Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going to get my baby back home
I'm going to Kansas City
Going to get my baby back home
Well its a long long time too
My baby's been gone
Ah, Kansas City
I'm going to Kansas City
Going get my baby one time
Its a just a 1-2-3-4,
5-6-7-8-9
Hey hey hey hey
(Hey hey hey hey)
Hey, baby
(Hey, baby)
Ooh now girl
(Yeah, yeah)
I said yeah now, huh
(Girl, girl)
Now now now now tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
Hey hey hey hey
(Hey hey hey hey)
Hey now baby
(Hey baby)
Ooh now girl
(Yeah, yeah)
I said yeah now, huh
(Girl, girl)
Now now now now tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
I said bye
(Bye bye bye bye)
Bye bye baby bye bye
(Bye bye bye bye)
So long
(So long so long)
Bye bye baby I'm gone
(Bye bye bye bye)
I said bye bye baby
Bye, bye, bye, bye
Bye now bye
(Bye bye bye bye)
Bye now baby bye
(Bye bye bye bye)
The song “Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!” was originally written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller for Little Willie Littlefield in 1952, however, the song became widely popular with Billy Hailday who released his version in 1959. The Beatles covered this song on their album “Beatles for Sale” in 1964. The lyrics are sung by both John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The song tells a story about a man who is going to Kansas City to get his baby back home after a long time of being away. The lyrics express the excitement and anticipation of reuniting with his loved one. The singer is counting down the moments until he can hold his baby again, indicating the duration of time he was away. The chorus “Hey hey hey hey” is a call and response between the singers, expressing their excitement for the reunion. In the second half of the song, the lyrics switch to a goodbye theme, the singer bids farewell to his baby in a repetitious pattern.
The song does not have a deep or complex meaning, but it is a joyful and upbeat song that is great to dance to. The simplicity of the lyrics, combined with the catchy melody, makes it a classic rock and roll track.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah Kansas City
Expressing excitement about the destination, Kansas City.
Going to get my baby back home
The singer is traveling to Kansas City to bring his/her lover back to their home.
Well its a long long time too
The singer's lover has been away for a significant amount of time.
My baby's been gone
The singer's lover has been away and missed dearly.
Going to get my baby one time
The singer intends to bring his/her lover back once and for all with the trip to Kansas City.
Its a just a 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8-9
Counting down from 1-9, possibly indicating the singer's impatience to be reunited with his/her lover.
Hey hey hey hey
Opening of the chorus and an expression of joy and excitement.
(Hey hey hey hey)
Repeating the opening of the chorus.
Hey, baby
A term of endearment directed at the singer's lover.
(Hey, baby)
Repeating the term of endearment.
Ooh now girl
Another expression of affection towards the lover.
(Yeah, yeah)
Acknowledging any response from the lover.
I said yeah now, huh
An indication of agreement or encouragement.
(Girl, girl)
Repeating the affectionate term for the lover.
Now now now now tell me baby
Asking the lover to reveal what has been troubling them.
What's been wrong with you
Rephrasing the question posed to the lover.
I said bye
Indicating that the singer must depart from his/her lover.
(Bye bye bye bye)
Repeating the goodbye as the singer departs.
So long
Another way of saying 'goodbye' or 'farewell'.
(So long so long)
Repeating the farewell.
Bye bye baby I'm gone
The singer is now leaving the lover behind, perhaps to travel to Kansas City.
(Bye bye bye bye)
Repeating the goodbye.
Bye now bye
Another way of saying 'goodbye'.
(Bye bye bye bye)
Repeating the goodbye as the singer departs.
Bye now baby bye
Saying goodbye again to the lover.
(Bye bye bye bye)
Repeating the goodbye one last time.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind