Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
Ian Dury Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the deserts of Sudan
And the gardens of Japan
From Milan to Yucatan
Every woman, every man

Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
Je t'adore, ich liebe dich,
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me slowly, hit me quick.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

In the wilds of Borneo
And the vineyards of Bordeaux
Eskimo, Arapaho
Move their body to and fro.

Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
Das ist gut! C'est fantastique!
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
It's nice to be a lunatic.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
In the dock of Tiger Bay
On the road to Mandalay
From Bombay to Santa Fe
Over hills and far away

Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!
C'est si bon, mm? Ist es nicht?
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Two fat persons, click, click, click.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me! Ow!
Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me! hit me!

Hit me [Repeat: x 5]

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury are a celebratory ode to the universal power of music and dancing. The first verse paints a picture of different cultures and regions, ranging from the deserts of Sudan to the gardens of Japan, and how people of all genders and backgrounds respond to music. The chorus urges the listener to hit the singer with their rhythm stick, both as a request for more intense and engaging music, and as a plea to surrender oneself to the beat. The second verse expands the geographical scope even further, including the wilds of Borneo and the vineyards of Bordeaux, and highlights how different tribes and communities dance to their own rhythms.


The bridge of the song shifts to specific locations and references, starting with the dock of Tiger Bay and ending with Santa Fe. These name-checks serve to emphasize the global reach of music, and how it connects people across different languages and traditions. The chorus repeats, adding more languages and positive exclamations, such as "C'est si bon" (it's so good) and "Das ist gut" (that's good), while also acknowledging the absurdity and playfulness of the lyrics, with lines like "Two fat persons, click, click, click."


Overall, "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" is a jubilant and infectious tribute to music's ability to unite and uplift people, highlighting how it transcends borders and differences. The lyrics encourage listeners to let loose and dance to the beat of their own rhythm stick, celebrating the joy and freedom that comes with letting go.


Line by Line Meaning

In the deserts of Sudan
People all over the world, from the deserts of Sudan to the gardens of Japan to Milan to Yucatan, enjoy a good rhythm.


Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Give me some of that good rhythm.


Hit me! Hit me!
I really want that rhythm.


Je t'adore, ich liebe dich,
I love the rhythm, no matter what language it's in, and I want more of it.


Hit me slowly, hit me quick.
I want this rhythm in different tempos, both slow and fast.


In the wilds of Borneo
Even in remote and exotic places like Borneo and Bordeaux, people still love a good rhythm.


Eskimo, Arapaho
People from all cultures, like the Eskimo and the Arapaho, enjoy a good rhythm.


Move their body to and fro.
People can't help but move their bodies to the rhythm.


Das ist gut! C'est fantastique!
Regardless of the language, everyone agrees that this rhythm is great and fantastic.


It's nice to be a lunatic.
It's nice to let loose and dance to this rhythm like a crazy person.


Hit me!
Again, I really want that rhythm.


In the dock of Tiger Bay
Even in tough places like the docks of Tiger Bay or on the road to Mandalay, people will still find joy in the rhythm.


Over hills and far away
This rhythm can be found anywhere, even far away in places like Bombay or Santa Fe.


C'est si bon, mm? Ist es nicht?
Regardless of the language, everyone knows that this rhythm is so good.


Two fat persons, click, click, click.
People of all shapes and sizes can enjoy this rhythm, even two fat people clicking their heels together to it.


Hit me! Ow!
This rhythm is so good, it's almost painful.


Hit me!
Once again, I really want that rhythm.




Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES JEREMY JANKEL, IAN ROBINS DURY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@OLDGOLDDREAMER

Caroline these should be absolutely perfect 4U !
1980 CHART HITS ( up to July so far ) All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcphfjcVulJ5jsP3oHslGjCuc

1979 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry
Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpgFJC8P6awEQ3zPR1k07esz

1978 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpgAF5b_f7oq0HWeO-AZhq99

1977 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpjIz9L-Iu3f7dKL1AhYs3R8

1976 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpj3riek7_6jeobh8-8rPLe4

1975 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcphrbPyiOhDbBXMvnVHWHny9

1974 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcphuqH7QYq76bta1-Qcynn_-

1973 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpiOv78ntVws-hceYHK11hTU

1972 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpji_ftPX_vuFMCmnAfSh4rR

1971 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpi9qNJbKbDmY0Sbze6lwQqu

1970 CHART HITS (All In Weekly Chart Entry Order)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcphv7Bsr4moeVzlB_vKmFq5j

70’s NUMBER ONE CHART HITS ( IN RELEASE ORDER )
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcphLKAJrLRdeONXjJhADydQ3

70’s GLAM ROCK
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpiA8pJS3T4DFh70PUZZrcvT

1976 SUMMER HEATWAVE
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpipwJR4uGBgWMERVBvJ8x9p

NEW ROMANTIC MUSIC ( 79’80’81’)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpj03NHpKG7HwOQo-0cVKqgk

POST DISCO & DISCO ( MAJORITY 1980 )
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpjPQ1XOreWRk8EJgi0mPwZz

DISCO GREATEST HITS ( 250 )
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpj7-6cdgtg5oZ19HLtlHINA

YACHT ROCK
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbO1DMzDZcpj25v-sjmbqDMeHFtDRJZxg



@ninaevans4501

God Bless you Ian Dury.
Life hit you hard.
With polio and a bloody walking stick.
But you hit back, you hit back quick.
A lovely guy with a heart so strong.
But a elephant hide that don't break quick.
We miss you all Mr Fantastic
The warm and loving guy with his walking stick.
God Bless Fella
A True Legend
❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️



All comments from YouTube:

@neilneil7911

A standout in a crowd of poets. He tangled words and rhythms into our being and I thank him for it.

@user-zt2wc3uh1l

56 yo bassist here, child and disciple of the 70s and 80s. I....never...heard...this...till.... today. How did I miss this? I am blown away, jaw wide open.

@blindsquirrel7802

68 yo bassist and Im going nuts trying to figure it out. 3 tutorials, 3 slightly different versions all in the same place and none sounds exactly like this. NW-R is from the future.

@janemortimore6081

Wow!

@edhoughton2609

you're 56 and you have never heard of this track? get out! i am 59 and we used to sing this on the bus on the way to school

@user-zt2wc3uh1l

@@edhoughton2609 , I'm in America. These guys were basically unheard of.

@johnfone758

Not possible was you raised in a bubble

171 More Replies...

@stevefinn618

Lyrically nothing comes close this gem

@jamesfestini

I have never heard of this guy. Add 51 years old I look forward to diving in real deep because this guy is my kind of guy

@Chewligan1

You've lived under a rock then

More Comments

More Versions