Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)

Subject: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair
From: Floydetta
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 12:09 PM

Hi, Gang--I'm looking for lyrics to a song that may be called Praying Mantis Love Affair. To jar memories, the refrain runs something like this:

The female mantis eats her mate, when they're through makin' love
There's nothin' left but fingernails and hair
I want an all consuming love
But let's draw the line somewhere
Cuz' I don't want a praying mantis love affair.

Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 05:00 PM

There is indeed a song called PRAYING MANTIS LOVE AFFAIR. It is performed by Leroy Mack on his album "Smiles and Tears" (2003).

CDBaby has a sample, and so does Leroy Mack's web site.

(I am unable to play any music right now because my son borrowed my speakers!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 12:10 PM

I got my speakers back! I can only add a little:

I want a love that's lasting and not for just a day,
The kind of love the two of us can share.
Though it may not last forever, let's...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 10:07 PM

http://www.myspace.com/video/wood-39-n-39-strings-okanagan-bluegrass-band/praying-mantis-love-affair-feb-2007/7277463

The song is sung there on Myspace by Woods n Strings, Okanagan Bluegrass Band. (I think that would make them Canadian because the Okanogan spelling is in the US.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)
From: pdq
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 11:05 PM

Leroy MacNees was billed as Lee Roy Mack on the Kentucky Cololnels efforts in the mid 1960s.

Like Joe Frasier (Chad Mitchell Trio), Richie Furey (Poco), and Mark Spoelstra, LeRoy Mack became an ordained Prostestant minister.

He is as well-liked as any musician in the California music community and gives the sunrise service on Sunday at the California Bluegrass Association's Fathers Day Bluegrass Festival each June.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRAYING MANTIS LOVE AFFAIR (Leroy Mack)
From: maeve
Date: 16 Sep 12 - 07:18 PM

(As sung by Wood 'n' Strings - Okanagan Bluegrass Band Wood 'n' Strings web page... in BC, Canada.) Transcribed from 999's link:


PRAYING MANTIS LOVE AFFAIR
by Leroy Mack

1. I want a love that's lasting and not for just a day,
The kind of love the two of us can share.
Though it might not last forever, let's try to make it there,
'Cause I don't want a praying mantis love affair.

CHORUS: The female mantis eats her mate when they're through makin' love.
There's nothing left but fingernails and hair.
I want an all consuming love, but let's draw the line somewhere,
'Cause I don't want a praying mantis love affair.

2. I saw it on a nature show last night on my TV,
'Cause I couldn't find the hockey game nowhere.*
When I saw that lady mantis chewing on her boyfriend's leg,
It looked like an old girlfriend over there.*

CHORUS

TAG: Yes, I don't want a praying mantis love affair.


* Another forum had partial lyrics using "football" and "my former wife".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 13 - 02:03 PM

This song was actually written by Paul Shelasky a fiddle player who spent nine years with Lost Highway Bluegrass among many other bands.

* Paul's version is football but Canadians often substitute hockey
* Paul used Ex-wife sitting there.

As best as I recall.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 13 - 02:22 PM

Sorry,

*ex-wife, sitting there, should be, Ex-wife, only better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Praying Mantis Love Affair (Leroy Mack)
From: GUEST,Kate Brislin
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 06:01 PM

Leroy Mack didn't write this song. Paul Shelasky did.