Matt Monro (December 1, 1930 - February 7, 1985) was a ballad singer of th… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Monro (December 1, 1930 - February 7, 1985) was a ballad singer of the 1960s and one of great international postwar entertainers. Throughout his 30-year career he filled cabarets, nightclubs, music halls and stadiums across the globe, from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. He sold more than 25 million records during his lifetime (most of those sales however didn't come until after his death), imbuing each one with his elegant blend of majesty, sincerity, and superior technique.

Makin' Whoopee
Matt Monro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Another bride, another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, he answers twice
Its really killin' that he's so willin'

To make whoopee

Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring

He's washin dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget folks,
Thats what you get folks, for makin' whoopee

He doesn't make much money
Five thousand dollars per;
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You pay six to her."

He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge, right into jail.
You'd better keep her

I think it's cheaper
Than making whoopee."

Overall Meaning

In the song "Makin' Whoopee," Matt Monro sings about the traditional and societal expectations of marriage, and how they can ultimately lead to disappointment and unhappiness. The first verse talks about the cycle of marriage and honeymoons, with each new bride and groom following the same path. The second verse highlights the pressure placed on the groom to provide and fulfill his duties as a husband, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness. The third verse deals with the consequences of a failed marriage, with the judge forcing the husband to pay alimony to his ex-wife.

The use of the term "whoopee" in the title and throughout the song is a euphemism for sexual activity or intimacy, which was a taboo subject in mainstream music during the time the song was written (1928). However, the lyrics make it clear that the societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations of marriage can ultimately lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

Line by Line Meaning

Another bride, another June
It's wedding season again, and there are many brides getting married in June.

Another sunny honeymoon
After they get married, the newlyweds will go on their honeymoon to enjoy some sunny weather.

Another season, another reason
During different times of the year, there are many reasons or occasions where people get married and celebrate their love.

For makin' whoopee
All of these couples are getting married because they want to be intimate and make love.

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The wedding will have a lot of guests, who will throw rice as the newlyweds walk down the aisle.

The groom is nervous, he answers twice
The groom is nervous and repeats his vows, which shows how much he wants to marry his bride.

Its really killin' that he's so willin'
It's ironic that despite being so nervous, the groom is willing to marry his bride because he loves her so much.

To make whoopee
He's willing to make love to her and start a new family.

Picture a little love nest
Imagine a small and cozy home where the newlyweds can live together.

Down where the roses cling
The home is surrounded by beautiful roses.

Think what a year can bring
It's amazing how much can change in just one year, especially for newlyweds starting a new life together.

He's washin' dishes and baby clothes
The husband is taking on domestic duties like washing dishes and doing laundry for their newly expanded family.

He's so ambitious he even sews
The husband is so committed to providing for his family that he's even learning new skills like sewing to save money on clothes.

But don't forget, folks
However, people should remember that marriage is hard work and requires sacrifice.

Thats what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee
All of this hard work is part of the price of starting a family, which is what these couples wanted when they got married.

He doesn't make much money
The husband doesn't have a lot of income to support his family.

Five thousand dollars per
He only makes $5,000 per year.

Some judge who thinks he's funny
The husband is in court because a judge thinks it's amusing to make him pay more money.

Says, 'You pay six to her.'
The judge orders the husband to pay $6,000 to his wife.

He says, 'Now judge, suppose I fail?'
The husband asks the judge what would happen if he can't pay that much money.

The judge says, 'Budge, right into jail.
The judge threatens to put the husband in jail.

You'd better keep her
The judge advises the husband to keep his wife, even though it's expensive to support her.

I think it's cheaper
The judge thinks it's less expensive to keep one's wife than to pay large amounts of money after a divorce.

Than making whoopee
The judge is implying that people shouldn't take marriage lightly because it can be expensive and require a lot of hard work.

Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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