Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Ah, Kansas City
Going to get my baby back home
Yeah, yeah
I'm going to Kansas City
Going to get my baby back home
Yeah, yeah
Well, it's a long, long, time
Since my baby's been gone
[Verse 2]
Ah, Kansas City
Going to to get my baby one time
Yeah, yeah
I'm going to Kansas City
Going to get my baby one time
Yeah, yeah
It's just a one, two, three, four
Five, six, seven, eight, nine, wah
[Chorus]
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, baby, woo no clown
I say you're no clown
Now, now, now, now
Tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
Hey, now, baby, woo no clown
I say you're no clown
Now, now, now, now
Tell me baby
What's been wrong with you
[Outro]
Well, I'll say bye
Bye, bye, baby bye, bye
Oh, so long
Bye, bye, baby I'm gone
Yeah, I said
Bye, bye, baby, bye, bye
Bye, bye, bye, bye
Well, I'll say bye
Bye, bye, baby bye, bye
Woo, so long
Bye, bye, baby, I'm gone
About
Originally written by Jerry Leiber and performed by Little Willie Littlefield in 1952, “Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!” is one of the Beatles' most well-known covers.
They first had the idea for covering the song in 1962, after hearing Little Richard perform a medley of “K.C. Loving.” Little Richard is one of the the Beatles' biggest inspirations, especially for Paul McCartney.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
According to the Beatles Bible website, October 18, 1964 was a busy day for The Fab Four. They recorded three new originals and five cover songs at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios. Of the latter, these included:
- “Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!” by Little Richard
- “Words of Love” by Buddy Holly
- “Mr Moonlight” by Dr. Feelgood
- “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby” by Carl Perkins
- “Rock And Roll Music” by Chuck Berry
The original tracks that they laid were:
- “Eight Days A Week” by Lennon-McCartney
- “I Feel Fine” by Lennon
- “I’ll Follow The Sun” by McCartney
I could do Little Richard’s voice, which is a wild, hoarse, screaming thing; it’s like an out-of-body experience. You have to leave your current sensibilities and go about a foot above your head to sing it. You have to actually go outside yourself. It’s a funny little trick and when you find it, it’s very interesting.
— Paul McCartney
It requires a great deal of nerve to just jump up and scream like an idiot, you know? Anyway, I would often fall a little bit short, not have that little kick, that soul, and it would be John who would go, ‘Come on! You can sing it better than that, man! Come on, come on! Really throw it!’ Alright, John, OK… He was certainly the one I looked up to, most definitely.
— Paul McCartney, 1984
- 1.No Reply
- 2.I’m a Loser
- 7.Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
- 10.Honey Don’t