Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest
Jerome Patrick Hoban Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
Jerome Patrick Hoban's "Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest/You Never Can Tell" is a classic song that tells a story of a young couple in love, who defy the odds to build a life together. The song begins with a teenage wedding, which the old folks in attendance wished the young couple well. The singer is quick to point out that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle, and the two have rung the chapel bell. The phrase "C'est la vie" is used to suggest that life is unpredictable, and one can never tell what will happen.
The young couple then furnished their apartment with items from a two-room Roebuck sale, including a coolerator filled with TV dinners and ginger ale. The singer notes that when Pierre found work, their finances improved, and they were able to make ends meet. This line is also archetypal, as it suggests that hard work pays off, and success is possible even in difficult situations.
The couple had a hi-fi phono, and they listened to seven hundred records all rock, rhythm, and jazz. However, the singer notes that when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell, and "C'est la vie," says the old folks. This line suggests that one needs to slow down and appreciate life's small moments, as enjoyment is not only about music and constant excitement.
The couple then buys a "souped-up jitney," a 1953 cherry-red car to celebrate their anniversary. They drove down to Orleans, and it was there that Pierre married the lovely mademoiselle. The chorus, with its assertion that "C'est la vie" says the old folks," speaks to the sense of the unexpectedness of life, how interesting and amusing our existence can be. The line provides a moral message about the appreciation of life's small moments and the unpredictability that makes life interesting.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
The couple got married when they were young, and the old folks wished them happiness.
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
It was evident that Pierre loved his wife very much.
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
The newlywed couple rang the bell after their wedding ceremony.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The older generation remarks that life is unpredictable.
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
They furnished their apartment cheaply with furniture from a two-room Roebuck sale.
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
Their fridge was filled with TV dinners and ginger ale.
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
Pierre's income from his new job helped them live comfortably.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The older generation reiterates that life is unpredictable.
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
They had a high-quality sound system and played music loudly.
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
They had a collection of 700 music records, consisting of rock, rhythm, and jazz.
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
As night came, the music became slower-paced.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The older generation comments on the unpredictability of life once again.
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They purchased a customized vehicle, a cherry red '53 jitney.
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
They went to New Orleans to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
Pierre and his wife got married in New Orleans.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The older generation once again reflects on life's unpredictability.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN WILSON, BRIAN DOUGLAS WILSON, MICHAEL LOVE, MICHAEL EDWARD LOVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind