Minnie The Moocher
The Kaleidoscope Lyrics


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Folks here's a story 'bout Minnie the Moocher,
She was a red hot hoochie coocher,
She was the roughest, toughest frail,
but Minnie had a heart as big as a whale.

Ho-dee ho-dee ho
Ho-dee ho-dee ho
Hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi
Hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi
Hey-dee hey
Hey-dee hey
Whoah
Whoah

She messed around with a bloke named Smokey.
She loved him though was cokie,
he took her down to Chinatown
and he showed her how to kick the gong around.

Hey-dee hey-dee hey
Hey-dee hey-dee hey
Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi yoi
Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi yoi
Ay yi yi yi yi yi-oh
Ay yi yi yi yi yi-oh
Whoah
Whoah

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 the platinum wheel.

Hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi
Hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi-dee hi
Hey-dee hey-dee hey-dee hey-dee hey
Hey-dee hey-dee hey-dee hey-dee hey

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.

Hi-dee hi-dee hi
Hi-dee hi-dee hi
Whoah
Whoah





Poor Min, poor Min, poor Min.

Overall Meaning

The Kaleidoscope's song "Minnie the Moocher" tells the story of a woman named Minnie who is known as a "red hot hoochie coocher" and the "roughest, toughest frail." However, despite her rough exterior, Minnie is depicted as having a heart "as big as a whale." She is involved with a man named Smokey who takes her to Chinatown and teaches her how to "kick the gong around" (a reference to opium use). Later in the song, Minnie dreams of the King of Sweden who gives her everything she needs, including a home made of gold and steel, a diamond car with platinum wheels, and a townhouse with racing horses. Despite all of this wealth, the chorus repeats "poor Min, poor Min, poor Min" at the end of the song.


The lyrics of "Minnie the Moocher" can be interpreted in a number of ways. On one level, the song seems to glamorize the party lifestyle of the women of the time, who were often derided as "hoochie coochie dancers" and despite their appearance, were often kind and empathetic individuals. Alternatively, the song can be read as a cautionary tale about the dangers of substance abuse and being taken advantage of by men.


Line by Line Meaning

Folks here's a story 'bout Minnie the Moocher,
Let me tell you a tale about a lady called Minnie the Moocher


She was a red hot hoochie coocher,
She had a seductive disposition, and men found her attractive


She was the roughest, toughest frail,
Although she had a physically tough exterior, she was vulnerable deep down


but Minnie had a heart as big as a whale.
Despite her tough persona, Minnie was kind and generous


Ho-dee ho-dee ho
An exclamation of joy, like saying 'Ha-ha!'


Hey-dee hey
Another exclamation, like saying 'Hey!'


Whoah
A cry of surprise or admiration


She messed around with a bloke named Smokey.
She had a love interest named Smokey, with whom she was intimate


She loved him though was cokie,
Despite his drug use, she loved him deeply


he took her down to Chinatown
He showed her a hidden, exciting side of town


and he showed her how to kick the gong around.
He introduced her to a type of music, possibly jazz or swing, and how to dance to it


Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi yoi
An expression of excitement or confusion


Ay yi yi yi yi yi-oh
An exclamation of joy or awe


She had a dream about the King of Sweden,
She fantasized about a royal benefactor who could give her everything she wanted


He gave her things that she was needin',
The King provided her with whatever material possessions she desired


He gave her a home built of gold and steel,
She was given a luxurious home that was both strong and opulent


a diamond car with the platinum wheel.
She was given an exotic, indestructible vehicle


He gave her his townhouse and his racing horses,
The King provided her with an extravagant home and prized animals


Each meal she ate was a dozen courses,
She was fed lavish, multi-course meals


She had a million dollars worth of nickels and dimes,
She possessed a great deal of wealth, but in small denominations


She sat around and counted them all a million times.
She was fixated on her wealth and would count it repeatedly


Poor Min, poor Min, poor Min.
Despite her riches, Minnie was still unhappy and sad




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAB CALLOWAY, CLARENCE GASKILL, IRVING MILLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@elbradto12

Such a great cover. This definitely deserves more views.

@sunrara7133

Che Sun Ra li possa illuminare!!!

@alikiandroutsosantico3268

this is such an interesting cover. so inspiring. amazing

@BusinessFish99

Thus is coole

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