Barnes & Barnes formed in 1970. Robert Haimer (died 2023) and Bill Mumy were childhood friends who occasionally jammed together on their musical instruments. Around 1968, they would shoot short films with a Super 8 motion picture camera, dubbed "Art Films". The two began calling each other "Art", and thus, their alter egos were born. Their surname, "Barnes" was taken from a Bill Cosby comedy routine called "Revenge", in which a character called Junior Barnes throws a snowball at Cosby as a child. Originally, both Haimer and Mumy were named "Art Barnes", but Haimer's alter ego was publicly renamed "Artie" in 1979 to differentiate between them. To each other, however, they both still remain "Art". They first received airplay on The Dr. Demento Show in 1978 with their songs "Boogie Woogie Amputee" and "Fish Heads." The latter tune was released as a single on their own Lumania Records in 1979 and remains their best-known song, and the most requested song in the history of The Dr. Demento Show. The song was often mis-attributed to The Chipmunks for its processed high-pitched chorus:
Fish heads, fish heads
Rolly-polly fish heads
Fish heads, fish heads
Eat them up, yum!
Barnes and Barnes have produced two albums for Wild Man Fischer, and one album for Crispin Hellion Glover.
Boogie Woogie Amputee
Barnes & Barnes Lyrics
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She got one, I got two
I told her to save a dance for me
My boogie woogie amputee
We're gonna hop swing and jump
I shake my hips, she shakes her stump
Yeah
Sha la la la Wee ahh oooh
Oh Suzie baby if you please
Let me give your stump a squeeze
It turns me on that empty knee
My boogie woogie amputee
Down hetta-hetta
Oh Suzie you sho ain't got two left feet baby
Oh Suzie Oh Suzie you're my fave
You only got one leg to shave
You got style, you got charms
Aren't you glad you got both arms
You're gonna use 'em tonite
Yeah.
The lyrics of the song "Boogie Woogie Amputee" by Barnes & Barnes are about dancing with Peg Leg Sue, who has one leg, while the singer has two. Despite the difference in their number of legs, they still dance together joyfully. The singer expresses his fondness of Peg Leg Sue, jokingly asking her to save a dance for him and even offering to squeeze her stump, which turns him on. However, the lyrics are not intended to be offensive. Rather, they celebrate the ability to dance and have fun no matter what physical limitations one may have.
The song "Boogie Woogie Amputee" was released in 1978 and became a hit in the underground music scene. The song was written and performed by Barnes & Barnes, which was a musical duo made up of brothers Art and Artie Barnes. The duo was known for their funny and often bizarre music, which was a mix of comedy, parody, and pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
I love to dance with Peg Leg Sue
I enjoy dancing with Peg Leg Sue.
She got one, I got two
I have two legs while Peg Leg Sue only has one.
I told her to save a dance for me
I requested Peg Leg Sue to keep a dance for me.
My boogie woogie amputee
I refer to myself as a 'Boogie Woogie Amputee.'
We're gonna hop swing and jump
We will dance various fast-paced moves.
I shake my hips, she shakes her stump
I move my hips while Peg Leg Sue moves her remaining leg (stump).
Yeah
An expression of excitement.
Sha la la la Wee ahh oooh
Singing nonsensical lyrics to create an upbeat atmosphere.
Disco Disco Peg Leg Sue
Referring to Peg Leg Sue as 'Disco Disco' in a playful manner.
Oh Suzie baby if you please
Calling Peg Leg Sue affectionately.
Let me give your stump a squeeze
Asking for permission to touch her remaining leg (stump).
It turns me on that empty knee
Feeling attracted to Peg Leg Sue's missing knee.
My boogie woogie amputee
Referring to myself again as a 'Boogie Woogie Amputee.'
Down hetta-hetta
Singing nonsensical lyrics to create an upbeat atmosphere.
Oh Suzie you sho ain't got two left feet baby
Complimenting Peg Leg Sue's dancing skills despite only having one leg.
Oh Suzie Oh Suzie you're my fave
Expressing fondness for Peg Leg Sue.
You only got one leg to shave
Joking that Peg Leg Sue only has to shave one leg.
You got style, you got charms
Complimenting Peg Leg Sue's personality and fashion sense.
Aren't you glad you got both arms
Jokingly asking Peg Leg Sue if she's happy to have both arms.
You're gonna use 'em tonite
Suggesting that Peg Leg Sue is going to dance using both her arms that night.
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.