Little Queenie
REO Speedwagon Lyrics

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I got lumps in my throat
When I saw her comin' down the aisle
I got the wiggles in my knees
When she looked at me and sweetly smiled
Well there she is again
Standin' over by the record machine
Well she looks like a model
On the cover of a magazine

But she's too cute
To be a minute over seventeen

Meanwhile I was thinkin'

Well if she's in the mood
No need to break it
I got the chance and I oughta take it
If she can dance we can make it
C'mon queenie let's shake it

I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie

Won't someone tell me
Who's the queen standin' over by the record machine
Well she looks like a model
On the cover of a magazine
But she's too cute
To be a minute over seventeen

I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie

Meanwhile, I was still thinkin',hm
Well if it's a slow one
We'll omit it
If it's a rocker, then we'll get it
If it's a good one, she'll admit it
C'mon queenie, let's get with it

I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie

I said go, go, go, little queenie
I said go, go, go, little queenie

Overall Meaning

"Little Queenie" is a rock and roll song that captures the excitement, joy, and anxiety of a young man who has fallen head over heels in love with a girl who is too cute to be a minute over seventeen. The lyrics reveal the singer's nervousness and excitement as he watches the girl walk down the aisle while experiencing lumps in his throat and wiggles in his knees. He immediately notices her stunning beauty, as she stands like a model by the record machine, and feels overwhelmed by her charms.

The singer's fantasies and hopes are then revealed when he says, "Well if she's in the mood, no need to break it, I got the chance and I oughta take it if she can dance, we can make it, c'mon queenie let's shake it." He is trying to find the perfect moment to ask her to dance, hoping to create a connection that will lead to more. The excitement of the mate-selection ritual, the thrill of the chase, and the exhilaration of finally winning at the game of love are all captured in these lyrics.

The song ends as the singer finally asks, "Won't someone tell me who's the queen standing over by the record machine?" He is so captivated by her that he cannot even see her name tag or read who she is. The chorus repeats again in a frenzy of excitement and exhilaration as the singer pledges to chase the girl and dance all night long.

Line by Line Meaning

I got lumps in my throat
I was overcome with emotion

When I saw her comin' down the aisle
When I saw her approaching

I got the wiggles in my knees
I felt nervous excitement

When she looked at me and sweetly smiled
When she smiled at me affectionately

Well there she is again
She reappeared

Standin' over by the record machine
Standing next to the music player

Well she looks like a model
She has a model-like appearance

On the cover of a magazine
As if she were featured on a magazine cover

But she's too cute
She is exceptionally attractive

To be a minute over seventeen
She appears to be very young

Meanwhile I was thinkin'
My thoughts were as follows