Minnie the Moocher's Weddin' Day

“Here's some news that'll get you,
It's made to order for you.
I just bet it's a cinch you'll
Follow up this red hot clue.

Grab a taxi and go down,
Chinatown's on a spree,
Let me give you the lowdown,
This is really history.

Whenever folks in Chinatown start acting gay
There's something in the air that makes them feel that way.
Yeah man, I heard somebody say
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day!

Old Smoky Joe's so happy he can hardly wait,
He's spent a million dollars for his wedding date,
Yeah man, they gonna celebrate,
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day.

chorus
You better come on down,
Way down in Chinatown,
Oh, let me take you down
To see them kick the gong around.

A million cokies shouting, "Hay-de-hay-de-hay!"
The king of Sweden's gonna give the bride away,
Yeah man, I heard somebody say,
It's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day!

The king and queen of every nation
Were glad to get an invitation;
The prince of Wales said he would get away
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day!

They said a hundred thousand hoppies
Went over to China pickin' poppies,
They gonna put them all in one bouquet
For Minnie the Moocher's wedding day!

chorus
Hi-de-hi-de-hi,
Ho-de-ho-de-ho-de-ho!
Hay-de-hay-de-hay,
Oh it's Minnie the Moocher's wedding day!

Yeah man! Why, what's that them boys say?
It's Minnie the Moocher's weddin' day!”

Minnie the Moocher's weddin' day; w Ted Kohler, m Harold Arlen; with ukulele arr. © May 26, 1932; E pub. 30542; Mills music, inc. 1407
[Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Pt. III, Musical Compositions, (Washington: GPO, 1932, p.624)]

Lyrics transcribed from: Cab Calloway, Best Of The Big Bands, Columbia, CT45336, cassette, 1990, trk. A5.

Ytube: 1932 Cab Calloway - Minnie The Moocher’s Wedding Day

Note: As with the other tunes, this one was recorded before and after the two Cotton Club reviews and tours. Lots of variation. One version clues in Walter Winchell in the first verse.