Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer had already scored big hits for other artists with "Hang on Sloopy" and "My Boyfriend's Back," when they decided to invent the Strangeloves.
According to the press releases, the Strangeloves were three brothers named Giles, Miles and Niles Strange that had grown up on an Australian sheep farm. The faked backstory, involving a sheep crossbreeding get-rich-quick scheme, didn't exactly capture the public's imagination, but the music was indelible.
They released one LP in 1965 and numerous subsequent 45-only releases. Their songs have been covered by the J. Geils Band and (with great pop success) by Bow Wow Wow.
Richard Gottehrer went on to later fame as a producer of early CBGB's luminaries Richard Hell & The Voidoids and Blondie, as well as the co-founder, with Seymour Stein, of Sire Records.
In his role as a producer and manager Jerry Goldstein also continued to have an effect on the music world. He suggested to the band Nightshift that they team up with Eric Burdon, who became War, and had the Circle Jerks on his Far Our Productions management company and LAX record label.
Hand Jive
The Strangeloves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know a cat named Way-out Willie
Got a groovy little chick named rockin' Lily
She can walk and talk and Suzie-Q
And do that crazy hand-jive too
Hand jive
Hand jive
Hand jive
Hey
Hey
Momma momma, look at uncle Joe
Doin' the hand jive with Sister Flo
Gramma gave baby sister a dime
Said "Do that hand jive one more time"
Hand jive
Hand jive
Hand jive
Doin' that crazy hand jive
Hey
Wha
[Sax interlude]
Hey
Hey
Doctor, lawyer and an Indian chief
They all dig that crazy beat
Way-out Willie give 'em all a treat
When he do that hand jive with his feet
Hand jive
Hand jive
Hand jive
Doin' that crazy hand jive
Hey
Whoah
[Sax interlude]
Hey...
The Strangeloves's song "Hand Jive" is a high-energy dance tune that celebrates the irresistibility of the hand jive. The song begins with the introduction of a character named Way-out Willie who is accompanied by a groovy little chick named Rockin' Lily. The lyrics describe how Lily can walk, talk, and dance the Suzie-Q while also doing the crazy hand jive. The hand jive is then highlighted throughout the song, with the chorus repeating the phrase "Doin' that crazy hand jive" several times. The song's second verse references Uncle Joe and Sister Flo, who are also doing the hand jive, while the third verse mentions a doctor, lawyer, and Indian chief who all "dig that crazy beat."
The overall theme of the song is the universal appeal of the hand jive and the way it brings people together regardless of age, race, or profession. The hand jive is a simple dance that involves intricate hand movements, and its popularity peaked in the 1950s and 1960s when the song was released. The song's catchy beat and energetic saxophone solos make it a fun and timeless dance classic that continues to be played and enjoyed today.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
The beginning of the song
I know a cat named Way-out Willie
I am familiar with a man named Way-out Willie
Got a groovy little chick named rockin' Lily
He has a cool little girl named rockin' Lily
She can walk and talk and Suzie-Q
This girl can walk, talk, and also perform a dance move called Suzie-Q
And do that crazy hand-jive too
She can also perform a dance move called hand-jive, which is quite captivating
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Doin' that crazy hand jive
People are performing the dance move called hand-jive, which is quite crazy and cool
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Momma momma, look at uncle Joe
A woman is pointing to her brother and saying 'Look, mom, at uncle Joe'
Doin' the hand jive with Sister Flo
Uncle Joe is performing the hand-jive dance move with Sister Flo, his sister
Gramma gave baby sister a dime
Grandma donated ten cents to her young granddaughter
Said 'Do that hand jive one more time'
Grandma then asks her granddaughter to perform the hand-jive move again
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Doin' that crazy hand jive
People are performing the dance move called hand-jive, which is quite crazy and cool
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Wha
A vocalization used to fill a gap
[Sax interlude]
A section of the song where the saxophone takes the lead
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Doctor, lawyer and an Indian chief
A doctor, a lawyer and an Indian chief (leaders in various professions) are mentioned
They all dig that crazy beat
All those leaders enjoy the cool beat of the music
Way-out Willie give 'em all a treat
Willie provides them with a real treat
When he do that hand jive with his feet
Willie performs the dance move called hand-jive with his feet, which is quite impressive
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Hand jive
Repeating the instruction to perform the hand-jive dance move
Doin' that crazy hand jive
People are performing the dance move called hand-jive, which is quite crazy and cool
Hey
Repeating the opener of the song
Whoah
An exclamation used to express surprise or admiration
[Sax interlude]
A section of the song where the saxophone takes the lead
Hey...
Repeating the opener of the song
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.