The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Here's some news that'll get you
It's made to order for you
I just bet it's-a suit you
Follow up these red-hot blues
Grab a taxi and go down
Chinatown's on a spree
Let me give you the low-down
This is really history
Whenever folks in Chinatown start acting gay
There's something in the air that makes them feel that way
Yeah, man, I heard somebody say
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
Old Smoky Joe's so happy he can hardly wait
He's spent a million dollars for his wedding date
Yeah, man, they're gonna celebrate
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
You better come on down (you better come on down)
Way down in Chinatown (way down in Chinatown)
Oh, let me take you down (oh, let me take you down)
To see them kick the gong around
A million cokies shouting, "hay-de-hay-de-hay"
The king of Sweden's gonna give the bride away
Yeah, man, I heard somebody say
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
The king and queen of every nation
Were glad to get an invitation
The prince of Wales said he would get away
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
(For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day)
They said a hundred thousand hoppies
Went over to China picking poppies
They're gonna put them all in one bouquet
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
(For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day)
Hi-de-hi-de-hi (hi-de-hi-de-hi)
Ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho (ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho)
Hay-de-hay-de-hay (hay-de-hay-de-hay)
Oh, it's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
Yeah, man, why, what's that them boys say?
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
It's made to order for you
I just bet it's-a suit you
Follow up these red-hot blues
Grab a taxi and go down
Chinatown's on a spree
Let me give you the low-down
This is really history
Whenever folks in Chinatown start acting gay
There's something in the air that makes them feel that way
Yeah, man, I heard somebody say
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
Old Smoky Joe's so happy he can hardly wait
He's spent a million dollars for his wedding date
Yeah, man, they're gonna celebrate
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
You better come on down (you better come on down)
Way down in Chinatown (way down in Chinatown)
Oh, let me take you down (oh, let me take you down)
To see them kick the gong around
A million cokies shouting, "hay-de-hay-de-hay"
The king of Sweden's gonna give the bride away
Yeah, man, I heard somebody say
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
The king and queen of every nation
Were glad to get an invitation
The prince of Wales said he would get away
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
(For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day)
They said a hundred thousand hoppies
Went over to China picking poppies
They're gonna put them all in one bouquet
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
(For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day)
Hi-de-hi-de-hi (hi-de-hi-de-hi)
Ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho (ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho)
Hay-de-hay-de-hay (hay-de-hay-de-hay)
Oh, it's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
Yeah, man, why, what's that them boys say?
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day Lyrics as written by Ted Koehler Harold Arlen
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Missing significant number of verses. Should end like this (after "...a million times" and the "hi de hi" bit after):
Now Min and Smokie, they started jaggin' They got a free ride in a wagon She gave him money to pay her bail But he left her flat in the county jail
Whoooa, yeaaaah Hey de he de he he Whoa Whoa
Poor Min met old Deacon Lowdown He preached to her that she ought to slow down But Minnie wiggled her jelly roll And Deacon Lowdown yelled, "Lord save my soul!"
Hi de hi de hi de hi Ho de ho de ho de ho Skiddley doodley doodly do Skiddly diddly day
They took her where they put the crazies Now poor Min's kicking up those daisies You've heard my story this is her song She was just a good gal, but they done her wrong
Hi de hi de hi de hi Skooby de be do He de he de he de he Whoa, Whoa Whoa
Poor Min, Poor Min, Poor Min.
The meaning for the full version as posted by MinuteWalt:
It's a story about a woman called Minnie. She was a hoochie-coocher, a kind of provocative dancer, and the first verse says that even though she was all rough and tough she was very kind.The guy she was in love with was a coke head, and he took her to Chinatown and taught her how to smoke Opium. She had dreams about a man who could buy her everything she wanted, and she would have so much free time that she could sit around all day and count the piles of money she'd have. Minnie and Smoky started driving around and smoking marijuana, I guess they stole a car and got arrested. Minnie gave him money to pay her bail but he ran off with it and left her in jail. (A rhyme, yay :P)She met a religious man, and he told her to rethink her life. She tried to tempt him with her body. Needless to say, it didn't work. Then she was put into a mental asylum, where she died. Basically the whole song is saying Minnie is a poor girl who got in with the wrong crowd and made some bad decisions, but at heart she was kind, and we should feel sorry for her.
@IchigoAmu <br /> <br /> The line "They got a free ride in a wagon" isn't referring to a stolen car. It's for the slang "Paddy Wagon" meaning a police van. It comes from "Paddy" as a reference to the stereo-type of policemen as being of Irish decent, and the old vans of the 30's and 40's were often panel wagons.
The version I have doesn't have the additional verses. the version I have was also featured in a Betty Boop episode where I think it gained its popularity other than its morbid lyrics it's very fun.