One of the most popular black singers of the 60s, Wilson Pickett helped introduce the aggressive, rhythmic style of black music to a wide audience and has influenced almost countless rnb artists over the years. It all got started in Prattville, Alabama, where he was raised. Pickett moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of sixteen, and he made his professional debut spending several years singing with the gospel group The Violinaires in the late 50s. From 1961 to 1963, he was in The Falcons, writing and singing their 1962 hit "I Found A Love".
Pickett then went solo and signed with Lloyd Price's Double L Records, where he wrote and recorded "If You Love Me" and "It's Too Late." In 1964, Pickett signed with Atlantic Records and did his early recordings in the Stax studio in Memphis, Tennessee with Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper of The MGs. Cropper co-authored three of his early hits, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Don't Fight It from his debut album The Exciting Wilson Pickett that established him as a major soul star. The album also included "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)," "She's So Good to Me," and "Land of a 1,000 Dances," all recorded at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals.
Pickett then had hits with "Mustang Sally," "I Found a Love," and "Funky Broadway," all recorded in Muscle Shoals. Pickett then teamed with Bobby Womack in 1968 for Midnight Mover that yielded a Top 10 R7B and pop hit with Womack's title song. In 1969, Pickett had a major hit with The Beatles "Hey Jude,", followed in 1970 by "Sugar, Sugar." Later in 1970, Pickett worked with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The result was two crossover hits "Engine Number Nine," and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You."
After crossover hits "Don't Knock My Love - Part 1" and "Fire and Water" Pickett left Atlantic for RCA, with minimum success. Pickett later recorded for several record companies, including his own Wicked label, but failed to have anymore hits.
Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.In 1999 he performed with his friend Bruce Springsteen.In 2002 he performed in the movie Only The Strong Survive.Singing his classic hits like In the Midnight hour and Land Of 1000 Dances.In 2004 Pickett retired from performing do to Health problems.Pickett told his sister he was going to the field of God but he never recovered.
On January 19,2006 Pickett died of a heart attack at his home. At his funeral long time friend Richard Pennimen (Little Richard) did a eulogy for Mr Pickett with his brothers at his funeral.
Pickett's Personal life was troubled. In 1993 he struck a pedestrian Pepe Ruiz. Later that year Ruiz died. Soul Singer Don Covay called him "Young and Wild". Pickett was arrested many times in his life.
Land Of 1000 Dances
Wilson Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
One-two-three
Ow, uh, alright, uh!
Got to know how to pony
Like Bony Maronie
Mashed potato
Do the alligator
Put your hand on your hips, yeah
Let your backbone slip
Do the watusi
Like my little Lucy
Hey!
Uh, na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, I need somebody to help me say it one time
Na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, wo-ow!
Wow!
Uh, you know I feel alright
Ha, feel pretty good y'all
Uh, huh!
Na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, come on y'all, let's say it one more time
Na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, wo-ow!
Twist it in the alley
With long tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy
Doin' the watusi
Roll over on your back
I like it like that
Do that Jerk-ah
Watch me work y'all
Ow, do it
Wow, do it
Just watch me do it
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
The song "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett has a very upbeat and lively tune, accompanied by the singer's emphatic performance. The lyrics of the song mainly comprise instructions for various dance steps, and also encourages the listeners to join in through repeated chants of "Na-na-na-na" and "Help me".
The first verse begins with the instruction to "pony", a dance move popular in the early 1960s, and references the song "Bony Maronie" by Larry Williams to describe the move. The second line mentions the "mashed potato", another popular dance move of the time. The "alligator" is a dance step where the performer stands with arms raised and creates a snappy motion with the arms, imitating an alligator's jaws.
The chorus of the song is mainly made up of the repeated "Na-na-na-na" chant, with a call for someone to join in and help sing the song. The second verse describes additional dances such as the "watusi" and "jerkah", and even references Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally". The song ends on a vocal back-and-forth between Pickett and his backup singers, with the iconic request for assistance in singing "Help me" repeated four times.
Line by Line Meaning
One-two-three
Counting down to start dancing
Got to know how to pony
Need to know how to dance with rhythmic motions
Like Bony Maronie
Dance with similar style as Bony Maronie
Mashed potato
Dance with steps like mashing a potato
Do the alligator
Dance with moves like an alligator's tail and arms
Put your hand on your hips, yeah
Gently place your hands on your hips
Let your backbone slip
Relax and let your backbone move smoothly
Do the watusi
Dance with watusi style
Like my little Lucy
Dance like Lucy
Hey!
Exclamation to pump up enthusiasm
Uh, na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Singing a catchy tune to accompany dancing
Na-na-na-na, I need somebody to help me say it one time
Asking for support to sing the tune once again
Wow!
Expressing joy and excitement
Uh, you know I feel alright
Feeling good and energized
Ha, feel pretty good y'all
Feeling very satisfied and happy
Na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Continuing to hum the catchy tune
Na-na-na-na, come on y'all, let's say it one more time
Encouraging everyone to start singing the tune once again
Twist it in the alley
Twist and dance in the alley
With long tall Sally
Along with tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy
Twist and dance with Lucy
Doin' the watusi
Continuing to dance with watusi style
Roll over on your back
Roll back on the floor
I like it like that
Enjoying the dance and feeling satisfied
Do that Jerk-ah
Do the Jerk with Jerk-ah style
Watch me work y'all
Asking people to observe how good the dancer is
Ow, do it
Exclaiming to keep dance moves going
Wow, do it
Keep the high energy level going
Just watch me do it
Setting an example of the dance moves
Aah, help me
Asking for some support and encouragement
Aah, help me
Asking once again for support and encouragement
Aah, help me
Asking for one last time for support and encouragement
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Kenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rodney Allen
RIP to the dynamic drummer who played on this hit record: Roger Hawkins 1945-2021
Lumber Jack
That brother was BAD TO THE BONE!!!!!!
H Mackie
damned straight
Michael Koszowski
Good call sir !!! ...if this song don't make your heartbeat ...your probably dead !!
Cheryl Smith
Yes RIP β€β€β€β€
Kali Clearwater
Rest In Peace and thanks for sharing your Wonderful Talent with us.
Sic Synch
There was a time when the lines between rock and soul were so blurred that artists of either genre reciprocated a reverence for each other's work, covers of well known songs on either side were not uncommon and pretty standard. Music is and has never been a division it's a force that drives us to inspire one another. A heartfelt thank you to those bands on either side that helped make us a collective of music lovers regardless of race, religion or creed. Emotion we draw from song is as intrinsic as having a heartbeat, and I'm pretty sure if you're reading this you got one of them. God bless and keep growing.
Scott Knabb
Yea! I miss the days when rock had horns!
H Mackie
It wasn't the musicians that drew those lines
H Mackie
politicians probably