Hey Now Hey Now
Cab Calloway Lyrics


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Hey now, hey now

I was walkin' up the street, actin' big and bold
But deep down in my pockets I had no gold
Was lookin' kinda sad when, before my eyes
Was a million-dollar bill that must've fell out the skies

I said hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)

I took this million dolars and looked for more
Got halfway up the dock, and I took it real real slow
And much to my surprise I was knocked right out
When I met a little chick who knew what life was all about

I said hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)

Hey now, hey now
Hey now, hey now

I've got the things that I want, plus a great big car (hey now, hey now)
And every day I'm getting more pop-u-lar (hey now, hey now)
So use these magic words that can see you through (hey now, hey now)
When you ain't got no gold, and don't know what to do (hey now, hey now)

Say hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)




Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, well, hey now)
He-e-e-e-ey now

Overall Meaning

The song "Hey Now Hey Now" by Cab Calloway tells a story of luck and prosperity. The singer is walking up the street with a big ego but no money in his pockets when, to his surprise, he finds a million-dollar bill that fell out of the skies. He takes it, continues to seek his fortune, discovers a lady who knows how to live life and, ultimately, becomes wealthy and popular.


The song seems to be a representation of the American Dream, where anyone can improve their lives and achieve success with some luck and hard work. The lyrics convey a sense of happiness and triumph, the feeling of being on top of the world, and the celebration of one's good fortune. The catchy tune and rhythm add to the overall mood of the song, making it enjoyable to dance and sing along to.


Overall, "Hey Now Hey Now" is an upbeat and optimistic song that encourages listeners to believe that things will work out in the end. It is a reminder that with a little bit of luck and determination, anything is possible.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey now, hey now
An energetic and enthusiastic greeting to grab the listener's attention.


I was walkin' up the street, actin' big and bold
I was taking confident strides towards my destination to show my purpose and determination.


But deep down in my pockets I had no gold
Even though I projected a confident image, I did not have enough money to support my lifestyle.


Was lookin' kinda sad when, before my eyes
I was feeling down in the dumps when I saw something extraordinary appear unexpectedly.


Was a million-dollar bill that must've fell out the skies
A metaphorical way of describing a sudden and unexpected windfall of good fortune.


I took this million dollars and looked for more
I took advantage of this sudden wealth to seek out more opportunities and increase my net worth.


Got halfway up the dock, and I took it real real slow
I proceeded with caution and deliberation, not wanting to squander my newfound wealth by making hasty decisions.


And much to my surprise I was knocked right out
I was caught off guard by an unexpected turn of events, likely pertaining to a romantic encounter.


When I met a little chick who knew what life was all about
I encountered a woman who had a deep understanding of life and how to live it.


I've got the things that I want, plus a great big car (hey now, hey now)
I now possess material wealth that allows me to enjoy the luxuries of life.


And every day I'm getting more pop-u-lar (hey now, hey now)
My newfound wealth and success are making me more famous and well-liked.


So use these magic words that can see you through (hey now, hey now)
I am now imparting my newfound wisdom to others, advising them to use certain phrases to attract good fortune and overcome adversity.


When you ain't got no gold, and don't know what to do (hey now, hey now)
These phrases are particularly useful for those who are struggling financially and need guidance on how to deal with their situation.


Say hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
A repetition of the catchphrase, meant to reinforce its importance and memorability.


Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, well, hey now)
A musical interlude that builds on the previous verses, maintaining the song's upbeat and optimistic tone.


He-e-e-e-ey now
The final emphasis on the catchphrase, signalling the end of the song and leaving a lasting impression on the listener.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cab Calloway, Elton Hill

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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