Often billed on his biggest hits as Alvin Cash & The Crawlers, Alvin Cash (… Read Full Bio ↴Often billed on his biggest hits as Alvin Cash & The Crawlers, Alvin Cash (born: February 15, 1939. died November 21, 1999) was born Alvin Welch in St. Louis, Missouri, and was a graduate of St. Louis's Summers High (also attended by singers Luther Ingram, and Anna Mae Bullock who was better known later as Tina Turner). Cash started his career as a tap dancer and performed with his brother in a group called the Step Brothers. He started singing later, hitting the Chicago scene with his group Alvin Cash and the Registers.

Legend has it that Andre Williams saw Alvin and his brothers group performing in the early 60's (as The Crawlers) and had them record a tune, "It's Twine Time", which was a rewrite of a Williams' 1957 hit called "Bacon Fat". The tune became a pop hit in 1965, and while "The Crawlers" proper, i.e. Alvin's brothers, probably did not play on the track, backing band The Nightliters likely did.

Soon after the success of the single, The Nightliters changed their name to The Crawlers and began touring with Cash. They appeared on Ed Sullivan and Dick Clark tv shows and their other funky dance hits were "The Funky Washing Machine," "The Ali Shuffle" and "The Philly Freeze." Cash went solo after a few further singles, and recorded a full-length LP tribute to Muhammad Ali; he also acted in several blaxploitation films, such as Petey Wheatstraw and Black Jack. He continued performing in the Chicago area into the 1990s, and died from ulcer complications in 1999.

Singles

"Twine Time" (1965) US #14, US R&B #4[2]
"The Barracuda" (1965) US #59, US R&B #29
"The Philly Freeze"
"Mr. Penguin"
"Unwind the Twine"
"Keep On Dancing" (1968) US #66, US R&B #14

Keep On Dancing
Alvin Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready
Where people gather 'round, whenever they're ready
And then the music begins to play
You feel a groove comin' on its way
Are you ready (are you ready)
Well, you get yours, cause-a I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
(Monkey Time)

Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know is that when the beat brings a feel
It's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically you're on your way
Are you ready (are you ready)
Well, you get yours, cause-a I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
(Monkey Time)

Do the Monkey, yeah (do the Monkey Time)
Do the Monkey, yeah (do the Monkey Time)

Ah-twist them hips (twist them hips)
Let your backbone slip (let your backbone slip)
Now move your feet (move your feet)
Get on the beat (get on the beat)
Are you ready (are you ready)
Well, you get yours, cause-a I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
(Monkey Time)

Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know is that when the beat brings a feel
It's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically you're on your way
Are you ready (are you ready)
Well, you get yours, cause-a I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
Ah, do the Monkey, yeah

Give me a big strong line
You're lookin' real fine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Alvin Cash's "Keep On Dancing" are about a place across town where people gather and dance to music. The song encourages listeners to let go and allow the beat to move them, with the "Monkey Time" dance being the central focus. The dance itself is not fully explained, but it involves twisting hips, letting your backbone slip, and moving your feet to the beat. The song suggests that the Monkey Time is a dance that anyone can do and gives listeners permission to let loose and have fun.

The song's lyrics carry a message about the power of music to bring people together and the joy found in dancing. The place across town where people gather serves as a metaphor for the universal appeal of music and dance, bringing people of different backgrounds and cultures together. The Monkey Time dance represents the freedom and abandon that can be found on the dance floor. The lyrics may be interpreted as encouraging listeners to forget their worries and enjoy the moment.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready
There is a location nearby that is waiting for you to come and enjoy some good music and dancing.

Where people gather 'round, whenever they're ready
The place is popular, and people come to gather around to have some fun.

And then the music begins to play
The moment when the music starts is a highlight, and everyone feels energized.

You feel a groove comin' on its way
Once the beat settles in, it's hard to resist the urge to dance.

Are you ready (are you ready)
The singer is checking if the audience is ready for some fun and dancing.

Well, you get yours, cause-a I got mine
The singer is stating that he is enjoying the music and the feeling of the beat.

For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
The name of the dance is called the Monkey Time, and this is what the song is about.

Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
The singer is unaware of the origins of the dance but enjoys it nonetheless.

All I know is that when the beat brings a feel
The singer recognizes that the dance is associated with the feeling generated by the beat.

It's so hard to get parted
Once you get into the groove, it's hard to stop dancing.

Ah-twist them hips (twist them hips)
The singer is encouraging the audience to shake their hips to the rhythm of the music.

Let your backbone slip (let your backbone slip)
The singer wants the audience to loosen up and move their bodies in response to the music.

Now move your feet (move your feet)
The singer is asking the audience to start moving their feet to the beat of the music.

Get on the beat (get on the beat)
The singer is encouraging the audience to get into the rhythm of the music and let the beat guide their movements.

Ah, do the Monkey, yeah
The singer again refers to the dance as the Monkey Time and encourages the audience to keep going.

Give me a big strong line
The singer is excited about the performance and looking for a strong reaction from the audience.

You're lookin' real fine
The singer is complementing the audience, implying that they look good while dancing.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEXTER WANSEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@Sonny0425

44w

I was in Army in England in 1967 and two of my buddies and I were in a pub and waitress came over to us and said the man over there wants to buy your drinks, and said thank him but no thanks. Then the man came over and introduced himself “Hi, I’m Alvin Cash” he and band had a show there that night

@davidmolnar9745

6y↑12

Played this in my first band in 9th grade. Still a favorite after about 50 years!

@WorldBFree-lw6wo

5y↑1

This cut is so strong it will last longer than our universe. I GOT-DAMN GUAR-AN-TEE IT! HA HA HA HA!
ALVIN CASH THEN, NOW AND FOREVER!

@unc1589

New York loved this song.
We went bananas on the dance floor !

@arieuswilliams716

2y↑1

Marley marl & Masta ace brought me here:) Letter to the better (1990) #ColdChillin

@greatscottdrums

10y↑9

My god, I thought from the Hip Hop samples that this was Sly And The Family Stone!!! The DJ's from back then (the 80's and 90's) were brilliant!!!

@WorldBFree-lw6wo

5y↑2

You know that's right cousin! I first heard this number on WRAP AM 850 in Norfolk, VA. They had a DJ named Jimmy Boone, aka 'The Cooker'. Dude would talk in the fade and sometimes say "Awww, YEAH! Sounds so nice I GOT TO PLAY IT TWICE!" LOL