… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.
Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.
After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.
Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City
I’m Hip
Blossom Dearie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm alert, I'm awake, I'm aware
I am always on the scene
Makin' the rounds, diggin' the sounds
I read Playboy magazine 'cause I'm hip
I dig, I'm in step
When it was hip to be hep, I was hep
Look at me swing, ring a ding ding
I even call my girlfriend 'Man', I'm so hip
Every Saturday night
With my suit buttoned tight and my suedes on
I'm gettin' my kicks
Watchin' Arty French flicks with my shades on
I'm too much I'm a gas
I am anything but middle class
When I hang around the band
Poppin' my thumbs, diggin' the drums
Squares don't seem to understand
Why I flip, they're not hip like I'm hip
I'm hip, I'm alive
I enjoy any joint where there's jive
I'm on top of every trend
Look at me go vo dee o do
Bobby Darin knows my friend
I'm so hip
I'm hip but not weird
Like you notice, I don't wear a beard
Beards were in but now they're out
They had their day now they're passe
Just ask me if you're in doubt, 'cause I'm hip
Now whatever the fads
And whatever the ads say
It's needs fill
I'll be keeping abreast
Out in front of the rest with elites ville
'Cause I'm cool as a cuke
I'm a cat, I'm a card, I'm a kook, kook
I get so much out of life
Really, I do skoo ba doo boo
One more time play 'Mack the knife'
Let 'er rip, I may flip, but I'm hip
Ooh, I'm hip, ooh, I'm hip
Skoo ba doo boo, doo boo, doo boo
Boo doo boo doo doo doo
In Blossom Dearie's song "I'm Hip," the singer is proclaiming their hipness and trendiness. The song is an upbeat declaration that they are not like the "squares" who do not understand their love for the latest music and fashion trends. The singer speaks about their love for being in the know and doing things that are trendy, even referencing reading Playboy magazine, which was considered risqué and trendy at the time.
The lyrics also mention the singer's love for French movies and enjoying Saturday nights dressed up and having fun. They don't care about being middle-class and "beards," which were in fashion at the time, are now not. The singer asserts that they are up to date with the latest trends and whatever the current "fad" is, they are at the forefront. The song finishes with the singer playfully asking for one more song, emphasizing their hipness with the line "Let 'er rip, I may flip, but I'm hip."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hip, I'm no square
I am not conventional nor outdated
I'm alert, I'm awake, I'm aware
I am attentive and conscious of my surroundings
I am always on the scene
I'm always present at events and always updated
Makin' the rounds, diggin' the sounds
Going around and hearing various musical genres
I read Playboy magazine 'cause I'm hip
I read the popular men's magazine to stay in the know
I dig, I'm in step
I like and understand what's fashionable
When it was hip to be hep, I was hep
I was fashionable and active during the hep era
I don't blow but I'm a fan
I'm not a musician but I'm a music enthusiast
Look at me swing, ring a ding ding
I'm stylish and swaying to the beat
I even call my girlfriend 'Man', I'm so hip
I call my girlfriend a gender-neutral term because it's trendy
Every Saturday night
Regularly every weekend
With my suit buttoned tight and my suedes on
Wearing a neat suit and stylish suede shoes
I'm gettin' my kicks
I'm having fun or enjoying myself
Watchin' Arty French flicks with my shades on
Watching avant-garde films while wearing sunglasses to appear cool
I'm too much I'm a gas
I'm amazing and amusing
I am anything but middle class
I'm not traditional and conforming to normalcy
When I hang around the band
When I'm near the musicians
Poppin' my thumbs, diggin' the drums
Playing with both fingers, and enjoying the sound of drums
Squares don't seem to understand
Conventional people don't seem to comprehend
Why I flip, they're not hip like I'm hip
Why I change my mind, they're not trendy like I am
I'm hip, I'm alive
I'm up to date and living life to the fullest.
I enjoy any joint where there's jive
I enjoy any place where people are having fun and dancing.
I'm on top of every trend
I am up to date with all the latest trends and fashions.
Look at me go vo dee o do
Look at me excitedly going about doing what I love
Bobby Darin knows my friend
the popular musician knows one of my friends
I'm so hip
I'm very trendy and up-to-date
I'm hip but not weird
I'm fashionable but not unusual
Like you notice, I don't wear a beard
I don't follow the fad of wearing beards.
Beards were in but now they're out
Beard wore popular, but now they're not.
They had their day now they're passe
They were faddish but are now irrelevant.
Just ask me if you're in doubt, 'cause I'm hip
Ask me if you're unsure of anything about what's trendy.
Now whatever the fads
Regardless of what's in now
And whatever the ads say
And regardless of what's being advertised
It's needs fill
What we choose to do fills what we need.
I'll be keeping abreast
I'll be informed and aware of what's going on.
Out in front of the rest with elites ville
Stylish and fashionable in the elite circles
I'm cool as a cuke
I'm calm and collected like a cucumber
I'm a cat, I'm a card, I'm a kook, kook
I'm peculiar, and adventurous
I get so much out of life
I get a lot of enjoyment and excitement out of living.
Really, I do skoo ba doo boo
Seriously, that's how I feel and express it
One more time play 'Mack the knife'
I want to hear 'Mack the Knife' once more.
Let 'er rip, I may flip, but I'm hip
Go ahead and enjoy yourself, even if you're unsure, trendy things and lifestyle can intimidate you.
Ooh, I'm hip, ooh, I'm hip
Oh yeah, I'm in touch with trends
Skoo ba doo boo, doo boo, doo boo
That's the way for me to get excited.
Boo doo boo doo doo doo
I'm just going along with the rhythm
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: BOB DOROUGH, DAVE FRISHBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valerieg6061
Lyrics Bob Dorough / Dave Frishberg, great composer and author.
I'm hip, I'm no square
I'm alert, I'm awake, I'm aware
I am always on the scene
Makin' the rounds, diggin' the sounds
I read Playboy magazine 'cause I'm hip
I dig, I'm in step
When it was hip to be hep, I was hep
I don't blow but I'm a fan
Look at me swing, ring a ding ding
I even call my girlfriend 'Man', I'm so hip
Every Saturday night
With my suit buttoned tight and my suedes on
I'm gettin' my kicks
Watchin' Arty French flicks with my shades on
I'm too much I'm a gas
I am anything but middle class
When I hang around the band
Poppin' my thumbs, diggin' the drums
Squares don't seem to understand
Why I flip, they're not hip like I'm hip
I'm hip, I'm alive
I enjoy any joint where there's jive
I'm on top of every trend
Look at me go vo dee o do
Bobby Darin knows my friend
I'm so hip
I'm hip but not weird
Like you notice, I don't wear a beard
Beards were in but now they're out
They had their day now they're passe
Just ask me if you're in doubt, 'cause I'm hip
Now whatever the fads
And whatever the ads say
It's needs fill
I'll be keeping abreast
Out in front of the rest with elites ville
'Cause I'm cool as a cuke
I'm a cat, I'm a card, I'm a kook, kook
I get so much out of life
Really, I do skoo ba doo boo
One more time play 'Mack the knife'
Let 'er rip, I may flip, but I'm hip
Ooh, I'm hip, ooh, I'm hip
Skoo ba doo boo, doo boo, doo boo
Boo doo boo doo doo doo
@jcga30346
I love Blossom Dearie, she was an original and NO one will ever replace her!
@clarkewi
This is a masterpiece. Perfect song, lyrics, voice and attitude. Thanx Blossom!! RIP.
@lamontrussell1524
Wow. The voice. The humor. The perfect pitch. The performance. Perfection in simplicity. She's amazing!!!!!
@vasp99
Her clear , crisp , ringing powerful soulful voice makes Blossom a true classic vocalist . God I love her !
@LuckyClaire
Was at Ronnie Scott's when this was recorded - fabulous times. RIP and bless you Blossom for amazing nights in the 'hippest' place in Soho.
@eternal3321
I wish more people knew who blossom dearie was and were more familiar with her music. Truly amazing sounds and vibe.
@2000rbr
I hope younger generations discover this. A cool song.
@jerrykitich3318
The hip ones will
@haveanepiphany
@@jerrykitich3318well, Im no square, thats for certain.
Though I am not sure I am
young enough😂 but born 21 years after the release.... and I have loved this song for years😁
@peterskeys
They did! ~ Her name is Veronica -> https://youtu.be/vmqKwYdodpk?si=mhz_Rbp3WEUCKNH_