The Watusi
The Vibrations Lyrics


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Wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance
Wah, wah-a Watusi
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance (shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)

Baby, baby, when you do The Twist
Never, never do you get yourself kissed
'cause you're always dancin' far apart
The Watusi, girl, is-a really smart

Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance (shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)

Baby, baby, when you do The Fly
Your arms are wasted wavin' in the sky
Come on and hold me like a lover should
The Watusi makes you feel so good

Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
Yay!!

(shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)

Baby, baby, that's the way it goes
Nothing happens when you Mash Potatoes
I just gotta fall in love with you
Watusi is the dance to do

Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance

Wah, wah-a Watusi




FADE
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance

Overall Meaning

The Vibrations' song "The Watusi" is an upbeat and playful track that encourages listeners to hit the dance floor and try out the titular dance move. The lyrics emphasize the joys of physical intimacy and connection that can be found through dancing closely with a partner. The song highlights the differences between other popular dances of the time, such as The Twist and The Fly, both of which are depicted as more distant and less conducive to romantic connections. "The Watusi," on the other hand, is "smart" and "makes you feel so good," making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to find love on the dance floor. The song's infectious rhythm and catchy lyrics make it easy to imagine the energetic and carefree atmosphere of a 1960s dance party.


Overall, the song invites listeners to let loose and embrace the playful, romantic spirit of the Watusi. Through the lyrics, the song encourages the listener to connect with a dance partner on a deeper level in a way that other dances cannot replicate. The Watusi is presented as not just a dance, but a transformative experience that has the power to bring people together in a way that feels both natural and joyful.


Line by Line Meaning

Wah, wah-a Watusi
Come and try the Watusi dance


C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance
Take a risk and dance the Watusi with me


Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
This dance is perfect for romantic feelings


(shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)
Musical interjection


Baby, baby, when you do The Twist
When you dance the Twist


Never, never do you get yourself kissed
You can't get close enough to kiss


'cause you're always dancin' far apart
Because the Twist is danced with distance between partners


The Watusi, girl, is-a really smart
The Watusi is clever and brings partners physically closer


Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
The Watusi is a romantic dance


Baby, baby, when you do The Fly
When you dance the Fly


Your arms are wasted wavin' in the sky
Your arms move aimlessly in the air


Come on and hold me like a lover should
Hold me close like a lover would


The Watusi makes you feel so good
The Watusi feels great and brings partners physically closer


Baby, baby, that's the way it goes
That's just how it is, baby


Nothing happens when you Mash Potatoes
The Mash Potatoes dance doesn't bring partners closer


I just gotta fall in love with you
I can't help but fall in love with you when we dance the Watusi


Wah, wah-a Watusi
Come and try the Watusi dance


Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
This dance is perfect for romantic feelings


(shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)
Musical interjection


C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance
Take a risk and dance the Watusi with me


Wah, wah-a Watusi
Come and try the Watusi dance


FADE
Slowly fade out the music




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES JOHNSON, LESLIE TEMPLE, SHIRLEY HALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@lindadee2053

First song I ever danced to in public at a junior high dance somewhere around '59. Still makes me wanna get up and boogie.

@d820m

That would be quite the accomplishment considering the song came out in 1961

@lisagreen1754

My mom introduced me to this song. I love it🎉

@williamhorsey419

This song was one of the greatest jams that u could dance off of and that's when the uptown theater was rocking back in the day and Philadelphia was a safe place to party in

@lytation

Amen William , Tx

@tyronecannon2151

Amen to that. this young lost generation will never know what it is to have good clean safe fun!

@bobwatson1162

Being from Philly we used to bop to this too..

@dashleycarson2197

Love this , My Mom and Aunt Ida Taught me this one wow They said i never missed a beat at 3yrs old

@nanjemoyal-kursi3078

I was about 19 when the watusi by the vibrations came out. I use to practice this song on my bass guitar every day all day . And you know what? This song and the bass guitar line still grabb me till this day. SMOOTH FUNK

@lytation

Tx for the comment, Jack

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