Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Heat wave
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising,
She certainly can can-can
She started a heatwave by letting her seat wave,
In such a way that the customers say
That she certainly can can-can
Gee,gee! Her anatomy makes the mercury rise to 93!
That thermometer proves that she certainly can...
(What's your name honey? Pablo).Certainly can..
(Chico, Miguelito, Pablo, Chico, Miguelito)...oh, can-can.
Pablo, it's saying here in the weather report,
It's saying a fairly warm air is moving in from..(Where?) Jamaica
Moderately high air pressure will cover the NE and.. (where else?)
The Deep South. Small danger of (what?) Fruit frost!
Hot and humid nights can be expected.
Vincent 95, Guadeloupe 97, Santo Domingo 99. Pardon me? 105?
We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave,
The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising,
I certainly can can-can
I started this heatwave in such a way
That the customers say that I certainly can can-can
The man who need makes the mercury rise to 93
We're having a heatwave, a tropical, a tropical heatwave
The way that I move, that thermometer grooves
She certainly certainly certainly can
I certainly, certainly, certainly can can-can
Irving Berlin's song "Heat Wave" was popularized in 1933, and it has since become a classic American tune. The lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek ode to the thrill and excitement of summer heat. The song tells the story of a woman whose seductive dancing and movements cause the temperature to rise. She has started a heat wave by letting her seat wave in such a way that customers cannot resist her.
The song describes the tropical heatwave sweeping through various locations, including Jamaica, Santo Domingo, and Guadeloupe. There's even mention of small dangers of fruit frost, which contrasts with the hot and humid nights. The heat is so intense that it makes the "mercury rise to 93!" The lyrics capture the infectious energy of summer, with its long days and humid nights.
Overall, the song is a lively celebration of the summer season, where the heat can make people feel alive, energized, and even a little reckless. The sultriness of the lyrics draws in the listener, creating a feeling of nostalgia for warmer days.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave
It's currently hot and humid outside
The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising,
The temperature continues to increase, which isn't unexpected
She certainly can can-can
She's a talented dancer
She started a heatwave by letting her seat wave,
Her dancing caused a commotion and added to the heat
In such a way that the customers say
Her dancing was so impressive that patrons commented on it
Gee,gee! Her anatomy makes the mercury rise to 93!
Her attractive figure contributes to the feelings of heat in the room
Having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave, the way that she moves,
Her dancing is adding to the already-hot atmosphere
That thermometer proves that she certainly can...
The thermometer readings confirm that the heat is intense
(What's your name honey? Pablo).Certainly can..
Even someone named Pablo can't resist the heat and the dancing
(Chico, Miguelito, Pablo, Chico, Miguelito)...oh, can-can.
Even with different names, everyone is talking about the dancing
Pablo, it's saying here in the weather report,
Someone named Pablo is reading the weather forecast
It's saying a fairly warm air is moving in from..(Where?) Jamaica
The hot weather is coming from the tropical island of Jamaica
Moderately high air pressure will cover the NE and.. (where else?)
Certain areas will have higher air pressure than others
The Deep South. Small danger of (what?) Fruit frost!
There's a slight possibility that frost could affect fruit growth
Hot and humid nights can be expected.
The heat and humidity will continue through the night
Vincent 95, Guadeloupe 97, Santo Domingo 99. Pardon me? 105?
Various locations are mentioned, each with a hotter temperature than the last
We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave,
The song repeats the main idea again
I started this heatwave in such a way
The singer is responsible for part of the heat, due to their performance
That the customers say that I certainly can can-can
The singing and dancing is impressive enough to be mentioned by customers
The man who need makes the mercury rise to 93
Even a man who doesn't normally feel warm is affected by the heat in the room
I certainly can can-can
The singer wants to emphasize their own dancing abilities in addition to the heat
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind