Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation. According to biographer John Swenson, Haley later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. The spit-curl caught on as a 50's style signature, although Haley and others had worn the hairstyle much earlier.
In 1946, Haley joined his first professional group, a Pennsylvania-based western swing band called The Down Homers run by Kenny Roberts. It has often been reported in musical reference works that Haley's first professional recordings were made with the Down Homers on a pair of singles released in 1946 by Vogue Records. This was later debunked by Roberts and others, stating Haley had already left the group by the time the singles were made. In the early 2000s, however, a set of 1946 radio recordings by the Down Homers were discovered and Haley is definitely present as he is identified by name and sings a solo number "She Taught Me to Yodel"; these recordings were commercially released for the first time in 2006.
After gaining experience with the Down Homers, Haley set out on his own, forming several groups such as the Range Drifters and the Four Aces of Western Swing. With the Four Aces, he made a number of regionally successful country music singles in the late 1940s for Cowboy Records while working as a touring musician and later a radio DJ at WPWA. (Many of Haley's early recordings from this period would not be released until after his death.) After disbanding the Four Aces and briefly trying a solo career using the names Jack Haley and Johnny Clifton (as chronicled in the biography Sound and Glory), Haley formed a new group called The Saddlemen in either 1949 or 1950 (sources vary as to the exact year); this new group recorded for several labels, including one single for Atlantic Records, Haley's first exposure to a major national record company. In 1951, Haley was signed to Dave Miller's Philadelphia-based Holiday Records and began to change musical styles, recording cover versions of "Rocket "88"" (previously recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats), and in, 1952, "Rock the Joint", previously recorded by several bands including Jimmy Preston and His Prestonians. (By the time of "Rock the Joint", Haley had graduated from Holiday Records to Miller's larger Essex label.) The relative success of these recordings (both sold in the 75,000-100,000 copy range in the Pennsylvania-New England region) convinced Haley that his new and as-yet officially unnamed hybrid of country and rhythm and blues could be a commercial success.and some of his family lives in oklahoma and there is a road named after his family.
Dim. Dim the Lights
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The beat is really jumping like a kangaroo
I'm full of cherry soda and potato chips
But now I want to get a taste of your sweet lips
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Turn down the lights
The furniture is bouncing round the room with glee
And rocking like a boat upon a stormy sea
But, dig the crazy pockets on the pile tonight
But still I haven't had a chance to hold you tight
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Turn down the lights
I want some atmosphere
Look at Annie's earrings bouncing off her back
Look at Suzie kissing and a-hugging Jack
Look at Nancy dancing in her stocking feet
We're all going crazy with the mambo beat
Well, everybody's really having lots of fun
But, honey as for me the night has just begun
'Cause now I want to tell you things and hold you tight
But, how can I do it with the room so bright?
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Turn down the lights
I want some atmosphere
Well, everybody's really having lots of fun
But, honey as for me the night has just begun
'Cause now I want to tell you things and hold you tight
But, how can I do it with the room so bright?
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
Turn down the lights
I want some atmosphere
In Bill Haley's song Dim Dim The Lights, the lyrics depict a lively party with all the gang present, enjoying the lively beats and shaking furniture as they dance to the upbeat mamba rhythm. However, amidst all the excitement, the singer wants a moment to connect with the one he desires. He craves a chance to steal a kiss and say sweet nothings, but the room's brightness is a distraction. He thus urges someone to dim the lights, creating the perfect atmosphere for his desires.
The song is a lively rock and roll tune which conveys the excitement of a party scene, with Haley's unmistakable rockabilly sound creating an energetic mood. The lyrics describe how everyone is letting loose and enjoying themselves, with the chaotic scene of furniture and dancing creating a frenzied mood. However, the singer is focused on his desires for his significant other, showcasing the various ways they engage, from hugging and kissing to dancing in stocking feet. The song is essentially about the desire for a moment of intimacy amidst a lively party.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, what a crazy party all the gang's here, too
The party is wild and everyone is present.
The beat is really jumping like a kangaroo
The music is lively and energetic.
I'm full of cherry soda and potato chips
The singer has been indulging in snack foods.
But now I want to get a taste of your sweet lips
The artist is interested in kissing someone.
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
The artist wants the lights to be turned down.
Turn down the lights
The singer wants the lights to be dimmed.
I want some atmosphere
The singer wants to create a certain mood.
The furniture is bouncing round the room with glee
The party is so lively that even the furniture is moving.
And rocking like a boat upon a stormy sea
The furniture is moving in a chaotic way.
But, dig the crazy pockets on the pile tonight
The artist is impressed with the fashion choices at the party.
But still I haven't had a chance to hold you tight
The singer is still looking for an opportunity to be close to someone.
Look at Annie's earrings bouncing off her back
The artist is observing a specific detail of someone's appearance.
Look at Suzie kissing and a-hugging Jack
The singer is observing a couple getting close.
Look at Nancy dancing in her stocking feet
The singer is observing someone dancing in a carefree way.
We're all going crazy with the mambo beat
Everyone is having a great time dancing to the music.
Well, everybody's really having lots of fun
The party is a great time for everyone.
But, honey as for me the night has just begun
The artist is not done having fun and wants to continue the night.
So, dim, dim the lights (dim, dim the lights)
The singer once again requests that the lights be turned down.
I want some atmosphere
The singer once again requests a certain mood to be created.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Beverly Ross, Julius Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephaniesparrows9368
Haley had such a seriously unique sound. It was the perfect mix of jump blues, the more refined rock and roll, and rockabilly.
@donaldmorrow3096
The writers of this hit (Beverly Ross and Julius Dixon) would later write another huge hit, "Lollipop," a hit for Ronald and Ruby and the Chordettes.
@jimhilliker2450
I wish I could dance. Another good song by Bill.
@rosemariekury9186
My dad had this in his 78s collection. He’d play it and I only realized it was this record by Bill Haley! And he always said he hates rock n roll! LOL!
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1955 {January 6th} "Dim, Dim The Lights" by Bill Haley and His Comets peaked at #11* {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Best Sellers In Store' chart...
At the same time, it was at #18 on Billboard's 'Most Played By Jockeys' chart...
Between 1953 and 1974 the Chester, Pennsylvania band had twenty-six records on the Billboard charts, three made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Rock Around The Clock", for eight weeks in July of 1955...
"Besides "Rock Around The Clock", their two other Top 10 records were "Burn That Candle" {#9 in 1955} and "See You Later, Alligator" {#6 in 1956}...
In 1955 "Rock Around The Clock" spent twenty-four weeks on the Top 100, nineteen years later in 1974 it re-entered the Top 100 for another fourteen weeks, and on May 19th, 1974 it peaked at #39 {for 1 week}...
Bill Haley, born William John Clifton Haley, passed away at the young age of 55 on February 9th, 1981 {heart attack}...
May he R.I.P.
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the ten records that kept it out of the Top 10 were:
At #1. "Let Me Go, Lover" by Joan Weber
#2. "Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes
#3. "Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" by the Ames Brothers
#4. "Hearts of Stone" by the Fontane Sisters
#5. "Teach Me Tonight" by the DeCastro Sisters
#6. "Sincerely" by the McGuire Sisters
#7. "Melody of Love" by Billy Vaughn
#8. "Make Yourself Comfortable" by Sarah Vaughan
#9. "Let Me Go, Lover" by Teresa Brewer
#10. "That's All I Want From You" by J. P. Morgan
@david57617
This was from the January 22, 1955 issue of Billboard magazine.
@MrChrisdube
At 65 (in 2023), I wouldn't remember this song. I like it, though.
@josephkane829
Nice 👍🙂
@Valentin23057
Bien en su estilo...
@louishubbard8036
real gone man