Makin' Whoopee
Willie Nelson Wynton Marsalis Lyrics
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Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
To make whoopee
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, uhh, he answers twice
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
Picture a little love nest, yeah
Down where the roses cling
Picture that same sweet love nest
See what a year can bring
I tell you the boy's washin' dishes 'n, baby clothes
He's so ambitious, ooh, I tell you he sews
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
To make whoopee, whoopee
You see, I don't make much money
Only five, uh-uh, thousand per
And some judge who thinks he's funny
Tells me I got to pay six to her
I said now judge, suppose I fail?
The judge says, "son, son, right on into jail.
Ah, you better keep her. I think it's cheaper."
The lyrics of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis' song Makin' Whoopee represent a narrative of a relationship that began with a wedding and honeymoon, progressed through domesticity, and ends up in the courtroom. The lyrics in the first verse describe a wedding ritual, where another couple embarks on their journey of love with a new June's bride and a lot of shoes and rice. The lyrics in the second verse depict the aftermath of the wedding, as the couple settles into a nest of domesticity. The lyrics are humorous, showing that the groom is willing to do anything to make his wife happy, including washing dishes and baby clothes, even though the work is killing him.
The lyrics get darker in the last verse, where the vocalist discloses to the audience that he recently went through a divorce. He states that he only makes five thousand per year, and the judge has ordered him to pay six thousand dollars to his ex-wife, which he cannot afford. He enquires if the judge will incarcerate him if he can't pay, and the judge replies that it's cheaper to keep her, advising him to keep his ex-wife. The lyrics are hilarious, but they depict the reality that marriages occasionally come to a bitter end.
Line by Line Meaning
Another bride, another June
Every year brings another wedding season
Another sunny honeymoon
And with it comes another vacation
Another season, another reason
It feels like people are always finding excuses to celebrate love
To make whoopee
And celebrate they will
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
Weddings involve a lot of traditions
The groom is nervous, uhh, he answers twice
Men can get so nervous on their wedding day that they'll answer questions multiple times
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
But despite the nerves and pressure, he's eager to make his wife happy
To make whoopee, whoopee
And if that means making love, so be it
Picture a little love nest, yeah
Imagine a cozy, romantic home
Down where the roses cling
With roses growing up the side of the house
Picture that same sweet love nest
Then fast-forward a year
See what a year can bring
And how much life can change in just twelve months
I tell you the boy's washin' dishes 'n, baby clothes
Even if it means doing chores that are traditionally seen as women's work
He's so ambitious, ooh, I tell you he sews
He'll do whatever it takes to make his family happy
You see, I don't make much money
But money isn't everything
Only five, uh-uh, thousand per
He doesn't earn a lot
And some judge who thinks he's funny
And now he's being forced to pay even more
Tells me I got to pay six to her
The court has ordered him to pay more than he can afford
I said now judge, suppose I fail?
He's worried he won't be able to keep up with these payments
The judge says, 'son, son, right on into jail.
And if he doesn't, he'll be punished severely
Ah, you better keep her. I think it's cheaper.'
So he decides to stay married, because in the end, it's worth it
Lyrics © DistroKid, DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind