Peppermint twist pt.1
Joey Dee & The Starlighters Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, they've got a new dance and it goes like this
(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
Yeah, the name of the dance is Peppermint Twist
(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
Well, you like it like this, the Peppermint Twist

It goes round and round, up and down
Round and round, up and down
Round and round and a up and down
And a one, two, three, kick, one, two, three, jump

Well, meet me baby down at 45th street
Where the Peppermint Twisters meet
And you'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist

It's alright, all night, it's alright
It's okay, all day, it's okay




You'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
Yeah, yeah, etc

Overall Meaning

The song "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee & The Starlighters is all about a new dance craze called the Peppermint Twist. The lyrics encourage listeners to join in and learn the dance, which involves twisting and jumping to a catchy beat. The song invites everyone to come and meet at 45th street where the "Peppermint Twisters" gather to dance and have a good time.


The repeated lines "It's alright, all night, it's alright" and "It's okay, all day, it's okay" serve to emphasize the carefree and joyful nature of the dance and the sense of community that comes from participating in it. Overall, the song celebrates the power of music and dance to bring people together and create a sense of belonging and fun.


In terms of style, "Peppermint Twist" is a classic example of early rock and roll, with its upbeat tempo, catchy melody, and straightforward lyrics. It became a huge hit upon its release in 1961 and has remained a staple of oldies radio and dance parties ever since.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, they've got a new dance and it goes like this
There is a new dance craze going around and it follows a specific pattern.


(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
The rhythm of the dance is described as 'bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op'.


Yeah, the name of the dance is Peppermint Twist
The specific name of the new dance is Peppermint Twist.


Well, you like it like this, the Peppermint Twist
It's suggested that the listener enjoys this type of dance, specifically the Peppermint Twist.


It goes round and round, up and down
The dance moves involve circular and vertical motions.


Round and round, up and down
This line repeats the previous one to emphasize the dance moves.


Round and round and a up and down
Again, the dance moves are described and emphasized.


And a one, two, three, kick, one, two, three, jump
The dance moves are broken down into specific counts and actions.


Well, meet me baby down at 45th street
The listener is invited to join the singer at a specific location in order to learn the dance.


Where the Peppermint Twisters meet
This location is described as where fans of the Peppermint Twist gather.


And you'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
The listener is promised the opportunity to learn the dance steps for the Peppermint Twist.


It's alright, all night, it's alright
It is suggested that it is acceptable to dance the Peppermint Twist all night long.


It's okay, all day, it's okay
Similarly, it is suggested that dancing the Peppermint Twist throughout the day is acceptable.


You'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
Once again, the listener is told that they can learn how to do the Peppermint Twist dance.


Yeah, yeah, etc
This line emphasizes the upbeat, catchy nature of the song and dance craze.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY GLOVER, JOSEPH DI NICOLA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@joancook8454

I'm sixty eight and still have my cloth hat with peppermint stripes that reads Joey Dee. Good old days! :)

@Grintchish

When I was a teenager, my uncle took me and my sister to the Peppermint lounge to see Joey Dee and the Starliters do this song. We had a great time.

@kjchicago1

Who remembers 1962, Joey Dee, & the Peppermint Twist? They don't make music like this anymore like they used to in the old days.

@mrob75

All the comments about the size of heads and bodies: This is filmed in "kinescope"...Which means that a camera was pointed at a television screen...Remember that this is 1962 and television technology was still evolving. We should be so lucky to have this great footage! Stop being so critical and enjoy the music!

@mrob75

@R4-P17 hello....the "guy" on the left is Joey Dee. Quite simply, not a selective camera but rather the convex on the television screen and the angle the camera pointed to.

@mrob75

@R4-P17 very

@skeeter197140

It's kinda hard when it looks so creepy...

@SSSS-wq4vn

@skeeter197140 😂

@angelclass9814

That does look ridiculous though. Ha!!!😂😂😂😂😂

17 More Replies...

@pops2728

I am 77 years old and live in Essex in England. I had the good fortune to Twist at the Peppermint Twist Lounge in New York in 1962. I was breaking the law because you couldn't drink alcohol in the States until you were 21. I was with my family and we had travelled to Boston to see Terry Downes fight Paul Pender for the Middleweight Title of the World. The Peppermint Twist Lounge was crazy, a very small dance floor but it was packed. The waitresses were twisting on top of the rail that surrounded the dance floor. The atmosphere was fantastic, great memories.

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