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Tighten Up
Archie Bell and The Drells Lyrics


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Hi everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the Drells of Houston, Texas
We don't only sing but we dance just as good as we walk
In Houston we just started a new dance called the Tighten up
This is the music we tighten up with

First tighten up on the drums
Come on now drummer
I want you to tighten it up for me now, oh yeah
Tighten up on that bass now
Tighten it up, ha ha, yeah



Now let that guitar fall in, oh yeah
Tighten up on that organ now

Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah now
I said if you can do it now,
It sure would be tough

Now look here
Come on now
Now make it mellow

Let's tighten up now
Do the tighten up
Everybody can do it now
So get to it
We're gonna tighten up
Let's do the tighten up
You can do it now
So baby get to it

Look to your left now
Look to your right
Everybody can do it
But don't you get too uptight
Come on and tighten up
Tighten it up now
Tighten it up now
Tighten it up

Do the the tighten up
C'mon and tighten it up
Tighten it up now

C'mon now Billie
Tighten it up, woo
Oh yeah
Sock it to 'em, sock it to 'em
Tighten it up

C'mon tighten up that bass, oh yeah
Now look here I want that guitar to fall in on that
Tighten it up now, oh yeah
Now tighten it up organ
Yeah now everybody, tighten it up

Now look here
We gonna make it mellow for ya now
We gonna make it mellow now

Tighten it up
If you can get it
Move to your left
Move to your right
Tighten it up now
Everything will be outta sight
C'mon and tighten it up
Tighten it up now
You can do it
So baby get to it

Overall Meaning

The song "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and The Drells is a classic example of a dance-craze song from the 1960s. The song calls on the listener to join in the new dance craze, the "Tighten Up". It was recorded in Houston, Texas, in 1967, and it quickly became a regional hit. The song was famous for its catchy beat, strong rhythm, and upbeat lyrics.


The lead singer, Archie Bell, introduces the song and calls for the drummer to tighten up the beat. Then he asks the bass, guitar, and the organ to follow. The lyrics urge the listener to join the dance, and it even includes instructions on how to do the "Tighten Up." The song's call-and-response structure and the energetic delivery create a festive and celebratory mood that makes it hard not to dance along.


The message of the song is relatively simple and straightforward, but its infectious rhythm and iconic dance moves have cemented it in the history of hit songs. The song's repetition of the lyrics and catchy beats made it popular for dance routines and DJ sets and helped establish it as a classic of the so-called "golden age of soul music."


Line by Line Meaning

Hi everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the Drells of Houston, Texas
Introducing himself and his group, Archie Bell greets everyone with his identity and origin.


We don't only sing but we dance just as good as we walk
Along with singing, they also dance remarkably well.


In Houston we just started a new dance called the Tighten up
They invented a new dance in Houston which they call the Tighten up.


This is the music we tighten up with
The music they play is meant for dancing the Tighten up.


First tighten up on the drums
They ask the drummer to start the music for the Tighten up.


Come on now drummer
They encourage the drummer to start playing.


I want you to tighten it up for me now, oh yeah
Archie Bell requests the drummer to play the music as per the Tighten up style.


Tighten up on that bass now
They ask the bass guitarist to play the bass in accordance with the style of the Tighten up.


Tighten it up, ha ha, yeah
With an affirmative tone, they urge the bass guitarist to play exactly as they require.


Now let that guitar fall in, oh yeah
They want the guitar to sync in with the bass and drum music.


Tighten up on that organ now
They instruct the organ player to start playing in the style of the Tighten up.


Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah now
They ask the people to dance to the Tighten up music.


I said if you can do it now, it sure would be tough
They challenge the people if they can dance to their style of music.


Now look here
They want to grab the attention of the people for the upcoming instruction.


Come on now
Encouraging the people to follow their instructions.


Now make it mellow
They want to slow down the music and make it softer.


Let's tighten up now
Now they ask the people to start dancing the Tighten up.


Do the tighten up
They repeat their request for people to dance the Tighten up.


Everybody can do it now
They are confident everyone can dance the Tighten up.


So get to it
Urging the people to start dancing the Tighten up now.


We're gonna tighten up
They are going to perform the Tighten up dance.


Let's do the tighten up
They again ask people to dance the Tighten up.


You can do it now
They again encourage people that they can dance the Tighten up.


So baby get to it
They again urge people to start dancing the Tighten up right away.


Look to your left now
They want people to look to their left side for the next instruction.


Look to your right
They want people to look to their right for the upcoming instruction.


Everybody can do it
They want to reassure people that they all can dance the Tighten up.


But don't you get too uptight
They do not want people to get nervous and feel pressured, and rather dance the Tighten up comfortably.


Come on and tighten up
They ask the people to start dancing the Tighten up again.


Tighten it up now
Repeating their instruction to tighten up while dancing.


Everything will be outta sight
If people dance the Tighten up, they will surely have a great time.


C'mon and tighten it up
Reiterating the people again to dance the Tighten up.


You can do it
They are once again positive that everyone can dance the Tighten up.


So baby get to it
Once again asking people to start dancing the Tighten up right now.


C'mon now Billie
Calling out to someone named Billie.


Tighten it up, woo
Asking to tighten up while dancing, expressing excitement and enthusiasm.


Oh yeah
They show their appreciation and enjoyment of the music.


Sock it to 'em, sock it to 'em
Encouraging the musicians to play the music with energy and vigor.


Tighten it up
Repeating their instruction to tighten up while dancing.


C'mon tighten up that bass, oh yeah
Asking the bass guitarist to play in such a way that it complements the Tighten up style.


Now look here I want that guitar to fall in on that
They instruct the guitar player to come in right after the bass guitar.


Tighten it up now, oh yeah
Asking people to dance the Tighten up once again with enthusiasm and enjoyment.


Now tighten it up organ
Asking the organ player to join in playing the Tighten up style.


Yeah now everybody, tighten it up
Asking everyone to join in and dance the Tighten up.


Now look here
Again wanting to grab the attention of the people for the upcoming instruction.


We gonna make it mellow for ya now
They want to slow down the music again and make it softer for the people to dance comfortably.


If you can get it
They again challenge the people if they can dance the Tighten up style.


Move to your left
Asking the people to move to their left.


Move to your right
Asking the people to move to their right.


Tighten it up now
Asking the people to tighten up and dance to the music.


Everything will be outta sight
Again assuring people that they will have a great time if they dance the Tighten up.


C'mon and tighten it up
Reiterating their instruction to tighten up and dance the Tighten up.


Tighten it up now
Asking people to tighten up and dance comfortably.


You can do it
Reassuring people that they can dance the Tighten up.


So baby get to it
Urging the people once again to start dancing the Tighten up.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARCHIE BELL, BILLY BUTTIER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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