Ti‐Pi‐Tin
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

One night when the moon was so mellow
Rosita met young Manuelo
He held her like this
This lovely miss
Then stole a kiss
This fellow
He said he was glad he'd met her
And soon he would come and get her
But she said "No no I cannot go
Until I know you better"

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan-ti-pi-tan

He kept on his feeling
And he had a feeling she was satisfied

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan-ti-pi-tan

She was saying "Go sir"
So he held her that so he complied

One night when the moon was so mellow ho-ho-ho
Rosita met young Manuelo
He held her
Do-ra-ra-ra-rum
Do-ra-do-ra-raa
Ree-da-da
Do-do-pa-re-ram
Pa-do-do-ra-raa
He said he was glad that he had met her
And soon he would ca-hahahum and he get her
But she said "No no I cannot go ho
Until I, I know you better"

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-tan-tan
Ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-tan-tan

Do-do-do-ra-rah-rah
Do-do-do-ra-rah-rah
Do-do

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-tan-tan

Do-do-doo
Do-do-do
Do-ra-ra-rah
Do-ra-ra-rah
Ra-ra-ra-rah





It came to be that he and she
Were one and now they're two

Overall Meaning

"Ti-Pi-Tin" is a classic song by The Andrews Sisters that tells the story of Rosita, who meets Manuelo one night under a moonlit sky. Manuelo tries to charm her and steal a kiss, but Rosita insists that she needs to know him better before she can take things further. Manuelo persists and eventually convinces her to give him a chance. The lyrics are playful, with the repeated use of nonsense words like "ti-pi-tin" and "ti-pi-tan" adding to the lighthearted and fun atmosphere.


The song is a perfect example of the swing music style that dominated popular music in the 1930s and 1940s. The Andrews Sisters, with their tight harmonies and energetic performances, were one of the most popular acts of the era. "Ti-Pi-Tin" was one of their biggest hits, and it remains a beloved classic to this day.


One interesting fact about "Ti-Pi-Tin" is that the melody is actually based on a Mexican folk song. The Andrews Sisters heard the tune while on tour in Mexico and decided to adapt it for their own purposes. Another interesting fact is that the song was featured in the 1942 film "What's Cookin'?" starring The Andrews Sisters themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

One night when the moon was so mellow
On a calm night under the moonlight


Rosita met young Manuelo
Rosita ran into a young man named Manuelo


He held her like this
He embraced her with his arms


This lovely miss
Referring to Rosita


Then stole a kiss
He kissed her without permission


This fellow
Referring to Manuelo


He said he was glad he'd met her
He expressed his happiness about meeting Rosita


And soon he would come and get her
Implying that he would return to see her again


But she said "No no I cannot go
Rosita politely declined his offer


Until I know you better"
She needed some time to get to know him better


Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin-ti-pi-tin
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan-ti-pi-tan
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


He kept on his feeling
He continued to feel affectionate towards Rosita


And he had a feeling she was satisfied
He believed that she was enjoying his company


She was saying "Go sir"
Rosita was trying to politely tell Manuelo to leave


So he held her that so he complied
He complied with her request to let her go


Do-ra-ra-ra-rum
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-ra-do-ra-raa
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ree-da-da
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-do-pa-re-ram
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Pa-do-do-ra-raa
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ti-pi-tin
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ti-pi-tin-tin
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ti-pi-tan
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ti-pi-tan-tan
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-do-do-ra-rah-rah
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-do-do-ra-rah-rah
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-do
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Do-ra-ra-rah
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


Ra-ra-ra-rah
It is a part of the song's chorus used as a filler


It came to be that he and she
They ultimately started a romantic relationship


Were one and now they're two
They were two people who fell in love and became a couple




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Horace Heidt, Raymond Leveen, Maria Grever

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Wolfhoundersful

One night when the moon was so mellow
Rosita met young Manuelo
He held her like this
This lovely miss
Then stole a kiss
This fellow
He said he was glad he'd met her
And soon he would come and get her
But she said "no no I cannot go
Until I know you better"

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-ta

He kept on his feeling
And he added a feeling
She was satisfied

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-ta

She was saying "go sir"
So he held her
That so he complied

One night when the moon was so mellow ho-ho-ho
Rosita met young ha-ha-ha Manuelo

He held her
Du-ra-ra-ra-rum
Du-ra-du-ra-raa
Ree-du-ra-ra
Du-ram-pa-re-ram
Pa-du-du-ra-raa
He said he was glad that he had met her
And soon he would ca-hahahum and he get her
But she said "No! No! I cannot go ho
Until I, I know you better"

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Du-du-du-ra-rah-rah
Du-du-du-ra-rah-rah
Du-du

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Du-du-duuuu
Du-du-du
Du-ra-ra-rah
Du-ra-ra-rah
Ra-ra-ra-rah-du

It came to be that he and she
Were one and now they're two



All comments from YouTube:

@jennikillmer7594

Maria Grever honored 11 Feb 2021 with a Google doodle in the US

@josestudyexcel

My grandma used to sing me this song as a lullaby

@Singingkid

I am in heaven! Thank you! :)

@TheAloweWolf

Nice Song!!

@CatsPjamas1

@singingkid You're welcome, SingingKid! The Andrews Sisters sounded just as good on their 1957 re-recordings of their old hits as they did on the originals.

@ronaldlevao8251

Delightful to hear again. Which was written first, though, this or the Ella Fitzgerald/Chick Webb song "Undecided"?
Both published around the same time (1938-39), with the same melody at points, but different tempos. Trumpeter Charley Shavers co-authored the Ella song.

@Wolfhoundersful

One night when the moon was so mellow
Rosita met young Manuelo
He held her like this
This lovely miss
Then stole a kiss
This fellow
He said he was glad he'd met her
And soon he would come and get her
But she said "no no I cannot go
Until I know you better"

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-ta

He kept on his feeling
And he added a feeling
She was satisfied

Ti-pi-ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-ti-pi-tan
Ti-pi-ta

She was saying "go sir"
So he held her
That so he complied

One night when the moon was so mellow ho-ho-ho
Rosita met young ha-ha-ha Manuelo

He held her
Du-ra-ra-ra-rum
Du-ra-du-ra-raa
Ree-du-ra-ra
Du-ram-pa-re-ram
Pa-du-du-ra-raa
He said he was glad that he had met her
And soon he would ca-hahahum and he get her
But she said "No! No! I cannot go ho
Until I, I know you better"

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Du-du-du-ra-rah-rah
Du-du-du-ra-rah-rah
Du-du

Ti-pi-tin
Ti-pi-tin-tin
Ti-pi-ta
Ti-pi-ta-ta

Du-du-duuuu
Du-du-du
Du-ra-ra-rah
Du-ra-ra-rah
Ra-ra-ra-rah-du

It came to be that he and she
Were one and now they're two

@PionerosTVhistoria-identidad

Tema de la mexicanísima María Grever.... Se llama Tipitín...

@Singingkid

@CatsPjamas1 Do you have their obscure 60's Paramount label stuff? It was wonderful! :)

@CatsPjamas1

@singingkid No, I haven't heard it, I didn't know they made records in the '60's. Interesting!

More Comments