“The Java Jive“ (Ink Spots, 1940)

Celebrating that “cheery, cheery“ bean of the caffeinated variety with the Ink Spots (Hoppy Jones, Deek Watson, Bill Kenny, and Charlie Fuqua). Milton Drake’s words join Ben Oakland’s music. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE JAVA JIVE I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the jivin and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup! I love java, sweet and hot Whoops! Mr. Moto, I’m a coffee pot Shoot me the pot and I’ll pour me a shot A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup! Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug And I cut a rug till I’m snug in a jug A slice of onion and a raw one, draw one. Waiter, waiter, percolator! I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the jivin and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup! Boston bean, soy bean Lima bean, string bean. You know that I’m not keen for a bean Unless it is a cheery coffee bean. I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the jivin and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup! I love java, sweet and hot Whoops! Mr. Moto, I’m a coffee pot Shoot me the pot and I’ll pour me a shot A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup! Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug And I cut a rug till I’m snug in a jug Drop me a nickel in my pot, Joe, Takin it slow. Waiter, waiter, percolator! I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the jivin and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The song went largely unplayed during World War II for its reference to the wily Japanese detective Mr. Moto (played by Peter Lorre in a series of movies). Likewise, the Japanese occupied the Dutch colony of Java (Indonesia) which cut off that source of Coffee to the American market for several picked up the slack.