Doin' The Shout
John Lee Hooker Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey-hey.
Hey-hey.
Yeah-hey.
Hey-hey-hey.
I'm doin' the shout.
I'm gonna do the shout.
I'm gonna do the shout.
I'm-a gonna do the shout.
Got a letter this mornin'.
Got a letter from my baby.
She was on her way.
On her way home.
Say when I get home.
Say with me an my baby.
We gonna do the shout.
Gonna lock up the door.
And keep down the window.
If anybody call.
Said be not at home.
If the telephone ring.
We're not at home.
We're doin' the shout.
We're doin' the shout.
We're doin' the shout.
Just me 'n my baby.
Just me 'n my baby.
Hey, a-hey-hey, A
Gonna shout all day .
Gonna shout all night.
Just me 'n my baby.
Go in doin' the shout.
Shout, baby.
Shout, baby.
Shout, baby.
Shout, baby.
Hey-hey, alright
(guitar solo and instrumental)
Me 'n my baby.
We're doin' the shout.
We're doin' the shout'.
I was so glad, I was so glad.
She my baby back home.
She my baby back home.
I'm so glad.
She's my baby back home.
Shout baby.
Shout baby.
Shout baby.
Shout baby.
FADES-




Shout baby.
Hey-hey, hey-hey.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Lee Hooker’s “Doin’ the Shout” is a playful and upbeat song about celebrating the joy of being reunited with a loved one. The song begins with several “Hey-hey’s” followed by the repeated phrase “I’m doin’ the shout”. Hooker is announcing to the listener that he is feeling good and ready to dance and shout with his lover. He received a letter from his lover stating that she was on her way home, and with her arrival, they plan to lock the door and dance all night. The energy in the song peaks with Hooker shouting “shout baby” repeatedly while the guitar riff becomes more intense. The song slowly fades while Hooker continues to shout “shout baby” in the background.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey-hey.
Introducing the start of the song with an enthusiastic sound.


Hey-hey.
Reintroduction of the same enthusiastic sound.


Yeah-hey.
Adding a variation of the sound to create an entertaining rhythm.


Hey-hey-hey.
The rhythm of the sound is defined with an added emphasis.


I'm doin' the shout.
The artist is declaring that they are currently performing a shout dance.


I'm gonna do the shout.
The artist is indicating their intention to perform the shout dance in the near future.


I'm gonna do the shout.
Reiteration of the previous declaration.


I'm-a gonna do the shout.
Adding a variation to the previous declaration to add emphasis on the artist's commitment to performing the shout dance.


Got a letter this mornin'.
The artist receives a letter during the day.


Got a letter from my baby.
The letter was delivered from the artist's significant other.


She was on her way.
The significant other is coming to see the artist.


On her way home.
The artist's significant other is returning to their shared home.


Say when I get home.
The artist is explaining what is going to happen when they arrive home.


Say with me an my baby.
The artist and their significant other will perform the shout dance together.


We gonna do the shout.
Declaration of the shout dance performance with the significant other.


Gonna lock up the door.
The door to the artist's home will be locked.


And keep down the window.
The window will be closed.


If anybody call.
If anyone comes knocking at the door.


Said be not at home.
The artist and their significant other will not answer the door.


If the telephone ring.
If the phone rings.


We're not at home.
The artist and their significant other will not answer the phone either.


We're doin' the shout.
An explanation of why the artist intends to ignore any potential interruptions, due to their planned shout dance.


Just me 'n my baby.
The artist and their significant other will be performing the shout dance alone.


Just me 'n my baby.
Reiteration of the previous line for additional emphasis.


Hey, a-hey-hey, A
Adding another variation of the enthusiastic sound.


Gonna shout all day .
The artist and their significant other will shout dance for an extended length of time.


Gonna shout all night.
The artist and their significant other intend to continue the shout dance throughout the night.


Just me 'n my baby.
The intended company for the shout dance is still just the artist and their significant other.


Go in doin' the shout.
The artist is in the process of performing the shout dance.


Shout, baby.
Encouragement for the significant other to continue performing the shout dance.


Shout, baby.
Same as the previous line for added emphasis.


Shout, baby.
Reiteration of the previous line for additional emphasis.


Shout, baby.
Another reiteration of the same line and emphasis on encouraging the significant other.


Hey-hey, alright
Celebratory sound denoting enjoyment of the shout dance.


(guitar solo and instrumental)
Break from the lyrics with a guitar solo.


Me 'n my baby.
Reintroduction of the artist and their significant other performing the shout dance.


We're doin' the shout.
Reiteration of the previous line illustrating the continued performance of the shout dance.


We're doin' the shout'.
Another reiteration of the act of shout dancing.


I was so glad, I was so glad.
The artist is expressing their happiness and joy.


She my baby back home.
The artist's significant other has returned home safely.


She my baby back home.
Reiteration of the previous line.


I'm so glad.
Reiteration of the artist's feelings of happiness.


She's my baby back home.
Final reiteration of the significant other's safe return home.


Shout baby.
Encouragement for the significant other to continue performing the shout dance.


Shout baby.
Same as the previous line for added emphasis.


Shout baby.
Reiteration of the previous line for additional emphasis.


Shout baby.
Another reiteration of the same line and emphasis on encouraging the significant other.


FADES-
The song is coming to an end.


Shout baby.
Last attempt to encourage the significant other to perform the shout dance.


Hey-hey, hey-hey.
Closing the song with the same enthusiastic sounds made at the start.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN LEE HOOKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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