You clap your hands And you swing out wide Do the Suzie Q, mix in a step or two Put 'em all together, and you're doin' the jive Oh, you stomp your feet, you swing out wide Mess around a while, shake it boogie-woogie style Everybody's swingin' when you doin' the jive If you can't play rummy, or at bridge, you're the dummy Don't let it bother you 'Cause you'll be the king when the band begins to swing You'll be a smarty and the life of the party If you do a bump, and you swing out wide Drop a little bit, beat it out and make a fit Everybody's happy when you're doin' the jive It may be somethin' but it's not the jive It may be somethin' but it's not the jive Well, what is the jive? What is the jive, why man alive The jive's the jive Why I cut you some riff and posse too Just what else are we supposed to do? Take it cool now boss, give me a chance You're all mixed up 'Cause the jive's the dance Well, tell me some more, I'm a suck at you Well, down there some horn will have dancin' tools You clap your hands, and you swing out wide Do the Suzie Q, mix in a step or two Put it all together, and you're doin' the jive Oh, you stomp your feet And you swing out wide Mess around a while, shake it boogie-woogie style Everybody's swingin' when you doin' the jive If you can't play rummy, or at bridge, you're the dummy Don't let it bother you 'cause you'll be the king When the band begins to swing You'll be a smarty and the life of the party If you do a bump, and you swing out wide Drop a little bit, beat it out and make a fit Everybody's happy when you're doin' the jive