There'll Be a Jubilee
Dinah Washington & Hal Mooney And His Orchestra Lyrics


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Ask me how do I feel
Ask me now that we're cozy and clinging
Well sir, all I can say, is if I were a bell I'd be ringing!

From the moment we kissed tonight
That's the way I've just gotta behave
Boy, if I were a lamp I'd light
And If I were a banner I'd wave!

Ask me how do I feel, little me with my quiet upbringing
Well sir, all I can say is if I were a gate I'd be swinging!
And if I were a watch I'd start popping my springs!
Or if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!

Ask me how do I feel from this chemistry lesson I'm learning.
Well sir, all I can say is if I were a bridge I'd be burning!

Well, I knew my moral would crack
From the wonderful way that you looked!
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack!
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!

Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we're fondly caressing
Well, if I were a salad I know I'd be splashing my dressing

Ask me how to describe this whole beautiful thing
Well, if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "There'll Be a Jubilee" by Dinah Washington and Hal Mooney And His Orchestra are playful and full of euphoric excitement about being in love. The song primarily expresses the singer's enthusiastic emotions and compares their feelings to various objects and actions.


In the first paragraph, the singer declares that if they were a bell, they would be ringing, representing the joy and happiness they are experiencing. The act of ringing symbolizes the celebratory nature of their emotions. They are asked how they feel, especially now that they are in a cozy and intimate relationship.


The second paragraph continues with the theme of expressing intense emotions. The singer describes how they must behave a certain way since the moment they kissed. It suggests that their feelings are so overwhelming that they cannot contain them. They use the imagery of a lamp and a banner to demonstrate how they would radiate and proudly display their love if they were those objects.


Moving on to the third paragraph, the singer is asked once again how they feel. They mention their quiet upbringing, implying that they may not have been accustomed to such exuberant emotions before. Despite this, they proclaim that if they were a gate, they would be swinging, showcasing their newfound freedom and enthusiasm. Furthermore, they mention that if they were a watch, they would start popping their springs, indicating that they are bursting with excitement.


The final paragraph describes the singer's experience of love as a chemistry lesson they are learning. They declare that if they were a bridge, they would be burning, suggesting that they are willing to let go of their inhibitions and indulge in the passionate experience. The next few lines mention the singer's realization that their moral values might be compromised due to how captivating their love interest is. They use the analogy of a duck quacking or a goose being cooked to accentuate their vulnerability.


The song concludes with the singer being asked once again how they feel. They respond by saying that if they were a salad, they would be splashing their dressing, signifying that they are fully immersed in this beautiful experience of love. Finally, they express that if they were a bell, they would go "ding dong, ding dong ding," implying that their emotions would resonate with enthusiasm and joy.


Overall, the lyrics of "There'll Be a Jubilee" depict the singer's overwhelming elation and eagerness in experiencing love, using playful and imaginative comparisons to express the intensity of their emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

Ask me how do I feel
Inquire about my emotions or state of being


Ask me now that we're cozy and clinging
Inquire about my feelings in this comfortable and affectionate situation


Well sir, all I can say, is if I were a bell I'd be ringing!
My joy and excitement would be so great that I'd metaphorically ring like a bell


From the moment we kissed tonight
Since the very moment we embraced in a kiss this evening


That's the way I've just gotta behave
That's simply how I must continue to act


Boy, if I were a lamp I'd light
If I were an object, I would illuminate brightly


And If I were a banner I'd wave!
And if I were an object, I would flutter and wave proudly


Ask me how do I feel, little me with my quiet upbringing
Inquire about my emotions as a person who had a calm and sheltered upbringing


Well sir, all I can say is if I were a gate I'd be swinging!
Even though I may be reserved, I would metaphorically embrace excitement like a swinging gate


And if I were a watch I'd start popping my springs!
And if I were an object, I would become so overwhelmed that my internal springs would burst


Or if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!
Or if I were an object, I would joyfully chime and make a sound like 'ding dong, ding dong ding'


Ask me how do I feel from this chemistry lesson I'm learning.
Inquire about my emotions resulting from the chemistry between us that I am experiencing and learning


Well sir, all I can say is if I were a bridge I'd be burning!
My passion and desire would be so intense that I'd metaphorically burn like a bridge


Well, I knew my moral would crack
I anticipated that my principles or morals would weaken


From the wonderful way that you looked!
Because of the fantastic appearance or charm that you possess


Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack!
If I were an object, I would make a sound like a quacking duck to express my delight


Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!
Or if I were an object, I would be in trouble or doomed like a cooked goose


Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we're fondly caressing
Inquire about my emotions at this moment of tenderly touching each other


Well, if I were a salad I know I'd be splashing my dressing
I am so enraptured that if I were an object like a salad, I would eagerly splash my dressing


Ask me how to describe this whole beautiful thing
Inquire about how to articulate or depict this entire beautiful experience


Well, if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!
Well, if I were an object, I would ecstatically chime and make a sound like 'ding dong, ding dong ding'




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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