Harry Nilsson’s 1972 novelty hit “Coconut” from his album Nilsson Schmilsson is one of the strangest earworms to come out of the early ’70s. On the surface, it’s a goofy, repetitive song about mixing lime with coconut milk. But the song’s meaning might go deeper than it first appears.
Below is a breakdown of what’s going on in “Coconut” and what the lyrics might be saying.
“Coconut” Lyrics Meaning: Line by Line
Setting Up a Strange Remedy
Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
His sister had another one, she paid it for a lime
This opens with a simple setup: the brother buys a coconut and his sister gets a lime.
It’s an almost nursery rhyme-like way to begin, but it introduces the two key ingredients in the strange drink that’s coming next.
The everyday details feel harmless at first, but they’re laying the groundwork for something offbeat and possibly symbolic.
The Recipe and the Call
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ’em both up
She put the lime in the coconut, she called the doctor
Here, we see the famous mix: lime and coconut.
This could be literally someone mixing lime juice with coconut water or milk as a home cure. But it might also be code.
The drink could be a metaphor for some kind of substance mix, especially in the context of the 1970s counterculture, where strange drink combinations often implied alcohol or drugs.
Once she drinks it, she doesn’t feel well and calls the doctor, starting the real action of the song.
Seeking Relief
Woke him up and said, “Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take
I say, doctor, to relieve this bellyache?
She wakes the doctor up in the middle of the night, desperate for a fix.
This scene is comedic but also tells us something about how people want instant answers and relief, especially when hungover or coming down from a bad reaction.
Her bellyache could be literal or a stand-in for any kind of sickness from overindulgence.
Now let me get this straight
You put the lime in the coconut, you drank ’em both up
The doctor repeats her actions back to her, possibly to confirm what she did, or to point out how ridiculous it was.
There’s a mocking tone here, like he’s saying he can’t believe that’s what they thought would help. Or maybe he’s just confused someone would mix those two things at all, whether they planned to drink it, eat it, or use it for something else. Either way, the reaction feels like disbelief at a choice that doesn’t make much sense.
It might be calling out how people throw odd things together hoping for some kind of effect, whether it’s relief, fun, or a high.
Repeating the Cure
You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em both together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better
Now the doctor tells her to drink the same thing again.
This feels like sarcasm. It might be a joke about bad medical advice or the kind of vague, recycled health tips people pass around.
Or it could be referencing the idea of “hair of the dog,” the belief that more of what made you sick might cure you. That’s often used in drinking culture.
Put the lime in the coconut, drink ’em both up
Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the morning
The doctor’s advice is classic and dismissive: drink up and call me in the morning.
This phrase is famously used when doctors don’t have real answers, especially for things like hangovers or self-inflicted sickness.
The fact that he just repeats the original “remedy” adds to the humor and the absurdity.
One Last Joke
Yes, you call me in the morning
If you call me in the morning, I’ll tell you what to do
This ending just doubles down on the same message. He’ll give advice, but only after she waits it out. There’s no actual solution, just a loop of the same vague answer.
It plays like a wink to the audience, acknowledging how circular and useless some advice can be, especially when people want a magic fix for something that doesn’t have one.
“Coconut” Song Meaning: Absurd Remedies and Maybe More
On the surface, “Coconut” is just a funny story built on nonsense lyrics. But underneath the silly repetition is a jab at something real: the way people look for fast cures, whether it’s a hangover, stomachache, or emotional crash after a wild night.
The lime and coconut mix might be a fake cure, or a metaphor for something else, like combining alcohol, tropical drinks, or even drugs. The fact that the doctor doesn’t really help and keeps repeating her actions back to her adds to the satire. He’s not offering a solution. He’s just pointing out how absurd the situation is.
“Coconut” could also be poking fun at over-the-phone medical care or people waking up the next day regretting what they did the night before and expecting someone else to fix it.
Songs Like “Coconut”
If you like the playful weirdness or the subtle edge under silly lyrics, here are a few more songs in the same spirit:
1. “Dinner Bell” by They Might Be Giants
“Dinner Bell” mixes strange phrases and food imagery in a way that sounds goofy but hides a deeper commentary about obsession and routine.
2. “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
“White Rabbit” uses surreal, fairy tale-like lyrics to talk about drug use and peer pressure, much like “Coconut” hides its meaning behind odd visuals.
Related: “White Rabbit” Lyrics Meaning
3. “Puff, the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary
“Puff, the Magic Dragon” is a gentle-sounding tune about a dragon is often interpreted as a metaphor for lost innocence or even drug use, depending on how you read it.
Related: What is “Puff, the Magic Dragon” About?
4. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles
“Yellow Submarine” tells a nonsense story full of color and sound, but there’s debate over whether it’s just for fun or has deeper psychedelic meanings.
Related: “Yellow Submarine” Song Meaning
5. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” sounds light and carefree, but it plays with identity and absurd language in a way that keeps you guessing about what’s really going on.
Conclusion: A Cure That Isn’t One
“Coconut” might be one of the strangest songs to hit the charts, but that’s part of its charm. It’s catchy and weird, but also makes a point about how people deal with discomfort, especially when they cause it themselves.
Whether it’s a dig at bad medical advice, a joke about hangovers, or a code for mixing substances, the song shows how we sometimes reach for odd fixes without understanding the problem. That’s the joke, and maybe the warning too.
You can listen to “Coconut” on Spotify and Amazon.
Check out more of our 1970s Song Meanings!