Tina Marie
Perry Como Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Hip, hop, hoop, oh oh ha ha)
(Hip, hop, hoop, oh oh ha ha)

Hip, I didn't know lips could kiss
(Hip hip)
Hop I didn't know eyes could flirt
(Hop hop)
Hope, I didn't know girls could be
Like Tina Marie
(Hop hop)
Hip I didn't know I could sail
(Hip hip)
Like a pannyboat in the gale
What she's doin'
Will be the ruin of me
(Oh ho ha ha)

Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina ah ha!
You sweet little schemer
Tina Marie
(Tina, Tina Marie)
Oh what you do
Your brand of voodoo
Is too much for me

Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina ah ha!
Oh how I dream of
Stealin' your charms
I'm gonna marry you
Some day I'll carry you
Off in my arms

(Oh ho ha ha)
Hip, I used to be a good time Joe
(Hip hip)
Kiss a gal and just let her go
(Go go)
Hope I really was dealin' free till Tina Marie

(Mister Cupid you stacked the deck)
(Why'd you throw me a queen by heck)
Now she's braggin'
She's fixed my wagon for me
(Ho ho ha ha)

Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina ah ha!
You sweet little schemer
Tina Marie
(Tina, Tina Marie)
Oh what you do
Your brand of voodoo
Is too much for me

(Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina, ah ha)
(Oh how I dream of)
(Stealin' your charms)
I'm gonna marry you
Some day I'll carry you
Off in my arms

(Ho, ho) hip, she tells me to jump, an' I jump
(Jump, jump)
Hoop, she tells me to dance, an' I dance,
Gotta listen or get no kissin' from Tina Marie

(Hip hip) hip, she really did clip my wings
(Clip, clip) hoop, I'm lookin' at weddin' rings
Is it human the things she's doin' to me?
(Ho, ho, ah, ha)

Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina, ah ha!
Oh ho, how I dream of stealin' your charms
I'm gonna marry us
Some day I'll carry you off in my arms

Off in my arms
Oh ho! ha ha!
Tina Marie!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Perry Como's "Tina Marie" tell a story about a man who falls under the spell of a woman named Tina Marie. He didn't know that lips could kiss or eyes could flirt until he met her. She's different from other girls he's met before, and he's smitten with her. However, he soon discovers that Tina Marie is a schemer and uses her "brand of voodoo" to control him. Despite this, he dreams of marrying her and carrying her off in his arms.


The song is a catchy and upbeat tune that showcases Perry Como's smooth vocals. The lyrics capture the excitement and confusion of falling in love with someone unpredictable and bewitching. By using the catchy refrain of "hip, hop, hoop" and "oh ho ha ha," Como adds a playful and flirty tone to the song. The lyrics also convey the singer's feelings of helplessness in the face of Tina Marie's charms. He can't resist following her commands, and he knows that she's causing him trouble. Overall, "Tina Marie" is a fun and catchy song about falling for a mysterious woman.


Line by Line Meaning

Hip, I didn't know lips could kiss
The singer didn't know before that lips could kiss


Hop I didn't know eyes could flirt
The singer didn't know before that eyes could flirt


Hope, I didn't know girls could be like Tina Marie
The singer didn't know before that girls could act like Tina Marie


Hip I didn't know I could sail
The singer didn't know before that he could sail


Like a pannyboat in the gale
The singer feels like he's sailing like a small and unsteady boat in a big storm


What she's doin' Will be the ruin of me
The singer believes that Tina Marie's actions will bring about his downfall


Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina ah ha!
The singer is calling out to Tina


You sweet little schemer Tina Marie (Tina, Tina Marie)
The singer describes Tina Marie as a small and sly plotter


Oh what you do Your brand of voodoo Is too much for me
The singer is saying Tina Marie's style of magic is overwhelming him


Oh how I dream of Stealin' your charms
The singer dreams of taking Tina Marie's charms for himself


I'm gonna marry you Some day I'll carry you Off in my arms
The singer expresses his desire to marry and carry Tina Marie in his arms one day


Hip, I used to be a good time Joe
The singer had a carefree and happy life in the past


Kiss a gal and just let her go
The singer used to kiss girls then let them go without pursuing any relationship


Hope I really was dealin' free till Tina Marie
The singer thought he was living life free until Tina Marie appeared


(Mister Cupid you stacked the deck)
The singer is blaming Cupid (the god of love) for the situation he's in


(Why'd you throw me a queen by heck)
The singer is wondering why Cupid chose Tina Marie for him


Now she's braggin' She's fixed my wagon for me (Ho ho ha ha)
The singer thinks that Tina Marie's actions have completely thrown off his game


Hip, she tells me to jump, an' I jump (Jump, jump) Hoop, she tells me to dance, an' I dance
The singer is saying that he obeys Tina Marie's commands willingly


Gotta listen or get no kissin' from Tina Marie
The singer must obey Tina Marie's commands or she won't kiss him


Hip, she really did clip my wings (Clip, clip)
The singer feels that Tina Marie has clipped his wings and hindered him in some way


Hoop, I'm lookin' at weddin' rings
The singer is now considering getting married


Is it human the things she's doin' to me? (Ho, ho, ah, ha)
The singer is questioning whether what Tina Marie is doing to him is humanly possible


Off in my arms Oh ho! ha ha! Tina Marie!
The singer is hoping to be able to carry Tina Marie off in his arms one day




Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOB MERRILL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TinaHelmstetter

I was also named Tina Marie after this song in 1956 too! This is the first time I’ve heard this song I absolutely love it! I ended up in foster care and an orphanage before being adopted but this song makes me feel like I was special to my birth parents ❤️

@tinalennens192

My dad named me after this song too. He died in 2013. I miss him so much and hearing this song makes me smile.

@TinaMcMillan-pe8gi

I was named after this song in 1956❤

@tinamj47

When this song came out my mother was pregnant, both my parents loved this song so they decided that the baby would be named Tina Marie... well my brother was born.... then 18 months later mom is pregnant again and again they said the baby would be named Tina Marie.. well my other brother was born.. Finally in 1961 mom is pregnant again and again they said the baby would be named Tina Marie... FINALLY... they got a Tina Marie... me... Mom and dad had the LP and would play this song to me every year on my birthday. I listen to this song often and i think about the love my parents had for each other. Brings back such wonderful memories of my mom and dad.

@tinawiktor4073

I was also named after this song. 😄. In 1955, my Mom was set on the name Pamela. Then in her hospital room she put a radio on and heard 🎵 Tina, Tina, Tina Marie 🎵. When my 21st Birthday was approaching, she wrote to the local Chicago newspaper asking if anyone had the record because she wanted to gift it to me. Sure enough a nice woman said for such a sentimental reason that she would part with it and mailed it to us. I have the special record to this day and cherish IT! Thank YOU, Perry Como ❤️

@grassalle

That is such a nice story!

@sonyabowman7100

This was my creole grandmother's favorite song...her name was Nora Marie🎉

@jaspuck

My dad told me all of my life that he named me after this song (I was born in 1958) but I had never heard it, so I always told him I didn't believe him! On my 19th birthday, in 1977, he had found someone who could get the album and as I walked home from the bus, he had it blaring on his outdoor speakers. I couldn't believe it - and he was so happy that I could finally hear it. Thanks for putting it on the internet - it makes me smile - my dad is so special and going strong at 93!

@charliegraciejr.

GREAT TUNE …and timely with the advent of Rock & Roll! 📀

@valentinamarie1248

I was named after this song! 💕

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