Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American rock band… Read Full Bio ↴Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American rock band from the South The band unofficially formed in 1970 as former members of the Candymen and the Classics IV became the session band for the newly opened Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, near Atlanta. After playing on other artists' recordings, they decided to become a true band in their own right. The members of the original band were Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitarist), Paul Goddard (bassist), Dean Daughtry (keyboardist) and Robert Nix (drummer). Justo left the band after the first album and was replaced by Ronnie Hammond. Buddy Buie, the band's manager and producer, is listed first on almost all of the songwriting credits of the band's songs.

While ARS would never reach the commercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Marshall Tucker Band, the group had a strong following in the south and charted a number of hits such as "Imaginary Lover," "I'm Not Going to Let it Bother Me Tonight," "Champagne Jam," "So Into You," and a remake of a Classics IV hit, "Spooky."

The band also influenced a number of rock and country artists, notably Travis Tritt, who recorded a cover of the ARS songs, "Back Up Against the Wall" and "Homesick." The group Shudder to Think covered "So Into You."

Long Tall Sally
Atlanta Rhythm Section Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
He said he had the misery but he got a lot of fun
Baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

I saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally
He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley
Oh, baby, yeah now baby

Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well Long Tall Sally's built pretty sweet
She got everything that Uncle John need
Baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well, we're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Everything's all right
Have some fun tonight
Have some fun
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
We're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Everything's all right
Have some fun tonight

Yeah, we'll have some fun
Some fun tonight

Overall Meaning

The song "Long Tall Sally" by the Atlanta Rhythm Section is a cover of the classic rock and roll hit originally recorded by Little Richard. The lyrics tell the story of Uncle John, who has been cheating on Aunt Mary with Long Tall Sally. Uncle John claims to have "the misery," which was a slang term for a sexually transmitted disease, but he is still having a good time with Long Tall Sally. The singer of the song, presumably another family member or friend, witnesses Uncle John and Long Tall Sally together and warns him when Aunt Mary is approaching. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "have some fun tonight" as a celebration of the illicit behavior that is occurring.

The song's upbeat tempo and classic rock and roll sound are characteristic of the early days of the genre. The lyrics of the song were controversial for the time, as they alluded to a taboo subject matter in a thinly veiled way. The original recording of "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard was a hit in the late 1950s and is still considered a classic rock and roll song today. The Atlanta Rhythm Section's cover version of the song was released in 1979 and also became a hit, cementing the song's status as a rock and roll classic.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
I am going to inform Aunt Mary about the actions of Uncle John

He said he had the misery but he got a lot of fun
Uncle John claimed he was in despair, but he was actually having a lot of enjoyment

Baby, yeah now baby
Affirming and encouraging words to the unnamed 'baby'

Woo baby, some fun tonight
An exhilarating prospect of enjoyment tonight

I saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally
Witnessing Uncle John with a woman named Long Tall Sally

He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley
Uncle John abruptly hid in the alley upon sighting Aunt Mary approaching

Well Long Tall Sally's built pretty sweet
Long Tall Sally has an attractive physique

She got everything that Uncle John need
Long Tall Sally has everything that appeals to Uncle John

Well, we're gonna have some fun tonight
We are going to have a pleasurable experience tonight

Everything's all right
Everything is fine

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Expression of enthusiasm