Happy New Year
Spike Jones And His City Slickers (Holiday) Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I think we need an agent!

We?

That's selling out

But it's nice to dream!
Yeah! It's network TV
And it's all thanks to me!

Somehow I think I smell the whif of a scheme

Me too

We can plan another protest

We?

This time you can shoot from the start
You'll direct, starring me!

Five, four, three
Open sesame! Happy new year!
Happy new year!
Happy new

I see that you've beaten me to the punch
How did you know we'd be here?

I had a hunch

You're not mad?

I'm here to end this war
It's a shame you went and destroyed the door

Why all of a sudden the big about face?

The credit is yours
You made a good case

What case?

Mimi came to see me and she had much to say

That's not how you put it at all yesterday!

I couldn't stop thinking about the whole mess!
Mark you'll want to get this on film

I guess

I regret the unlucky circumstances
Of the last seven days

Circumstance?
You padlocked our door!

And it's a great pleasure on behalf of Cyber Arts
That I hand you this key

Golf claps

I had no juice in my battery

Re-shoot!

Oh I see this is a photo opportunity

The benevolent god
Ushers the poor artists back to their flat
Were you planning on taking down the barbed wire from the lot too?

Anything but that

Clearing the lot was a safety concern
We break ground this month but you can return

That's why you're here with people you hate
Instead of with Muffy at Muffy's estate

I'd honestly rather'd be with you tonight than in Westport

Spare us old sport, the sound bite

Mimi, since you were so seductive (You came onto me!)

Persuade him not to be so counterproductive

Liar!

Why not tell them what you wore to my place?

I was on my way to work

Black leather and lace
My desk was a mess I think I'm still sore

'Cause I kicked him and told him I wasn't his whore

Well, does your boyfriend know who your last boyfriend was?

I'm not her boyfriend, I don't care what she does!

People, is this any way to start a new year, have compassion
Benny just lost his cat

My dog, but I appreciate that

My cat had a fall, and I went through hell

It's like losing a
How did you know that she fell?

Champagne?

Don't mind if I do, to dogs

No, Benny, to you!

Let's make a resolution

I'll drink to that

Let's always stay friends

Though we may have our disputes

This family tree's got deep roots

Friendship is thicker than blood

That depends

Depends on trust

Depends on true devotion

Depends on love

Depends on not denying emotion!

Perhaps

It's gonna be a happy new year!

I guess

It's gonna be a happy new year!

You're right

It's gonna be a happy new year!

I'm sorry

Coming

In a minute, I'm fine, go

Well, well, well
What have we here, ah?




It's gonna be a, a happy new year
There, there, ah, there, there, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Spike Jones's Happy New Year depict the reconciliation between the struggling artists and the high-tech corporate representative, Benjamin Coffin III. The song begins with Mark and Roger debating whether or not to “sell out” to an agent. The scene shifts to a protest where Benjamin suddenly appears, surprising the artists. He declares that he is ending the feud and giving them the keys back to the apartment. At first, the artists are suspicious but then Benny explains that Mimi convinced him to mend fences. Throughout the song, the characters reflect on past hurts, make resolutions to be better friends, exchange apologies, and express their hope for a happier upcoming year. The song ends on a note of whimsy with an upbeat melody, friendly banter, and popping champagne.


The lyrics of Happy New Year are multi-layered; they offer insight into a range of emotions, including anger, betrayal, forgiveness, hopefulness, and joy. The song reflects the grip of poverty on artists who hope to find their break and escape pennilessness. The smart choice of words, such as "I think I smell the whiff of a scheme" and "the benevolent god ushers the poor artists back to their flat," add a level of sophistication to the lyrics that Spike Jones was known for. The song conveys that the artists are not just sticking to an ideal vision of art and rebellion, their intentions are pure, and they are willing to reconcile with their adversaries for the greater good.


Line by Line Meaning

I think we need an agent!
Let's get an agent to represent us.


We?
Are you implying that we're working together?


That's selling out
Getting an agent is too commercial for me.


But it's nice to dream!
It's always good to dream big.


Yeah! It's network TV
We made it to the big time.


And it's all thanks to me!
I'm the reason for our success on network TV.


Somehow I think I smell the whif of a scheme
I think something fishy's going on.


Me too
I agree with you.


We can plan another protest
Let's organize another demonstration.


We?
Are you sure you want to be involved?


This time you can shoot from the start
You can lead the demonstration this time.


You'll direct, starring me!
You'll direct, and I'll be the star.


Five, four, three
Counting down to the new year.


Open sesame! Happy new year!
Wishing everyone a happy new year with a magical word.


Happy new year!
Wishing everyone a joyous and prosperous new year.


Happy new
Another joyful new year greeting.


I see that you've beaten me to the punch
You arrived before I did.


How did you know we'd be here?
What made you think we'd be at this location?


I had a hunch
I had a feeling you'd be here.


You're not mad?
Are you still angry with me?


I'm here to end this war
I'm here to settle our differences.


It's a shame you went and destroyed the door
It's unfortunate that you had to damage the door.


Why all of a sudden the big about face?
Why the sudden change in attitude?


The credit is yours
You deserve the recognition for your work.


You made a good case
Your argument was convincing.


What case?
What are you referring to?


Mimi came to see me and she had much to say
Mimi had a lot to tell me when she came by.


That's not how you put it at all yesterday!
You didn't mention that part yesterday.


I couldn't stop thinking about the whole mess!
I couldn't get the situation out of my head.


Mark you'll want to get this on film
Mark, you should record this.


I guess
I suppose so.


I regret the unlucky circumstances
I'm sorry about the unfortunate events.


Of the last seven days
Referring to events of the past week.


You padlocked our door!
You locked us out of our own home.


And it's a great pleasure on behalf of Cyber Arts
Cyber Arts is honored to do this.


That I hand you this key
Here's the key to your home.


Golf claps
Polite applause.


I had no juice in my battery
My phone was running out of power.


Re-shoot!
Let's do that again for the camera.


Oh I see this is a photo opportunity
This is a good photo moment.


The benevolent god
The all-knowing creator.


Ushers the poor artists back to their flat
Guiding the struggling artists back to their abode.


Were you planning on taking down the barbed wire from the lot too?
Will you be removing the barbed wire from the vacant lot?


Anything but that
I'll do anything but remove that barbed wire.


Clearing the lot was a safety concern
Removing the debris from the vacant lot was necessary for safety reasons.


We break ground this month but you can return
Construction will begin this month, but you're welcome to come back.


That's why you're here with people you hate
That's why you're spending time with people you don't like.


Instead of with Muffy at Muffy's estate
Rather than spending time with Muffy at her estate.


I'd honestly rather'd be with you tonight than in Westport
To be honest, I'd rather be with you tonight than in Westport.


Spare us old sport, the sound bite
Don't give us a hollow, pre-recorded message.


Mimi, since you were so seductive (You came onto me!)
Mimi, since you were so flirtatious and suggestive.


Persuade him not to be so counterproductive
Convince him not to be so ineffective.


Liar!
You're lying!


Why not tell them what you wore to my place?
Why not share what you wore when you were at my home?


I was on my way to work
I was on my way to my job.


Black leather and lace
A provocative outfit with leather and lace clothing items.


My desk was a mess I think I'm still sore
My desk was in disarray, and I'm still feeling the effects.


'Cause I kicked him and told him I wasn't his whore
I kicked him and told him that I wasn't going to be used.


Well, does your boyfriend know who your last boyfriend was?
Does your current partner know about your previous relationship?


I'm not her boyfriend, I don't care what she does!
I'm not in a relationship with her, and I'm not worried about her past.


People, is this any way to start a new year, have compassion
Is this a proper way to begin a new year? Let's have some empathy.


Benny just lost his cat
Benny recently lost his pet cat.


My dog, but I appreciate that
It was actually my dog that passed, but I appreciate your concern.


My cat had a fall, and I went through hell
My cat experienced a bad fall, and I was stressed and worried.


It's like losing a
It's similar to losing something important.


How did you know that she fell?
What made you aware that she had a fall?


Don't mind if I do, to dogs
I'll gladly toast to dogs.


No, Benny, to you!
No, Benny deserves the toast.


Let's make a resolution
Let's decide on a resolution.


I'll drink to that
I'm in agreement, and I'll have another drink.


Let's always stay friends
Let's promise to maintain our friendship.


Though we may have our disputes
Even if we disagree on some things.


This family tree's got deep roots
Our relationship has a long history.


Friendship is thicker than blood
Our friendship is stronger than a family relationship.


That depends
It depends on the situation.


Depends on trust
It depends on trusting each other.


Depends on true devotion
It depends on being devoted to one another.


Depends on love
It depends on having love for each other.


Depends on not denying emotion!
It depends on being open about our emotions and not hiding them.


Perhaps
Maybe.


It's gonna be a happy new year!
It's going to be a wonderful new year!


I'm sorry
I apologize.


Coming
Just a moment, I'm busy at the moment.


In a minute, I'm fine, go
I'm doing something at the moment, but I'm okay.


What have we here, ah?
What do we have here?


There, there, ah, there, there, yeah
Not sure of the meaning, could be a vocalization of excitement or agreement.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jonathan D. Larson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@joshkutil4335

Spike Jones!
Ladies and Gentlemen.

@duncanwebb9953

best song of all time

@charlottemills9433

Parents introduced this when we were all young and still listening to this in 2021....

@ldFlorida

Only Spike Jones could come up with a classic like this!!

@kcdonald

Happy New Years Day is complete when I hear this classic.

@banditosbanditos8142

Superbe à Réécouté 👍💯👍

@l.m.383

Listened to both sides of this 78 rpm record many times growing up in the late 50s and early 60s on the old Philco brand "Hi-Fi." Turntable and AM/FM radio side-by-side in the same floor-standing unit. The weight and thickness of those 78 records was something else to feel.

@eblackadder3

I first bought a copy of this record in the summer of 1981, exactly 40 years ago.

@dazeddeer7854

Dude please return

@sabrinamessenger

OMG this song is so crazy. I LOVE it!

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