Willie And The Hand Jive
The Bunch Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know a cat named Way-Out Willie
He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
Do you walk and stroll with Susie Q
And do that crazy hand jive too?

Papa told Willie "you'll ruin my home
You and that hand jive has got to go"
Willie said "papa, don't put me down
Been doin' that hand jive all over town"

Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive

Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe, look at him
He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
Said "do that hand jive one more time"

Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
They all dig that crazy beat
Way-Out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
When he did the hand jive with his feet

Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive, hey, hey
Come on, sugar, yeah!

Well, Willie and Billie got married last fall
They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to see, hey, hey
Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on

Hand jive, hand jive
(Why don't you) hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive





Hey, hey, well
Yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The Bunch's song Willie and the Hand Jive is a fun, upbeat tune that celebrates the popular dance craze of the 1950s- the Hand Jive. The lyrics tell the story of Way-Out Willie, a guy who loves to dance and his girlfriend Rockin' Billie. They are joined by other characters such as Susie Q, Uncle Joe, Sister Flo, and even Baby Sister, who all love to do the hand jive. However, Willie's father is not a fan of the hand jive and thinks it's ruining his home. But Willie defends his love for dancing, saying he has been doing the hand jive all over town. The song also mentions a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief, who all enjoy the hand jive, and how Way-Out Willie impresses them all by doing it with his feet.


The song's lyrics are filled with imagery and playfulness that capture the spirit of the hand-jive dance craze. It is a song about freedom of expression, youthful rebellion, and finding joy in music and dancing. The catchy repetition of the hand-jive lyrics and the upbeat rhythm make the song a perfect dance number, even after all these years.


Line by Line Meaning

I know a cat named Way-Out Willie
I am aware of a man called Way-Out Willie


He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
He has a lovely woman by his side named Rockin' Billie


Do you walk and stroll with Susie Q
Do you dance and groove with Susie Q


And do that crazy hand jive too?
And do the hand jive with those unique moves?


Papa told Willie "you'll ruin my home
Willie's father warned him that he will destroy their house


You and that hand jive has got to go"
Because of your hand jive, you need to stop"


Willie said "papa, don't put me down
Willie asked his father not to belittle him


Been doin' that hand jive all over town"
Willie has done the hand jive dance in the whole town


Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, the hand jive


Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Hand jive, doing the frenzied hand jive


Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe, look at him
Mother, Mother, observe Uncle Joe, and look at him


He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
He is doing the hand jive with his sister Flo


Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
He also gave his young sister ten cents, hey, hey


Said "do that hand jive one more time"
He said "perform the hand jive one more time"


Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
A physician, an attorney, and an Indian leader


They all dig that crazy beat
They all enjoy the incredible rhythm


Way-Out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
Way-Out Willie provided them all with a spectacle, yeah


When he did the hand jive with his feet
By using his feet, he did the hand jive


Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, the hand jive


Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive, hey, hey
Hand jive, performing the wild hand jive, hey, hey


Come on, sugar, yeah!
Come on, sweetheart, yeah!


Well, Willie and Billie got married last fall
Willie and Billie got married the previous autumn


They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
They also had a little boy named Willie Junior, and that's not all


You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to see, hey, hey
You recognize that the baby possesses greatness, and it's evident, hey, hey


Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on
Performing the hand jive on television, come on


Why don't you
Why don't you


Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, the hand jive


Doin' that crazy hand jive
Performing that crazy hand jive


Hey, hey, well
Hey, hey, well


Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY OTIS

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
Comments from YouTube:

S. G. R.

Chido chido cheese burrito

More Versions