PAPA LOVES MAMBO
The Ray Charles Singers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh
Uh

Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Look at 'em sway with it, gettin' so gay with it
Shoutin' "olé" with it, wow
Uh

Papa loves mambo (papa loves mambo)
Mama loves mambo (mama loves mambo)
Papa does great with it, swings like a gate with it
He loses weight with it, now

He goes to, she goes fro
He goes fast, she goes slow
He goes left an' she goes right
Papa's lookin' for mama but mama is nowhere in sight
Uh

Papa loves mambo
Mama loves mambo
Havin' their fling again, younger than spring again
Feelin' that zing again, wow
Uh

Papa loves mambo (papa loves mambo)
Mama loves mambo (mama loves mambo)
Don't let her rumba and don't let her samba
'Cause papa loves mama tonight
Uh

(Papa loves mambo)
(Mama loves mambo)

(Papa loves mambo)
(Mama loves mambo)

He goes to, she goes fro
He goes fast, she goes slow
He goes left an' she goes right
Papa's lookin' for mama but mama is nowhere in sight
Uh

Papa loves mambo (papa loves mambo)
Mama loves mambo (mama loves mambo)
Havin' their fling again, younger than spring again
Feelin' that zing again, wow
Uh

(Papa loves mambo) mambo papa
(Mama loves mambo) mambo mama
Don't let her rumba and don't let her samba

'Cause papa, loves a mambo tonight
Uh

Overall Meaning

"Papa Loves Mambo" is a joyful, upbeat song about a couple who loves to dance the mambo. The lyrics portray a couple, Papa and Mama, who are completely immersed in the dance and follow each other's lead with ease. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the love that both Papa and Mama have for this particular dance style, with Papa even losing weight to keep up with the rhythm of the mambo. The verses describe the intricate footwork and timing of the dance, with the two partners zigging and zagging through the steps, not missing a beat. The chorus then returns with a reminder that even though Mama loves to rumba and samba, tonight is all about the mambo, because that's what Papa loves the most.

The song highlights the joy of having a partner with whom one can share fun-filled moments. The chorus's emphasis on "olé" and "wow" reflects the pure pleasure and energy that the couple gets from dancing together. The song also captures the essence of escapism, with the couple feeling younger than spring and feeling a tingle in their heart as they dance. The upbeat tempo and the bouncy tune make it impossible to listen to this song without feeling a burst of happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Papa loves mambo
Father enjoys dancing the Mambo

Mama loves mambo
Mother enjoys dancing the Mambo

Look at 'em sway with it, gettin' so gay with it
They sway and dance with happiness and joy

Shoutin' "olé" with it, wow
They shout "olé" expressing delight in their dance

Papa does great with it, swings like a gate with it
Father dances skillfully, swinging and moving gracefully

He loses weight with it, now
He is getting physically fit from dancing the Mambo

He goes to, she goes fro
He moves in one direction while she moves in another

He goes fast, she goes slow
He dances rapidly while she dances slowly

He goes left an' she goes right
He moves to the left while she moves to the right

Papa's lookin' for mama but mama is nowhere in sight
Father is searching for Mother but she is not visible

Havin' their fling again, younger than spring again
They are enjoying their dance like they did in their youth

Feelin' that zing again, wow
They are experiencing a thrilling and exciting feeling

Don't let her rumba and don't let her samba
Ensure she does not dance the Rumba or the Samba instead of the Mambo

'Cause papa loves mama tonight
This night is dedicated to Mambo dance, which father and mother both enjoy

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Hoffman, Bix Reichner, Dick Manning

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS