Kansas City
The Beatles (Capitol Albums) Lyrics
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Coming to get my baby back home
Yeah, yeah
I'm gonna Kansas city
Coming to get my baby back home
Yeah, yeah
Well, it's a long, long, time
Since my baby's been gone
Ah, Kansas City
Coming to get my baby on time
Yeah, yeah
I'm gonna Kansas City
Coming to get my baby on time
Yeah, yeah
It's just a one, two, three, four
Five, six, seven, eight, nine, wah
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, baby, you're no clown
I say you're no clown
Now, now, now, now,
Tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, baby, you're no clown
I say you're no clown
Now, now, now, now,
Tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
Well, I'll say bye
Bye, bye, baby bye, bye
Oh, so long
Bye, bye, baby I'm gone
Yeah, I said
Bye, bye, baby, bye, bye
Bye, bye, bye, bye
Well, I'll say bye
Bye, bye, baby bye, bye
Oh, so long
Bye, bye, baby I'm gone
Yeah, I said
Bye, bye, baby, bye, bye
Bye, bye, bye, bye
The Beatles & Tony Sheridan's song Kansas City is a lively ode to the joy of returning home to one's beloved. The repetitive chorus, "I'm gonna Kansas City, coming to get my baby back home," perfectly captures the excitement and determination of the singer as he embarks on his journey. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been away from his love for quite some time, as he notes "well, it's a long, long, time since my baby's been gone." He is keen to be on time to pick her up, as he repeats "Coming to get my baby on time" and the counting of "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, wah" suggests a sense of urgency.
The song then takes a playful turn with the teasing phrase "Hey baby, you're no clown." This could have a sexual connotation, as the use of "clown" could refer to a bawdy or uninhibited partner. The singer then asks "Tell me baby, what's been wrong with you?" which could be interpreted as genuine concern for his lover or an attempt to coax more playful banter out of her. The song ends with the singer bidding farewell, "bye, bye, baby, bye, bye," conveying a sense of longing and melancholy despite the upbeat tempo of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, Kansas City
Kansas City, a destination and the focus of the singer's attention
Coming to get my baby back home
The singer is going to Kansas City to retrieve his loved one and bring her back home
Yeah, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and excitement
I'm gonna Kansas City
Reiterating the intention of the singer to go to Kansas City
Well, it's a long, long, time
Emphasizing the duration that the singer's baby has been gone and the longing to see her again
Since my baby's been gone
The singer's baby has been absent for a considerable amount of time
Coming to get my baby on time
The singer intends to reach Kansas City on time to retrieve his loved one
It's just a one, two, three, four
A simple and straightforward counting sequence
Five, six, seven, eight, nine, wah
A playful non-numeric addition to the counting sequence
Hey, hey, hey, hey
An exclamation that draws attention to the following lyrics
Hey, baby, you're no clown
Addressing the singer's partner and acknowledging her worth and importance
I say you're no clown
Reiterating the previous statement and emphasizing it
Now, now, now, now,
A phrase that signals anticipation for the following lyrics
Tell me baby
Asking the singer's partner to disclose what has been troubling her
What's been wrong with you
Seeking clarification on what has been bothering the singer's partner
Well, I'll say bye
Preparing to depart and say farewell to the singer's partner
Bye, bye, baby bye, bye
A repetition of the farewell statement, while also acknowledging the singer's partner as 'baby'
Oh, so long
Another way of saying farewell, indicating that the parting may be for an extended period
Bye, bye, baby I'm gone
Reiterating the farewell and confirming that the singer is departing
Bye, bye, baby, bye, bye
Another form of saying farewell and acknowledging the singer's partner as 'baby'
Bye, bye, bye, bye
A repetition of the farewell statement and a confirmation of the singer's departure
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind