Java Jive
The Manhattan Transfer Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (boy!)

I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops mr. moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug
A sliced up onion and a raw one
Draw one -
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Boston bean (soy beans)
Green bean (cabbage and greens)
I'm not keen about a bean
Unless it is a chili chili bean (boy!)

I love java sweet and hot
Whoops mr. moto I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah)

Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug
'an I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in the pot joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me




Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy!

Overall Meaning

The Manhattan Transfer's song "Java Jive" is a playful and lighthearted tune that expresses the love for coffee and tea. The lyrics describe the singer's fondness for the "java jive," which is a playful slang term for coffee. The repetition of the phrase "a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup" emphasizes the love of coffee and tea and reinforces the cheerful tone of the song.


The lyrics also feature a number of playful references to coffee and tea. For instance, the line "whoops mr. moto, I'm a coffee pot" is a nod to popular culture at the time, as there was a fictional detective named Mr. Moto who was known for his love of coffee. The line "slip me a slug from the wonderful mug" is another playful reference to the love of coffee, as is the line "waiter, waiter, percolator."


Overall, the song is a fun and witty tribute to the joys of coffee and tea. It celebrates the simple pleasures of life and reminds us to appreciate the little things that bring us joy.


Line by Line Meaning

I love coffee, I love tea
I have a fondness for both coffee and tea.


I love the java jive and it loves me
I enjoy a specific style of coffee referred to as 'java jive' and it makes me happy.


Coffee and tea and the java and me
I enjoy all types of hot caffeinated beverages, but this specific type called 'java jive' is my favorite.


A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (boy!)
I like to have one or more cups of coffee or tea, as they bring me joy and satisfaction.


I love java, sweet and hot
I have an affection for 'java jive', specifically when it is sweetened and served hot.


Whoops mr. moto, I'm a coffee pot
I feel as though I have turned into a coffee pot/ machine as a result of my love for coffee.


Shoot the pot and I'll pour me a shot
If someone 'shoots' the coffee pot, I will have a chance to pour myself a cup of joe.


Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
Please pass me a drink from the lovely mug with the delicious coffee aroma.


And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug
I will dance rhythmically while holding the mug snugly in my hand.


A sliced up onion and a raw one, draw one - Waiter, waiter, percolator
This line seems to describe the idea of drawing onion broth from a percolator, indicating that the artist has a unique taste in beverages and prefers onion broth to actual coffee or tea.


Boston bean (soy beans), Green bean (cabbage and greens), I'm not keen about a bean, Unless it is a chili chili bean (boy!)
The singer is not a big fan of most types of beans, but enjoys chili con carne, which includes chili beans.


Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug, 'an I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug
I will dance happily while enjoying a mug of coffee, pleasantly imbibing in its comforting taste and aroma.


Drop a nickel in the pot joe, Takin' it slow, Waiter, waiter, percolator
The singer has a specific technique for brewing coffee that involves dropping a coin into the pot and taking their time in order to make the perfect cup of Joe. They shout for the waiter or percolator to help them out in this process.


I love coffee, I love tea, I love the java jive and it loves me, Coffee and tea and the java and me, A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup
This is a repetition of the earlier stanzas, where the singer is expressing their love for coffee, tea, and especially a specific variety of coffee called 'java jive'.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MILTON DRAKE, BEN OAKLAND

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
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Gram TV

I love coffee, I love tea
난 커피를 사랑하고, 차를 사랑하지요
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
난 커피를 즐기는 걸 사랑하고, 그것도 날 사랑하지요
Coffee and tea and the Java and me,
커피와 차, 그리고 커피와 나,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔!


I love Java, sweet and hot
난 커피를 사랑해, 달콤하고 뜨거운 커피를
Whoops!  Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
앗! 모토 씨, 난 커피 포트에요
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot,
나 한잔 따라 줘요, 한 잔 더 할 거에요
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔!


Oh~ slip me a slug from that wonderful mug,
오~ 그 멋진 머그잔에 있는 커피 한 모금 따라 주세요,
and I'll cut a rug till I'm snug in a jug
난 커피 포트 안이 아늑해질 때까지 춤을 출 거에요
A slice of onion and a raw one
양파 한 조각, 익히지 않은 것으로
Draw one!
따라 줘요!
Waiter waiter percolator!
웨이터, 여과기에!


I love coffee, I love tea
난 커피를 사랑하고, 차를 사랑하지요
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
난 커피를 즐기는 걸 사랑하고, 그것도 날 사랑하지요
Coffee and tea and the Java and me,
커피와 차, 그리고 커피와 나,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!
한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔!


Boston beans,
보스턴 콩,
(Soy Beans),
대두 콩,
I said those little, itty bitty green beans!
아주 작고 작은 푸른 콩을 말하는 거에요!
(Cabbage and Greens)
양배추와 푸른 야채들
You know that I'm not keen about a bean,
당신도 알다시피 난 콩에 대해 잘 몰라요,
unless it is a chili chili bean
그것이 칠리 콩만 아니라면
(Talk it boy)


I love Java, sweet and hot
난 커피를 사랑해, 달콤하고 뜨거운 커피를
Whoops! Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
어머나! 모토 씨, 난 커피 포트에요
You shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
나 한잔 따라 줘요, 한 잔 더 할 거에요
A cup a.. cup a... cup a.....
한 잔, 한..잔, 한...잔, 한....


Oh Slip me a slug from that wonderful mug
오~ 그 멋진 머그컵에 있는 커피 한 모금 따라 주세요,
And I’ll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
난 커피 포트 안이 아늑해질 때까지 춤을 출 거에요
Drop your nickel in my pot, Joe
내 포트 안에 5센트를 넣어줘요, 조
Takin' it slow,
천천히 가져가요,
Waiter Waiter percolator!
웨이터, 여과기에!


I love coffee, I love tea,
난 커피를 사랑하고, 차를 사랑하지요
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
난 커피를 즐기는 걸 사랑하고, 그것도 날 사랑하지요
(Ba Boom Ba Boom Ba bee)
Coffee and tea and the Java and me, (Yeah~)
커피와 차, 그리고 커피와 나, (예~)
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup - More!
한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔, 한 잔 더!



johnny zell

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (boy!)
I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops mr. moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup
Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug
A sliced up onion and a raw one
Draw one -
Waiter, waiter, percolator
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup
Boston bean (soy beans)
Green bean (cabbage and greens)
I'm not keen about a bean
Unless it is a chili chili bean (boy!)
I love java sweet and hot
Whoops mr. moto I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah)
Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug
'an I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in the pot joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter, percolator
I love coffee, I love tea
I love the java jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy!



All comments from YouTube:

John Hunter

Once I auditioned to be a bass in a barbershop group. They asked me how low I could go, and I sang "Waiter, waiter, percolator". I was accepted. :)

David Dragavon

Great story! Thanks!

John Hunter

@syemurn c It's one of the funnest bass lines to sing, ever.

syemurn c

My favourite line as well being the bass in the group 😁

Sophia

Hah

John Hunter

@Lennie Eichman It's wonderful. I was a member of the Pages of Harmony (my hometown barbershop group) for years. I loved it and still do.

3 More Replies...

Toki Wartooth

My grandma and I use to sing this song together. It brings back good memories everytime I hear this song.
Rest easy, grandma 💙

A Fraser

It's the perfect song to drink a coffee first thing in the morning, dark roast, black, ceramic cup, bath robe, slippers, and a news paper.

Potter

You said it my friend

Idaho

White Collar has this playing when Peter Burke fixes the Coffee Machine.

More Comments

More Versions