Willie and the Hand Jive

About Willie and the Hand Jive

"Willie and the Hand Jive" is a song written by Johnny Otis and originally released as a single in 1958 by Johnny Otis, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song has a Bo Diddley beat and was partly inspired by the music sung by a chain gang Otis heard while he was touring. The lyrics are about a man who became famous for doing a dance with his hands, but the song has been accused of glorifying masturbation, though Otis has always denied it. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Strangeloves, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard, Kim Carnes, George Thorogood and The Grateful Dead. Clapton's 1974 version was also released as a single and also reached the Billboard Top 40, peaking at #26. Thorogood's 1985 version reached #25 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. more »

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Well, I know a cat called Way-Out Willie
He's got a cool, little chic, called rockin' Billy
Just a walking, strolling through the cue
Doing that crazy hand jive too

Papa said to Willie, "You'd ruin my home"
Said you and that hand jive have got to go
Willie said to Papa, "Don't put me down"
They're doing that hand jive all over town

Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, do that crazy hand jive

Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe
He's doing that hand jive with sister Flo
Mama said to papa, "Baby, you'd die" 
If you're doin' that hand jive one more time

Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, do that crazy hand jive

(Instrumental break)

Willie nearly got married last fall
Had a little Willie junior and that ain't all
Well, now that baby got famous and it's plain to see
Doing that hand jive on TV

Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, do that crazy hand jive

(One more time) Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, do that crazy hand jive 
 
 

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Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE (born Harry Rodger Webb, 14 October 1940, Lucknow, India) is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist. He is the third biggest selling singles artist of all time in the United Kingdom, with total sales of over 21 million in the UK and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide. more »

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