache symbol is not just a temporary discomfort; it’s a metaphor for the unnecessary complications we burden ourselves with.
Through the caricatured phone call to the doctor—who is probably as perplexed as the listener—Nilsson mocks our tendency to look outside ourselves for answers to problems we create. This mirrors life’s ironies, where the simplest pleasures, like drinking coconut water with lime, can become knotted in the yarn of human complication.
Memorable Lines That Stick Like Coconut Fibers
‘You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ together,’ begins the most recognizable line of the tune, etching itself into the listener’s consciousness not just through repetition, but through its evocative imagery. Nilsson’s use of Caribbean vernacular styles the song as a cultural artifact while also reflecting the globalization of the ’70s.
These lines don’t just linger because they’re amusing; they embody the heart of the song—a carefree solution to a perceived problem. Like the best of poetry, they collapse a universe of meaning into a few catchy phrases, commanding us to appreciate the little funkiness that life offers.
The Historical Footprint and Legacy of Nilsson’s ‘Coconut’
While history might peg ‘Coconut’ as a one-hit oddball, Nilsson’s song extends its branches much further. Released in 1971, the tune intersects a cultural zeitgeist that ranged from the embrace of the hippie movement’s naturalism to the commercialization of exotic tastes.
The song inspired countless covers and popped up in movies, showing its enduring appeal. Its application in media is a testament to its infectious nature, and its ability to narrate a story—a narrative of simplicity tangled in human overreaction—makes it a relic that refuses to be relegated to the past.
