Singer and saxophonist Louis Jordan had a residency at night club Elk's Rendezvous in Harlem and it is argued that Jump Blues was inititially popularised there by Jordan's band, "The Tympany Five". Singer and trumpeter Louis Prima, another musician who dabbled in Jump Blues, was performing as early as the 1920's but in more of a New Orleans Jazz style.
Some major Jump Blues artists including Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner are accredited with preempting Rock & Roll with a brand of blues that crosses over considerably with early Rhythm and Blues, the style from which it was born. The Rock & Roll connection comes from Jump Blues artists' tendency to shout, "honk" on their saxophones and maintain a hard driving rhythm. Jump Blues also tends to swing, and quite hard. Along with its use of swing, aspects of Jump Blues influenced Big Band Jazz of the 1940s which emerged as quite different from its pre-depression roots.
Jump Blues often emphasises the saxaphone as a melodic and soloing instrument and lyrically tends to follow a narrative that celebrates the lifestyle of many young African Americans' at the time including partying, domestic issues and those surrounding control and authority. Small to medium sized combos were most popular and the guitar provided a rhythmic role as opposed to other blues styles. The form was often 12-bar but varied considerably and borrowed much from jazz both structurally and harmonically.
Contemporary renovators of the style include Brian Setzer, Lavay Smith and Joe Jackson.
Shake Rattle and Roll
Big Joe Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots 'n pans
Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through
Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through
I can't believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you
I believe to my soul you're the devil and now I know
I believe to my soul you're the devil and now I know
Well, the more I work, the faster my money goes
I said shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul
Yeah, blow Joe
I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store
I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store
Well, I can look at you till you ain't no child no more
Ah, shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul
I get over the hill and way down underneath
I get over the hill and way down underneath
You make me roll my eyes, even make me grit my teeth
I said shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do nothin' to save your doggone soul
Shake, rattle and roll
The lyrics to "Shake Rattle And Roll" by Big Joe Turner describe the frustration and irritation the singer feels towards his lover. He urges her to get out of bed and do her chores, telling her to make noise with the pots and pans in the kitchen. He compliments her appearance but also criticizes her for being messy. He believes that she is a devil and a hindrance to his financial stability, lamenting that no matter how much he works, his money quickly disappears.
The chorus of the song is repeated several times, in which the singer demands that his lover shake, rattle, and roll, but also acknowledges that she won't do right to save her soul. He compares himself to a one-eyed cat peeking into a seafood store, suggesting he desires his lover but knows she is trouble. Ultimately, the singer has had enough and decides to move on, as he notes that his lover won't do anything to save her "doggone soul."
Interestingly, "Shake Rattle And Roll" originally had different lyrics and was written by Jesse Stone for a female singer named Big Mama Thornton. It was then covered by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1954, where it became a hit and helped to popularize rock and roll. Big Joe Turner also recorded a version of the song in the same year, which was a hit in its own right. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Line by Line Meaning
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Get up and start your day by cleaning yourself up
Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots 'n pans
Start cooking, be busy and make some noise by hitting the pots and pans
Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through
Your dresses are so sheer that the sun shines through them
I can't believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you
I can't believe that you own all that mess and chaos
I believe to my soul you're the devil and now I know
I truly believe that you are the devil, and now I have proof
Well, the more I work, the faster my money goes
The harder I work, the faster I spend my money
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Move your body and make some noise
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul
No matter what happens, you won't do the right thing
I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store
I feel like I am in a good situation, but I can't take full advantage of it
Well, I can look at you till you ain't no child no more
I can stare at you for so long that you won't be a child anymore
I get over the hill and way down underneath
I am getting old and struggling
You make me roll my eyes, even make me grit my teeth
You make me so frustrated that I even grit my teeth
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Calhoun
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@usmc1917916
Man! This is Music History........These guys were the real deal......RIP
@nobodyyouknow222
I have been listening to Big Joe Turner almost every day for a couple of years.. listening to the arrangements.. the horns playing one line behind the soloist.. and the bass.. its just the classic early early rock back ups.. with jazz players, and Joe. The 48-55 transition from R&B / jazz of the day into Rock and modern R&B is some rich territory... the horns went away, replace by voices and guitars.. but the stuff was all laid down here.
@donmacquarrie9161
I'm just figuring out this is the man who invented rock and roll...one of his early songs is spoken almost like rap...incredible.
@tungstun1977
Thank goodness for YouTube how else would I have ever found this...thanks for posting
@THEMOJOMANsince1959
The Beginning these kids today have missed SO MUCH. This is where it came from. I was about 12-13 then
@anthonycorreia6491
this is pure rock n roll born out of the blues, god's music
@davecyr1063
Big Joe rules !!!!! Thanks for posting this fine video of what most consider his best-known composition. One of the finest examples of rock and roll being born from the blues. YES !!!!!!!
@animequeen5624
This is my dad's favorite song rip to my dad I miss him
@marsha-madness-super-badness
The brother on the bass knew what the hell he was doing. Damn.
@ryanb7476
very well played on that bass