Minnie the Moocher
The Blues Brothers Lyrics


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Hey folks here's the story 'bout Minnie the Moocher
She was a lowdown hoocie coocher
She was the roughest toughest frail
But Minnie had a heart as big as a whale

Hidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)
Hodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodeho)
Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)
Hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)


She messed around with a bloke named Smokie
She loved him though he was cokey
He took her down to Chinatown
and showed her how to kick the gong around


Hidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)
Whoah (Whoah)
Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)
A hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)


She had a dream about the king of Sweden
He gave her things that she was needin'
He gave her a home built of gold and steel
A diamond car with platinum wheels


A hidehidehidehidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehidehidehidehi)
Hodehodehodehodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodehodehodehodeho)
... (...)
... (...)


He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses
Each meal she ate was a dozen courses
Had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes
She sat around and counted them all a million times


Hidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)
Hodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodeho)
Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)
Hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)






Poor Min, poor Min, poor Minnie

Overall Meaning

"The Blues Brothers" song Minnie the Moocher tells the story of Minnie, a woman known for being rough, tough and frailer than others. However, the song also depicts a softer side of her, showcasing her heart as being as big as a whale. Despite her tough exterior, Minnie was in love, and her dealings with her partner, Smokie, and a visit from the King of Sweden were among the things she dreamed of.


The lyrics tell the story of Minnie's life and her experiences. She was a "lowdown hoocie coocher" who teamed up with Smokie, a man with a cocaine problem. The song talks about the couple going to Chinatown to "kick the gong around," which is a reference to smoking opium. Minnie then has a dream about the King of Sweden, who provides her with material possessions like a home built of gold and steel, a diamond car with platinum wheels, and the King's townhouse with racing horses. Despite all these benefits, the song ends with the refrain of "Poor Min, poor Min, poor Minnie," suggesting that none of these riches have brought her happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey folks here's the story 'bout Minnie the Moocher
Listen up, I'm about to tell you the tale of Minnie the Moocher


She was a lowdown hoocie coocher
Minnie was a promiscuous woman


She was the roughest toughest frail
Despite her tough exterior, Minnie was very frail


But Minnie had a heart as big as a whale
Minnie was a kind and generous person, despite her flaws


She messed around with a bloke named Smokie
Minnie was involved with a man named Smokie


She loved him though he was cokey
She loved him despite his cocaine addiction


He took her down to Chinatown
Smokie took Minnie to a seedy part of town


and showed her how to kick the gong around
He showed her how to use opium


She had a dream about the king of Sweden
Minnie had a dream of meeting the king of Sweden


He gave her things that she was needin'
The king gave her everything she wanted


He gave her a home built of gold and steel
The king gave her a luxurious home


A diamond car with platinum wheels
The king gave her an extravagant car


He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses
The king gave her his townhouse and his prized horses


Each meal she ate was a dozen courses
Minnie was very wealthy and could afford extravagant meals


Had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes
She had an enormous amount of money


She sat around and counted them all a million times
She spent her time counting her money


Poor Min, poor Min, poor Minnie
Despite her wealth, Minnie was not happy




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@monakaloush9506

Folks, here's a story about Minnie the Moocher
She was a lowdown hoochie coocher
She was the roughest, toughest frail
But Minnie had a heart as big as a whale

Hidee hidee hidee hi
Hode hode hode ho
Hee dee hee dee hee dee hee
A hidee hidee hidee ho

She messed around with a bloke named Smoky
She loved him though he was cokey
He took her down to Chinatown
And he showed her how to kick the gong around

Hidee hidee hidee hi
Whoah
Hee dee hee dee hee dee hee
A hidee hidee hidee ho

She had a dream about the King of Sweden
He gave her things that she was needin'
He gave her a home built of gold and steel
A diamond car with platinum wheels

Hidee hidee hidee hidee hidee hidee hi
Hodee hodee hodee hodee hodee oh
Scurlivou scurlivou scurlivou rlivourlivu
Setetetete raburlutu scetete raburlutu toy

He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses
Each meal she ate was a dozen courses
She had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes
She sat around and counted them all a million times

Hidee hidee hidee hi
Hooh whoaa oh oh whoa
Hidee hidee hidee hi

Poor Min, Poor Min, Poor Min



All comments from YouTube:

@chris-io1ki

This is the 1980 version of Cabs 1931 song.
He was 73 when he performed this in The Blues,Brothers movie.
He passed away in 1994.
Absolute legend of his time.
And a fantastic song too🤗

@chris-io1ki

Ma'am what type of music do you normally play here?
Uh,we play both types....
Country,and Western 😄😆🤣😂😆🤣😁😄

Stand by your man had me in stitches and is still funny today.

@chris-io1ki

@Tommie Andersson
It was in 1931

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_the_Moocher

@jonathanriolo2578

He died on the same year that I was born

@too_short_cortetm8507

@chris217 Imagine using wikipedia as an authoritative source. Lol.

@towel2473

@Too_Short_Corte Tm where's your source, then?

13 More Replies...

@jacklambert1521

Man, Cab Calloway had style. He had class. A true entertainer through and through the likes of which we'll never see again, since he was from of an older, more respectful time period in which performers valued and cherished their audience. I'm not saying there aren't performers like that today, what I'm saying is that that era is dead and gone, sadly enough.

Rest In Peace Cab.

@reneastle8447

I beg to differ. The older, more respectful time period in which performers valued and cherished their audience will be brought back to life like never before, thanks to the Retro Decade Revival Project.

@slugyourpal

He was a living legend. I'm impressed he lived to 1994 considering he was born in 1907. Had lived a very full life no doubt.

@Fantomas72

My feelings exactly. Well said brother.

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