Down the Road Apiece
Amos Milburn Lyrics


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Now if you wanna hear some boogie like I'm gonna play
It's just an old piano and a knockout bass
The drummer's man's a cat they call Charlie McCoy
You know, remember that rubber-legged boy?
Mama cookin' chicken fried and bacon grease
Come on along boys it's just down the road apiece

Well there's a place you really get your kicks
It's open every night about twelve to six
Now if you wanna hear some boogie you can get your fill
And shove and sting like an old steam drill
Come on along you can lose your lead
Down the road, down the road, down the road apiece

Well there's a place you really get your kicks
It's open every night about twelve to six
Now if you wanna hear some boogie you can get your fill
And shove and sting like an old steam drill




Come on along you can lose your lead
Down the road, down the road, down the road apiece

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Amos Milburn's song Down the Road Apiece make it clear that what follows is going to be boogie-woogie piano music. Milburn describes his band as consisting of just an old piano and a knockout bass, with a drummer named Charlie McCoy who is "a cat." The reference to McCoy as a cat is a nod to the slang of the time, when "cool cats" were people who were hip or stylish. Milburn also mentions "that rubber-legged boy," which may be a reference to a dance craze of the time. Milburn then invites his audience to come and listen to his music and share in some home-cooked Southern cuisine, including chicken fried in bacon grease.


The rest of the song continues in a similar vein, with Milburn describing a club that's open from 12 to 6 every night where you can hear boogie-woogie and dance until you drop. The lyrics evoke a sense of joyful abandon, with lines like "shove and sting like an old steam drill" and "you can lose your lead." The repetition of the phrase "down the road, down the road, down the road apiece" also creates a feeling of being swept along by the music and the good times.


Line by Line Meaning

Now if you wanna hear some boogie like I'm gonna play
If you want to listen to some energetic music like the one I am about to play


It's just an old piano and a knockout bass
My music only requires an old piano and a strong bass to create a great experience


The drummer's man's a cat they call Charlie McCoy
Charlie McCoy, a talented drummer, is playing with us tonight


You know, remember that rubber-legged boy?
Do you remember that incredible dancer with elastic legs?


Mama cookin' chicken fried and bacon grease
Our host has prepared some delicious fried chicken and bacon for us to enjoy


Come on along boys it's just down the road apiece
Join us, guys, it's just a short distance away


Well there's a place you really get your kicks
There's a spot where you can truly enjoy yourself


It's open every night about twelve to six
It's open daily from midnight to six in the morning


Now if you wanna hear some boogie you can get your fill
If you're looking for some lively music, this is the place to be


And shove and sting like an old steam drill
You can dance and move vigorously like a vintage steam drill


Come on along you can lose your lead
Join us and forget about your troubles


Down the road, down the road, down the road apiece
Just a little way down the road is where you can find us enjoying great music and food




Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Richard Milne

I've watched it 100 times, and can't believe how good he is. Someone commented it isn't hard to play like that. Words fail! I've seen Count Basie try it for about 10 seconds before he gives up - too hard! Best piece of video ever. Thanks a million!

John Greenwood

Richard Milne I’m in much the same boat. One of the most fascinating boogie-woogies of all time.

GrtSatan

Agreed. What a pure pleasure it is to observe a master at his craft.

IN ED

Larry gainor is Jeffrey epstein 2.0

The Foul Quince

Truth be told, Count Basie wasn't all that as a pianist to begin with - his talent was immense but broadly spread, but that stride/boogie woogie style still means you have to have hands made of stainless steel to play it.

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Chas Pianosi

His ability to sustain the left hand in that way, keep the rhythm and the harmony going at the same time, is a very rare skill. It's one thing to play a boogie woogie left hand, it's another to play it like that!

Marakesh7

One of the pillars of rock 'n' roll.

dingoswamphead

Keith's guitar solos make the Stones' version pretty good but this version shows how it's done. Love the interplay between Amos and Willie, with the band just lookin' on. Willie's a cool dancer too. Imagine vocal mike placement like that nowadays.

AllBobsAllTheTime

Both Chuck and the Stones, though, messed up the lyrics.

James Newman

Yeah, I really Love the Stones Version of this. Keith's Chops are Reminiscent of Chuck Berry.

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