Mambo Italiano
Bette Midler Lyrics

A boy went back to Napoli
A young man returned to his hometown, Napoli, in Italy.

Because he missed the scenery
He returned because he missed the views or the beauty of the place.

The native dances and the charming songs
He was fascinated by the local dances and the melodious songs which the natives used to perform.

But wait a minute, something's wrong
However, something was not quite right; something was amiss or not working out well.

Now it's hey, mambo, mambo italiano
He then heard a new song, which said 'Mambo, Mambo Italiano', and he was happy and excited.

Hey, mambo, mambo italiano
The song, 'Mambo, Mambo Italiano' was catchy and popular, so much so that it became the popular jingle.

Go, go, Joe you mixed up siciliano
The song's lyrics teased one Joe by calling him 'mixed up Siciliano' as he could not keep up with the dance steps.

All you calabrese do the mambo like a crazy and-
The people from Calabria could perform this dance crazily and with great ease.

Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
The song advises not to perform tarantella dance but rather to perform the newer and trendier Mambo dance.

Hey mambo, no more a mozzarella
The song advises not to eat any more mozzarella; instead, it asks the listeners to dance and burn some calories.

Hey mambo, mambo italiano
The song's chorus repeats, saying 'Mambo, Mambo Italiano'.

Try an enchilada with the fishy baccalà and then a-
The song lyrically suggests to try out different food combinations, such as having an enchilada with fish baccalà.

Hey cumpa', I love a how you dance a rhumba
The song compliments someone named Cumpa, saying that they dance Rhumba beautifully.

But take-a some advice, paesano
But it then advises that they take some suggestions or advice, paesano (a fellow countryman).

Learn-a how to mambo
It insists that they learn how to perform the Mambo.

If you gonna be a square
This line implies that if you are not up to date with the latest trend, i.e., Mambo dance, then you are a square or a boring person.

You ain't a gonna go nowhere
It means that if you don't know how to dance, you won't be able to enjoy life and travel around.

Go, go, Joe, shake like a Giovanno
The song chants for Joe to dance like Giovanno and shake a leg.

Hello, che si dice, getta happy in the feets-a when you
Here, the song's lyrics say 'Hello, how are you doing? Get happy and dance with your feet when you …'

Mambo italiano
The song concludes on this note where they repeat the name of the dance Mambo Italiano.

Shake-a baby, shake-a 'cause I love-a when you take a-me
This line is a playful and flirtatious way of asking someone to dance and shake to the tune of the Mambo.

And-a hey jadrool you don't-a have to go to school
This line says that even though you are not attending school or holding a degree, learning and performing the Mambo is equally essential.

Just make-a with the beat bambino
It suggests that listening and staying in rhythm with the beat is important while performing Mambo dance.

It's-a like a vino
The comparision is being drawn between Mambo dance and the taste of wine; both get better with time and practice.

Kid, you good a lookin' but you don't a-know what's cookin' till you
This line says that one might think they look good, but they won't know what they are missing until they learn and dance Mambo.

Hey (hey) Hey (hey) Hey (hey) Hey (hey) Hey (hey) Hey (hey)
This is a part of the chorus signifying their energy and excitement through this catchy tune.

Shake-a baby, shake-a,'cause I love it when you take-a me
The song says that dancing and shaking together while performing Mambo is a fun experience that the singer loves.

By the pizzeria that's where I'm gonna be-a
The song suggests that the singer would probably be at his favorite pizzeria, where he might be having a slice and enjoying some Mambo.

Don't ya tell your mama Mama's gonna tell-a papa
The song lyrically teases and urges listeners not to tell their mom about performing Mambo as it might lead to a warning from their father.

There's-a nothin' to it
It says that Mambo dance is a fun and easy thing to do.

Come on baby let's-a do it
Finally, the singer urges everyone to join and take part in the joy of performing Mambo dance.

Do the mambo
The song ends by repeating the same line and urging everyone to learn and enjoy the Mambo dance.