Mambo Italiano

Rosemary Clooney

A girl went back to Napoli
Because she missed the scenery
The native dances and the charming songs
But wait a minute, something's wrong

Hey, mambo, mambo italiano
Hey, mambo, mambo italiano
Go, go, go you mixed up siciliano
All you calabrese do the mambo like a crazy with a-
Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
Hey mambo, no more a mozzarella
Hey mambo, mambo italiano

Try an enchilada with the fishy baccalà and then a-
Hey cumpa', I love a how you dance a rhumba
But take-a some advice, paesano
Learn-a how to mambo
If you gonna be a square
You ain't a gonna go nowhere

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Go, go, Joe, shake like a Giovanno
Hello, che si dice, getta happy in the feets-a when you
Mambo italiano

Shake-a baby, shake-a 'cause I love-a when you take a me

Mama say stop-a or I'm gonna tell papa
And-a hey jadrool you don't-a have to go to school
Just make-a with the beat bambino
It's-a like a vino
Kid, you good a lookin' but you don't a-know what's cookin' till you

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Hey mambo, mambo italiano
Ho, ho, Joe, you mixed up siciliano
It's a so delish-a everybody come, capisci
How to mambo italiano

'Ats nice (uh)


Lyrics submitted by SlyFox

Mambo Italiano Lyrics as written by Bob Merrill

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Mambo Italiano song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    My friend introduced this song to me on a mix she made for me. I love the way she sings this song! The meaning of this song has always confused me though. I can't figure out if its about dancing, food or sex. Maybe a combination of all three...
    SlyFoxon January 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    PK, I also love this song and that is why I "introduced" it to you. I think it could be about dancing and fitting in and she just uses the name of different kinds of food because she is italian? Who really knows, but it is a great song.
    amazon_0505on January 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this song!!!! It was written by Bob Merrill in the 1050s. He wrote it while eating at an Italian restaurant in New York, writing on a paper napkin, and using the wall pay-phone to dictate the melody, rhythm and lyrics to the recording studio pianist, under the aegis of conductor Mitch Miller. Simplicity is the best!
    girl7on July 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I always loved Rosemary's version, but the lyric about the enchilida confuses me. Are there Italian version of Enchiladas I've never heard of or tried?
    james 1118on August 14, 2019   Link

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