Havana Affair
Dee Dee Ramone/Joey Ramone/Johnny Ramone/Ramones/Tommy Ramone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to make a living, man
Pickin' the banana
Now I'm a guide for the CIA
Hooray! for the USA
Baby baby make me loco
Baby baby make me mambo
Sent to spy on a Cuban talent show
First stop, Havana go go!
I used to make a living, man
Pickin' the banana
Hooray! For Havana
Baby baby make me loco
Baby baby make me mambo
PT boat on the way to Havana
I used to make a living, man
Pickin' the banana
Now I'm a guide for the CIA
Hooray! for the USA
Baby baby make me loco
Baby baby make me mambo
Sent to spy on a Cuban talent show
First stop, Havana go go!
I used to make a living, man
Pickin' the banana
Hooray! For Havana
Baby baby make me loco
Baby baby make me mambo
The Ramones' "Havana Affair" tells the story of a character who used to make a living picking bananas but is now working as a guide for the CIA, spying on a Cuban talent show in Havana. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and adventure, as the singer travels by PT boat to Havana and is swept up in the rhythms and energy of the city, as expressed in the chorus: "Baby baby make me loco / Baby baby make me mambo."
The song touches on themes of American exceptionalism and Cold War espionage, with the singer working for the US government and celebrating "Hooray! for the USA" in the midst of a tense political climate. At the same time, the song's playful tone and infectious beat suggest a spirit of rebellion and youthful energy that transcends political boundaries.
Overall, "Havana Affair" is a catchy, upbeat song that evokes the cultural exchange and political tensions of the 1960s and 1970s, while also capturing the Ramones' signature punk rock sound and irreverent attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
PT boat on the way to Havana
Heading towards Havana on a US Navy PT boat
I used to make a living, man, pickin' the banana
I used to work on banana farms to make a living
Now I'm a guide for the CIA, Hooray! for the USA
I now work for the CIA as a guide and support the United States
Baby baby make me loco, Baby baby make me mambo
My lover drives me crazy with her dancing skills
Sent to spy on a Cuban talent show, First stop, Havana go go!
I was sent to Cuba to spy on a talent show and Havana was the first stop
Hooray! For Havana
Celebrating my arrival in Havana
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, MoeBeToBlame, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Douglas Colvin, Jeff Hyman, John Cummings, Thomas Erdelyi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind