Willie and the Hand Jive
The Johnny Otis Show 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 Johnny Otis Show's song "Willie & the Hand Jive" is a fun and energetic tune that invites listeners to join in on the "crazy hand jive." The lyrics tell the story of Way-Out Willie and his cool little chick, Rockin' Billie, who enjoy dancing and doing the hand jive all over town. However, Willie's father disapproves of his son's activities, fearing they will "ruin" his home. Despite this, Willie continues to do the hand jive everywhere he goes, even impressing a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief with his moves.

The song's lyrics are an ode to the hand jive, a dance that was popular in the 1950s and involved a series of complex hand movements. The lyrics paint a picture of a carefree time when people would gather together to dance and have fun. The repetition of the phrase "hand jive, hand jive" throughout the song reinforces the importance of this dance and its ability to bring people together.

Overall, "Willie & the Hand Jive" is a playful and upbeat song that celebrates the joy of dancing and the power of music to unite people. Its infectious melody and catchy lyrics have made it a classic that continues to be enjoyed by audiences today.

Line by Line Meaning

I know a cat named Way-Out Willie
I am acquainted with a fellow called Way-Out Willie

He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
He is in a relationship with a young lady called Rockin' Billie who is also cool

Do you walk and stroll with Susie Q
Do you dance with Susie Q in a particular way

And do that crazy hand jive too?
And do you perform the peculiar hand gestures as well?

Papa told Willie "you'll ruin my home
Willie's father warned him that he would cause problems in the family with his hand jiving

You and that hand jive has got to go"
He wanted Willie to stop the hand jive altogether

Willie said "papa, don't put me down
Willie requested his father not to criticize him for the hand jive

Been doin' that hand jive all over town"
He had been performing the hand jive everywhere

Hand jive, hand jive
The particular hand gestures performed in the dance

Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Performing the hand jive, which is considered eccentric or strange

Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe, look at him
An exclamation calling attention to Uncle Joe's behaviour

He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
Uncle Joe is performing the hand jive with his sister Flo

Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
He even tipped his baby sister for her participation in the dance

Said "do that hand jive one more time"
He asked them to repeat the hand jive another time

Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
A physician, a barrister and a Native American leader

They all dig that crazy beat
All of them enjoy the unconventional rhythm and style of the beat

Way-Out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
Willie provided them with an extraordinary experience

When he did the hand jive with his feet
He performed the hand jive using his feet as well

Come on, sugar, yeah!
An exhortation to a person to continue the dance moves with enthusiasm

Well, Willie and Billie got married last fall
Willie and Billie were wedded in the autumn of the previous year

They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
They welcomed Willie Junior, their offspring, and that is not the end of the story

You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to see, hey, hey
Willie Junior is undoubtedly gifted, and it's obvious

Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on
Willie Junior performed a hand jive dance that was televised

Hand jive, hand jive
The distinctive hand gestures of the dance

(Why don't you) hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Performing the unconventional hand jive dance, with no apparent reason not to do it

Hey, hey, well
An exclamation of approval or excitement

Yeah, yeah
An exclamation of agreement or enthusiasm

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Willie and the Hand Jive2:35

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The Johnny Otis Show

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Comments from YouTube:

@23tbob

2y↑148

I was 16 when this came out, and it was the first rock 'n roll song that "blew me away". And it's still in the TOP 5 of my all time favorite songs, and I'll be 80 in July 2022.

@johntittensor6488

2y↑4

Yo 23tBob! Same timing, I was 15 in Australia, found myself doing the song with cover bands in France decades later. Happy Birthday! John T

@23tbob

2y↑5

@John Tittensor Thanks for the birthday wishes (Friday the 22nd). Hard to believe I'll be 80, and my health is still pretty good. I'm watching the British Open right now -- I follow the Norwegian "kid" Viktor Hovland (he's 24). He's ranked about 8th or 9th in the world golf rankings.

@chrisb5278

2y↑4

Hey there! I'm of almost the same birthday but in 88. I love this music! Happy to read that you're in good health! 😁👍

@r0ckstar666

2y↑1

When I heard bad brains fearless vampire killers in 1984 that blew me away

@harleypointer5984

1y↑1

Keep rocking kings!

15 More Replies...

@pennycarroll9006

50w↑3

Oh we all used to do this at the dances we had way back then. It sure was fun. I heard this on radio today and started singing it while I was driving. Remembered the words too! I am a young 77! Music is my secret!!!

@andrewkappler5503

4y↑83

Tommy Williams came to Shawshank in 1965 on a two-year stretch for B&E. That's breaking & entering to you. Cops caught him sneaking TV sets out the back door of a JC Penney. Young punk. Mr. Rock and Roll. Cocky as hell. We liked him immediately.

@Yevkasem1417

4y↑6

:) Perfect

@mr.pastor5681

4y↑6

”Come on Old Boys!!!”

@heartbreakkid5757

3y↑6

Movin like mollases make me look bad

@lisacomer9904

2y↑1

That's how I got here! 💞

@andrewkappler5503

2y↑1

@Lisa Comer lol

2 More Replies...

@maddmiche

43w↑9

Love this song!!! I'm 38 now, this song came out the year my father was born in 58' it was technically an oldie already by time I was born, but I've always liked oldies and I remember dancing to this on repeat as a kid, and I still have it on my playlist for my car today. Brings back good memories.. I was def born in the wrong era. Music just isn't what it used to be. I WISH I had been around back then to enjoy this stuff fresh.

@mantisbog

34w

Yes, definitely should have been around when there were whites and colored drinking fountains.

@RootsRockRebel

3y↑72

The tone on that guitar is other worldly!!! No way you could reproduce that sound today!!! That's vintage 50's gear!!

@jamest.byrnes8142

2y↑11

The great Jimmy Nolen on guitar, Earl Palmer on drums. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Nolen

@d820m

2y↑8

Jimmy Nolen, who would eventually join James Brown and revolutionize funk music

@MrNathan791

1y↑2

That’s some great insight. Thanks for the information. James Brown had so many great musicians in his band back in the day.

@samuelmarlow1969

37w

Bet it’s a Stratocaster 😁🤣🎸

@oldermusiclover

28w↑1

@@jamest.byrnes8142 thanks wondered who that was on guitar Earl went on to play for the Wrecking Crew

1 More Replies...

@charlessmith263

23w↑3

And I almost hit the gold mine. This song was modified in the lyrics in the 1977 "Grease" movie, during the Rydell HS dance contest scene. The new version of that "Willie" hand-jive song is faster and a bit more electrified but the jump blues and the New Orleans up-tempo swing styles in that number were kept quite intact.

@jacobc874

15w↑1

Driving them squares WILD back then with this track. Music is rebellion, always has been. Most polarized time in our country's recent history, and these cats are putting together a groove simply based on who had the talent in 'em. Black, white, greek, etc. Doesnt matter, only thing that matters is the music. We need a little of that sauce nowadays.

@Crunkboy415

2y↑14

His son, Shuggie Otis, wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" in 1971, which became a big hit for the Brothers Johnson in 1977.

@Conda17

2y↑2

Another great song, thanks for the info.

@jefflatten9321

52w

Nothing Shuggie did compared tot this.

@MrTimeXTime

42w↑1

I jam’d with Shuggie in L.A. A Sweet Guy an’ a Crazy Good Guitarist

@SandiGinDC

1y↑2

Wobble and a wobble till the break of day🤣
Imitation is the greatest compliment!?!

@harrykadaras9459

33w↑1

That man's got the best Rock & Roll voice

@sosmra

36w↑1

Of course I knew this song but Clapton , but finding this gem is why I still search for good music , thank you for posting .

@far-away-so-close4540

46w↑2

Johnny Otis had a radio show, broadcast out of Russian River. I listened to that on many Saturdays, back when I lived in Northern California. He would dig out all kinds of deep cuts from back in the day. A few hours of great music every week.

@lilycat9057

34w

Loved that show. Learned a lot from it. It was broadcast from KPFA in Berkeley.

@choritzo1963

18w

This song takes me back to my early teenage years, 14, when Rock n Roll was "the music of the Devil", but it was a teenager's music. If you didn't like Rock n Roll, you were square, Period. 57-58-59 were magical years for me. Great music and great cars. A lot of classic songs came out that era, and makes me emotional when I hear them. Jukeboxes was only place to select your own kind of music. Few kids had a music library, it was always limited, and stereo was available only for the privileged. A struggling era but still magical because I experienced it.

@ilovemydog6847

3y↑44

I woke up with this song in my head. Good knows how. I have only heard this song a few times and I was born in 1975 Long after the song came out. Yeah I know I’m weird🤪😜

@jameswahnee435

3y↑5

That's right brother. Not weird.

@uniquematerial2441

2y↑1

You're welcome. ✌😁

@helenwoodrum2383

2y↑5

It's a cool song. Love this video and the dancers were great. So if you are weird so am I.

@davidmaslow399

2y↑1

Yeah, I'm 71! I know!

@kathrynlewkowicz4704

2y↑1

Don’t worry. I was made in the eighties, and I had a similar experience today :D. Good music

9 More Replies...

@johnbarnett6924

1y↑2

I was 13 and right in time with the music ,john

@joshuabrooks4907

4y↑55

It's awesome how a piano, drum, guitar, and a maracca can make a great song.

@nealbradleigh5069

3y↑5

To quote John Lee Hooker, "...cause it's in him, and it's gots'ta come out"! Consider the wealth of pure, RAW great music (forget the efforts to format, package, sanitize etc) we've been blessed with, from SO MANY ARTISTS that we're still moved and dancing to (think the original version, and try NOT TO THINK of that other version, handed off to another producer/arranger, and then handed to GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS!
REALLY GOOD MUSIC will even outlast us. People will find it, and yes some will attempt to plagiarize it. Your job is to see that Johnny, Chuck, Bo, Muddy, John Lee et al are remembered for their musical genius!

@jacobc874

15w

Agreed! I'm an old-school jazz head and funk guy, and I adore big 20+ piece bands creating a damn symphony of intricate melody and unique rythyms, but even so watching someone strip all that down and pull excellent groove and rythym out of a couple cheap pieces layin round the house and passionate musicians to hold them reminds me what making music's all about, dig? These cats took an old guitar, a shaker, maybe a strippy second-hand drum setup and sang into a can and caught lightning in a bottle. That's the SPIRIT baby. Damn fine tune with not a damn penny behind it. Just some soul and a groove, brother. 🤙

@lowe-quay-shush

2y↑2

After seeing this cool video I looked up Johnny Otis. His parents were both Greek Immigrants. He grew up in Northern California.

@user-ct2ht8lp9h

1y↑5

The crazy Greek genious Yiannis Veliotis,known as Johnny Otis!!!!

@truthtriumphant

3y↑37

Love this song!! Just found out about Johnny Otis! Very talented!

@michaelfischer841

1y↑3

this song jams in 2022 as it did in 1958

@09jitters

3y↑17

Good God Almighty.... I haven't heard this song since I was a 6 or 7 year old!! What a great song!! Hand Jive baby , Hand Jive!!

@michaelgent3316

42w

Great song with a cameo by Brian Donlevy

@MNsportsnut

16w

Tommy Williams came to Shawshank in 1965 on a 2 year stretch for B&E. That's Breaking & Entering to you. Cops caught him sneaking TV sets out of the back door of a JC Penney. Young punk, Mr. Rock & Roll, cocky as Hell. We liked him immediately.

@muffs55mercury61

2y↑8

A rock classic in the golden 1950s. I can never get enough of this one. At 36 some may have thought of Johnny as a little over the hill at the time but he made this song rock. Hit the top 40 on 6/30/1958 and stayed there for 15 weeks.
Imagine hearing this while cruising in your '55 Chevy down the boulevard.

@georgemanka

1y↑2

Johnny Otis!

@jamesslick4790

2y↑1

I was only BORN four years AFTER this, Still ROCKS!, Perhaps the DEFIINTION of what ROCKS!

@dangelo1369

2y↑2

Some trivia: Johnny Otis's son Shuggie Otis wrote the song "Strawberry Letter 23" that became a hit for The Brothers Johnson in 1977.

@martinsmith124

2y↑3

Knew about Johnny Otis from that great and under rated English band the Animals - superb .

@christophersargeant615

52w↑1

The Story of Bo Diddley, from the album "The Animals"?

@kenfu9334

2y↑5

what a beat what a sound even for today standarts it reflects youth and rebellion and power

@captlarry-3525

41w

Real L.A.Beatniks... mid 50's Too Effing Much ! good dancers Man-O-Man!

@jewellrogers8254

2y↑3

14 yrs old heard it on 45 .Great sound

@mack8488

2y↑1

i woke up this morning with the rhytme of handjive on my mind and had to find the lines from the deep recesses of my mind...in those days i moved to it and now it just moved me!!!

@luigicellauro407

1y↑1

I hard such trousers in the eightees in London.

@franceslauderdale6761

16w

I was 13 that summer 🎉

@SpookOneMusic

21w

The late, great Jimmy Nolan pre-James Brown guitar licks

@alnorrie3261

2y↑7

Everything about this song is brilliant, the guitar, the raw vocals, everything! It's a pity the film Grease ruined it, even Clapton's version doesn't come close to this!!

@MrDavo863

i disagree about Grease ruining the song. . it introduced a whole new generation to the track. The scene is one of the best in the film.

@arcticangel1628

3y↑2

I first heard this song on the movie Milk Money (1994).

@kenelkins1841

1y↑2

If I'm not mistaken, Jimmy Nolan, later of James Brown fame, plays on this record. I was born in the early 60s, but there's nothing like pre-Brittish invasion American music...and I'm also a Beatles freak.

@lindaclaudine3029

3y↑39

This is from the 1959 film, “Juke Box Rhythm,” and features the swing dance couple, Gil & Nikki Brady. There’s also a version from The Johnny Otis Show (1958) with Marie Adams and Three Tons of Joy demonstrating how to do the hand jive, using the basic movements I remember learning. Good stuff!

@kellywilliamson8670

1y↑5

Thank you for sharing the info on this.🙂

@nanbito2283

2y↑5

I had to learn this in PE and it's a pretty good song

@GLO_2016

Same

@FreakingOutWithBillyHume

2y↑2

Amazing!

@kcmobfigz1722

2y↑3

29 years old as of 2021, 100% perecent sure I heard this but not sure where. Either way, 1000% love.

@reyh89

Maybe Shawshank Redemption

@kingsealthai

35w

damn this is great ! ! ! 5 5 5

@rosemarywatson1231

I don’t remember how old I was but I remember my two little brothers had some little berets with a hand print on the top. We use to watch the Johnny Otis show. I
Didn’t know until I was in my forties that Johnny Otis was not black. He had so much soul.

@tomstanton2322

3y↑6

oh man.... this really good, so glad I found this

@airmojo

2y↑3

Love the hand jive groove... great for harmonica too !

@normanklature6014

2y↑1

Roy head is another one with soul, both (Johnny Otis) have more soul than any other Caucasian ever born, I am 81 yrs old, trust me I know.

@CesarClouds

42w

Great voice.

@TeaPartyActivist

2y↑2

Pure joy!

@joebau3880

2y↑1

Classic!!!!

@GeetSlapped

I really love this

@uniquematerial2441

Thankx so much. Memories.
Beat.Nix.😁🛡🃏

@cathymooney7498

awesomeness 🎶🎼🎤👏👏👏💞

@luigicellauro407

1y↑1

50's trousers for the dancers.

@srbappo

2y↑1

There’s this restaurant I go to, and whenever I order a sandwich called the ‘Ham Jive’ the owner sings this song.

@user-vf5sv3iw2o

46w

Lol!!!! 😅😂😂

@Js-wd6dr

2y↑2

Love this song!

@cathyardans6618

4y↑12

Watching those female dancers makes me think that they were choreographed by Bob Fosse. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were.

@acquanellaogbemudia9930

3y↑2

Wish we could've seen People actually doing the Hand Jive !

@early363

Nice to hear the original

@kellywilliamson8670

2y↑3

That was so much fun! Great song and melody! I just wanna know why they didn't put more of it in the movie? What's real cool is this looks like the very 1st music video ever made! This made me smile the whole way through!🙂🙂🙂

@benirodriguez9516

3y↑3

Watching a blues guitar instructional video from Keith Wyatt... he showed how Bo Diddley played the guitar, and I started thinking... hmm I've heard that before. In fact, I remember it from Sha Na Na, which played the hand jive song (among others) on the movie Grease. A little search and I found this video :) Check the song "Bo Diddley" from Bo Diddley, which is 3 years older than Johnny Otis.. and you'll see what I mean ;)

@fredlawson9394

5y↑5

Thanks for posting. 👍👍👍👍

@rorydempsey6633

52w

Great tune

@mykeybarbee2587

25w

Soul

@patrickpoulain6859

2y↑1

Just MAGIQUE !!!!!!

@marty12.99

3y↑3

Adoro😍🖤

@roxannekilby3754

5y↑5

Best video! Thanks so much..xoxo

@jameshill4589

2y↑1

There have been a plethora of great dances from back in the day.
This is not one.

@thomasn3882

I was about to post a comment that I found it refreshing that the dancers here don't seem to be professionals - just ordinary kids who are okay, but not great, at dancing. I hesitated at posting that because I didn't want people jumping on me for it.

@philc8575

Right down to the roots of Rock and Roll! Fabulous!

@cyntar556

I was 8 years old and there was an actual dance

@deschutesmaple4520

3y↑7

Just an amazing video all round. The song, the singer, the dancers, the choreography, musicians :o)

@arcticangel1628

I first heard this song on the movie Milk Money (1994).

@shirleyjennings5787

4y↑1

So cool, I love it.

@safetyfirst9502

2y↑4

I woke up this morning 🌅🌄 doing the hand jive

@MrNathan791

I’ve always liked this song. As a kid back in the 70’s when I first heard it; I always thought it was cool. Funny thing though, I always thought the original singer on this song was a black guy. After so many years passed, it still sounds great. This is one cool song.

@josebro352

21w

"Tommy Williams came to Shawshank in 1965 on a two year stretch for B and E."

@janeeyre1990

2y↑3

C'mon, production quality and choreography!

This is a full SHOW, from the outfits to the dancing to the music to the vocals to the camera work/directing.

@wgilbert3

FYI: a good or poor mix depending preferance, can make a sound woody or clear

@hellbent6344

4y↑7

Straight stole bo diddleys beat

@safetyfirst9502

I love 💕😘 this version of the hand jive
Do you recognize the piano player ?

@joegale8227

TV Channel surfing & "Shawshank Redemption" on...
this playing...
Now on a damn loop inside My head so?
Must listen to it to the end for Closure...
🤯

@thusmarshal8815

2y↑3

It's good knowing that he is Greek

@christopherallen9580

and his wife was black

@marionlcarpenter6255

4y↑2

Harald Belfers did the dance routine for this video ,great work

@hilljack2yackie

4y↑1

Love!!!!

@ata1811

49w

To think, he actually started as a drummer!!

@rudolfscheibenberger1843

Super cool 😎

@1920s

2y↑1

That’s a Nolen riff.

@neilmccann5826

I expected to see the dancers do a little Hand Jive action. The 'hand roll' is only the 1st move. It's usually followed by horizontal flat hand movements, switching the upper and lower hands, a touching of your elbows with the opposing index finger, followed by a mimic of throwing a shovel full of dirt over each shoulder! C'mon dancers...get with it and give us a little hand jive!

@manikmek

5y↑2

Too cool!

@PANAGIOTIS_KORKODELAKIS

2y↑4

Praise to our fellow Greek, Johnny Otis.

@user-vf5sv3iw2o

46w

Only God is worthy of Praise!!! Idiot! IMO!!! 😮

@mellking5680

Such a better time such a fun thing to do had a blast

@arcticangel1628

I first heard this song on the movie Milk Money (1994).

@ilikemike97

4y↑12

i love this song. guitar sounds like Bo Diddley's work.
Johnny otis's brother was a big deal in the american diplomatic corps:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_A._Veliotes

@gregphillips2827

It’s a Bo Diddley beat too.

@jewellrogers8254

Think the same Bo sound.

@racookster

22w

It sounds better sped up to 1.25. Really!

@robindew9072

49w

Im a 70s/ 80s gal. But come on y'all who hasnt done the hsnd jive? Especially when Greese came out

@dartskipper3170

3y↑2

Having taken Bo Diddley's basic rhythm and built a great song out of it, these days the woke brigade would by screaming misappropriation.

Bo would probably be saying "Right on brother!"

@basilmarasco1975

Many artists have sued and won. The estate of Marvin Gaye sued Robin Thicke and Pharrell for ripping off a Marvin Gaye song and won.

@andremontoro

Now I know where Bow Wow Wow's I Want Candy came from!

@thomasw2238

GREAT song! Now, I can hear the maracas, the drums, the guitar, and even the cello. But I cannot hear a note from the keyboard Johnny is at. It is just a prop to give him something to do besides sing?

@lazylili3699

He started as a drummer, but with his own band he was able to play what he wanted, piano and vibes, both of which are considered percussion instruments. And if he wanted to just mimic playing, it was his call.