Cool
West Side Story [Original Broadway Cast] Lyrics


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You wanna live in this lousy world?
Play cool.

I wanna get even!
Get cool!

I wanna bust!
Bust cool!

I wanna go!
Go cool!

Boy, boy, crazy boy, get cool boy.
Got a rocket in your pocket, keep cooly cool boy.
Don't get hot cuz man you got some high times ahead.
Take it slow, and daddy-o you can die in bed.

Boy, boy, crazy boy, stay loose boy.
Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it, turn off the juice boy.
Go, man, go, but not like a yo-yo, school boy!
Just play it cool, boy... real cool...

Easy Action!

Cool it A-rab, cool it, cool it!

Pow!! Hahahahahaha...

Boy, boy, crazy boy! Stay loose boy!
Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it! Turn off the juice boy!

Just play it cool, boy... real cool...





Pow!

Overall Meaning

The song "Cool" from West Side Story is a perfect portrayal of the gang culture and their way of living their lives in a tough and dangerous environment. In the opening line of the song, one of the gang members questions whether someone would like to live in this lousy world or not, and the response comes as "play cool." This phrase suggests that in order to survive in such a neighborhood, one has to keep themselves calm and act indifferent in any situation they encounter.


The song then goes on to describe the desires of young gang members who want to get even, bust, or go somewhere. However, the advice given to them is to act and maintain a cool attitude towards life, even if things get intense. The lyrics also suggest that following the rules and keeping low-key would be a better option than standing out or trying to prove anything.


In the chorus, the song uses the phrase "boy, boy, crazy boy" to refer to the gang members, urging them to stay loose and maintain a casual attitude towards life. The lines "take it slow, and daddy-o you can die in bed" warns the gang members about the consequences of not playing by the rules or losing their coolness.


Line by Line Meaning

You wanna live in this lousy world?
Asking if you want to deal with the harshness of reality.


Play cool.
Stay calm and collected despite the circumstances.


I wanna get even!
I want to seek revenge on someone who wronged me.


Get cool!
Maintain composure and don't let emotions control actions.


I wanna bust!
I want to show off my strength or power.


Bust cool!
Do it with swagger and confidence.


I wanna go!
I want to leave this place or situation.


Go cool!
Leave with grace and poise.


Boy, boy, crazy boy, get cool boy.
Addressing the young man who needs to play it cool.


Got a rocket in your pocket, keep cooly cool boy.
Suggesting that he has potential, but needs to maintain his demeanor.


Don't get hot cuz man you got some high times ahead.
Don't get over-excited because there are better things to come.


Take it slow, and daddy-o you can die in bed.
Don't rush and you will go far in life.


Boy, boy, crazy boy, stay loose boy.
Continuing to address the young man with the reminder to stay calm.


Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it, turn off the juice boy.
Reminding him to turn off the energy and excitement and keep it cool.


Go, man, go, but not like a yo-yo, school boy!
Encouraging the young man to move forward, but not in a reckless or erratic way.


Just play it cool, boy... real cool...
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining calmness.


Easy Action!
Take it easy and don't make it harder than it needs to be.


Cool it A-rab, cool it, cool it!
Addressing someone who is getting too excited or intense, telling them to calm down.


Pow!! Hahahahahaha...
Sound of a punch followed by laughter.




Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Gayle Alstrom

I think it's amazing how well this holds up after 55 years.

Papa Squat

Gayle Alstrom If by that you mean not at all then yes. This is literally the definition of doesn’t hold up. What you mean to say is that it still resonates with you enough to still like it after so long, not that it’s inherently still relevant in anyway.

christopher robin

I was going to reply that my dopey senile father-in-law thought this was dated, which seemed like the most pedantically literal interpretation imaginable. All that was missing was smugness--thanks Josh Barton. You really shouldn't lecture people about things you don't understand.

christopher robin

Before correcting someone's comment, you should figure out what you mean by "not that it's still relevant in anyway."

christopher robin

Yeah, I take things too much to heart, but doesn't it piss you off when some unmusical bastard posts a smug comment that really amounts to a homophobic denial of everything that makes life worth living?
I'm doing it again, right?
By the way, I'm more of a Baby John type, but my synchronized snapping is wicked bad like you wouldn't believe.

Ben

I think she means it holds up in terms of quality. No one dances like this anymore, a mix of ballet and modern dance; a pity.

83 More Replies...

daytripperr1965

Whoever thought to change the songs is brilliant. The first half of the movie has a much lighter tone, which Gee Officer Krumpke fits in better, in my opinion. The energy in this song and situation after the rumble and Riff's death flow so perfectly. These guys have all this anger inside them that they don't know what to do with; just "be cool". Also this choreography is NUTS. Probably the best choreography I've seen in any movie.  

Kristine Burbey

daytripperr1965 I agree. I never tire of this video since I saw it at a theatre when it came out when I was a youngster. . How many movies/songs can do that??

Wolfsky9

daytripperr1965 Considering that by this time --as both Tony Mordente & David Winters once said, they ALL hated JR to the point they were ready to put out a contract on the man, & yet, he made them do this sequence to absolute perfection. I'm ALWAYS overwhelmed by the sheer anger/ energy this sequence has today, just as it did in '61, when I saw it in Denver at the old Denham Theatre. And, OMG, was Natalie Wood ever more beautiful???   Wolfsky9

Word Watcher

That was the plan but they couldn't find a way to clear the set effectively for the space this scene needed. The movie had no issue with this and put it in as planned and it's really the best version.

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