Willie and the Hand Jive

About Willie and the Hand Jive

"Willie and the Hand Jive" is a song written by Johnny Otis and originally released as a single in 1958 by Johnny Otis, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song has a Bo Diddley beat and was partly inspired by the music sung by a chain gang Otis heard while he was touring. The lyrics are about a man who became famous for doing a dance with his hands, but the song has been accused of glorifying masturbation, though Otis has always denied it. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Strangeloves, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard, Kim Carnes, George Thorogood and The Grateful Dead. Clapton's 1974 version was also released as a single and also reached the Billboard Top 40, peaking at #26. Thorogood's 1985 version reached #25 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. more »

Year:

1998

2:37

181 Views

Playlists:

#2

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I know his cat named Way-out Willie
He's got a groovy little chick named Rocking Lily
Yeah, rock and rolling Suzie Q
Do that crazy old hand jive, too

Mama, mama, look at sister Flo
Doing that hand jive with uncle Joe
When I gave little sister a dime
Said, "Do that hand jive one more time"

Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Do that crazy hand jive

A doctor, a lawyer and an Indian Chief
They all dig that Diddley beat
Way-out Willie gave them all a treat
When he did that hand jive with his feet

Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Do that crazy hand jive

Papa told Willie, "You'll ruin my home
You and that hand jive have got to go"
Willie told papa, "Don't you put me down
They're doing that hand jive all around town"

Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Do that crazy hand jive

Willie and Lily got married last fall
They had a little Willie Junior but that ain't all
Well, the baby got famous in his crib, you see
When he did that hand jive on MTV

Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Do that crazy hand jive
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive
Do that crazy hand jive

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE (born Harry Rodger Webb, 14 October 1940, Lucknow, India) is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist. He is the third biggest selling singles artist of all time in the United Kingdom, with total sales of over 21 million in the UK and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide. more »

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