Helen Kane's first performance at the Paramount Theater in Times Square proved to be her defining moment and career's launching point. Kane was singing the popular song “That’s My Weakness Now,” when she interpolated the scat lyrics “boop-boop-be-doop.” The rather odd gamble paid off, and four days later, Helen Kane’s name went up in lights. Overnight, the world changed for Helen. Kane’s agent Harry Besney got her $5,500 a week in Oscar Hammerstein’s show “Good Boy” (where she introduced her hit, “I Want to Be Loved By You”). From there it was back to the Palace, but this time as a headliner for $5000 a week.
In mid-1929, Paramount Pictures signed Helen to make a series of musicals. Her first of three 1929 films was "Nothing But the Truth", a comedy starring Richard Dix. From there Kane went into a college musical, "Sweetie", which starred Nancy Carroll and Stanley Smith. "Paramount on Parade", "Dangerous Nan McGrew", and "Heads Up!" were her last films.
In 1932, she filed an unsuccessful $250,000 suit against Paramount and Max Fleischer, charging unfair competition and wrongful appropriation in the Betty Boop cartoons. The trial opened in April 1934 with Helen Kane and Betty Boop films being screened by Judge McGoldrick (no jury was called). Betty Boop voice-over talent Mae Questel, Margy Hines and Bonnie Poe were brought in to testify. McGoldrick ruled against Helen in 1934, claiming that Kane's testimony could not prove that her singing style was unique or not an imitation itself.
Dangerous Nan McGrew
Helen Kane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Boop-oop Poop-oop-a-doop.
Tootin', shootin', high-falutin',
I make you loop the loop.
I'm from the great North West.
I'm dif'rent from the rest.
Stand up, stand up, throw your hands up,
Oh, I've been a bad girl all my life.
I pick my teeth with a carving knife,
And I make a widow of a wife.
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, I slapped Jack Dempsey in the face
And I make barbed wire look like lace
And I throw myself right out of place
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
And I eat dynamite
And I blow up in spite
I shoot everything in sight
Beware! Boom boom! Take Care! Poo poo!
With one breath, I sink a boat
And if anybody gets my goat
I cut myself a piece of throat
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, bullets, they bounce right off my chest
And I sleep on a hornet's nest
Why, I'm the gal sends show men west
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, lions tremble when I frown
When that great big Zeppelin came to town,
Remember? I'm the one that held it down
Because I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
I like destroying pelf
I shoot bottles off the shelf
I'm so bad I scare myself.
Take care! Boom boom! Beware! Poo poo!
Why, I pull a train right off the tracks
And for perfume, I use shellac
When mad dogs bite, I bite 'em back
Grrrr! 'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew!
The lyrics of Helen Kane's "Dangerous Nan McGrew" portray an assertive and fearless woman who defies conventions in society. The opening lines, "Hotcha, Chacha, Vo-doe-de-oh, And Boop-oop Poop-oop-a-doop," suggest a playful and energetic character. Nan McGrew is different from others, and she owns it. She puts on a confident display and boasts about her abilities that exceed the norm, such as shooting off vests and pants. The lyrics also reveal that Nan has a streak of violence in her, as she describes herself as a bad girl who has been picking her teeth with a carving knife and making widows out of wives.
The second verse tells of Nan's feats, including slapping boxing legend Jack Dempsey, making barbed wire look like lace, and sinking a boat with one breath. She also has no problem cutting someone's throat if they get in her way. The lyrics suggest that Nan is indifferent to danger as she eats dynamite, blows up things in spite, and shoots everything in sight. She's portrayed as a rebel who does whatever she wants without regard for others. The chorus repeats her name and emphasizes her dangerous nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Hotcha, Chacha, Vo-doe-de-oh,
And Boop-oop Poop-oop-a-doop.
I make fun sounds and sing silly words.
Tootin', shootin', high-falutin',
I make you loop the loop.
I do exciting things that amaze you.
I'm from the great North West.
I'm dif'rent from the rest.
Stand up, stand up, throw your hands up,
I shoot pants and vest.
I'm unique and bold from the Northwest, and I can shoot anything including pants and vest.
Oh, I've been a bad girl all my life.
I pick my teeth with a carving knife,
And I make a widow of a wife.
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
I've been naughty and violent my whole life, and I even harm married women. My name is dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, I slapped Jack Dempsey in the face
And I make barbed wire look like lace
And I throw myself right out of place
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
I'm fearless and tough. I can hit a boxing legend, make barbed wire look fragile, and throw myself out of place. That's why I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
And I eat dynamite
And I blow up in spite
I shoot everything in sight
Beware! Boom boom! Take Care! Poo poo!
I'm a wild woman who eats dynamite and blows things up. I shoot everything in sight, so watch out! Beware of my fierce nature!
With one breath, I sink a boat
And if anybody gets my goat
I cut myself a piece of throat
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
I'm so powerful that with just one breath, I can sink a boat. I'm also so violent that I can even cut someone's throat who irritates me. That's why they call me dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, bullets, they bounce right off my chest
And I sleep on a hornet's nest
Why, I'm the gal sends show men west
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
I'm invincible. Bullets cannot hurt me, and I even sleep on a hornet's nest. I'm the type of woman who sends cowboys out West. So they call me dangerous Nan McGrew.
Why, lions tremble when I frown
When that great big Zeppelin came to town,
Remember? I'm the one that held it down
Because I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.
When I'm angry, even wild animals like lions tremble. Once, when a big Zeppelin came to town, I was the only one brave enough to hold it down. That's why my name is dangerous Nan McGrew.
I like destroying pelf
I shoot bottles off the shelf
I'm so bad I scare myself.
Take care! Boom boom! Beware! Poo poo!
I love destroying things and shooting bottles. I'm so wicked that even I scare myself. So beware of me, dangerous Nan McGrew!
Why, I pull a train right off the tracks
And for perfume, I use shellac
When mad dogs bite, I bite 'em back
Grrrr! 'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew!
I'm so strong that I can pull a train off the tracks. Even my perfume is strange, made with shellac. And when I'm bitten by mad dogs, I bite them back. That's why I'm dangerous Nan McGrew!
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
O w O
She was so amazing... Shame for her to go
paulj0557
AHHHH! What happened to the film footage of Helen Kane doing this song?? It's Dec. 2018
Spartakus Goulash
@quimpet It's almost December 2021 and I still can't find it
quimpet
My thoughts exactly☹️. I remember watching that footage in the early days of youtube.
seth szajek
It's Dec. 2019 and that film footage is still nowhere to be found.
Varavaken
Sounds like Betty Boop!
StrawB0ss
No, Betty Boop sounds like her.
Marisabel Stanziola
Varavaken 😂😂
The Jewel Riders Archive
I’m trying to find the cartoon that features Helen singing this song. Do you know what the episode is titled? I can only find the early version before “Betty” had the iconic voice.
roybo1930
This Is My Favorit Kane Recording. Varavaken- She"HELEN KANE " Is The Singer They Got Betty Boop From. jazzgirl1920s I`m I Wrong In Saying That Kane Used Poop,Poop A Doop! Instead Of Boop, Boop A Doop! Like Betty Boop? Most People Today Say She (Kane) Is Saying The Later,But I Always Herd It As Poop, Poop A Doop. Loved The Video By The Way Thanks For Posting. & Putting Up With Such A Strange Question.