Pepper's Boogie Woogie
Johnny Lyrics


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I wanna to jump but I'm afraid I'll fall
I wanna to holler but the joint's too small
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Want some other's baby that ain't all
I wanna to kiss her but she's way too tall
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

I wanna to squeeze her but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

I wanna to squeeze her but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Baby comin' now I'm hurryin' home
I know she's leavin' cause I'm takin' too long




Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of the song "Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" by Johnny Rivers talks about the singer's desire to dance but being afraid of falling. He wants to shout and scream, but the crowd is too small for him to let loose. The second stanza depicts the singer's desire to romance another woman, but her height difference makes it impossible to kiss her. Despite his physical limitations, the young man is entranced by the rhythm and groove of the music which has caused him to catch the "rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu". The third stanza tells the story of the young man's continued desire to embrace his love interest but is again held back by his bodily constraints.


The fourth stanza is a repeated version of the third, emphasizing the hold that the rhythm has on the singer. In the final stanza, the young man is racing home to his love interest who he believes is impatiently waiting for him. However, it's revealed that she is leaving him because he's taken too long, and the rhythm has once again caused him to be delayed. The lyrics of the song brilliantly capture the essence of the rock and roll era's fascination with dancing, romance, and the rhythm that reigns supreme.


Line by Line Meaning

I wanna to jump but I'm afraid I'll fall
I have the urge to jump and dance, but I'm scared I might lose my balance and fall down.


I wanna to holler but the joint's too small
I feel like shouting and expressing my excitement, but the place is too cramped for me to do so.


Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I'm young and full of energy, and the rhythm of the music is getting me pumped up and making me want to dance.


I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
The music is infecting me with a fever that's making me want to dance excessively and without restraint.


Want some other's baby that ain't all
I desire to be with someone who's not my significant other, but it's not the only thing on my mind.


I wanna to kiss her but she's way too tall
I want to kiss a woman, but she's physically taller than me and it's a bit intimidating.


I wanna to squeeze her but I'm way too low
I want to give a woman a tight embrace, but I'm significantly shorter than her which may make it difficult.


I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow
I have the urge to run and dance, but my feet are not fast enough to keep up with the rhythm.


Baby comin' now I'm hurryin' home
Someone I care about is on their way to see me, so I'm rushing home to be with them.


I know she's leavin' cause I'm takin' too long
I'm aware that the person waiting for me is getting impatient and might leave because I'm taking too much time to get there.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HUEY SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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