Bo Carter (born Armenter Chatmon, June 30, 1892 or March 21, 1893 - Septem… Read Full Bio ↴Bo Carter (born Armenter Chatmon, June 30, 1892 or March 21, 1893 - September 21, 1964) was an American early blues musician. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks in concerts, and on a few of their recordings. Carter also managed that group, which included his brother, Lonnie Chatmon, on fiddle and occasionally Sam Chatmon on bass, along with a friend, Walter Vinson, on guitar and lead vocals.

Since the 1960s, Carter has become best known for his bawdy songs such as "Banana in Your Fruit Basket", "Pin in Your Cushion", "Your Biscuits Are Big Enough for Me", "Please Warm My Wiener" and "My Pencil Won't Write No More". However, his output was not restricted to risqué music. In 1928, he recorded the original version of "Corrine, Corrina", which later became a hit for Big Joe Turner and has become a standard in various musical genres.

Carter and his brothers (including pianist Harry Chatmon, who also made recordings), first learned music from their father, ex-slave fiddler Henderson Chatmon, at their home on a plantation between Bolton and Edwards, Mississippi. Their mother, Eliza, also sang and played guitar.

Carter made his recording debut in 1928, backing Alec Johnson. Carter soon was recording as a solo artist and became one of the dominant blues recording acts of the 1930s, recording 110 sides. He also played with and managed the family group, the Mississippi Sheiks, and several other acts in the area. He and the Sheiks often played for whites, playing the pop hits of the day and white-oriented dance material, as well as for blacks, using a bluesier repertoire.

Carter went partly blind during the 1930s. He settled in Glen Allan, Mississippi and despite his vision problems did some farming but also continued to play music and perform, sometimes with his brothers. Carter moved to Memphis, and worked outside the music industry in the 1940s.

Carter suffered strokes and died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Shelby County Hospital, Memphis, on September 21, 1964.

Bo Carter's style of playing the guitar and his songwriting won him fans long after he died. One of the most notable examples was blues-rock guitarist, Rory Gallagher from Ireland, who performed several of his songs, including, "All Around Man."

Twist It Baby
Bo Carter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now, won′t you stir it, babe?
Oh, stir it, babe.
Oh, stir it, babe.
Oh, stir it, babe.
Now, you know it needs stirring.
Oh, you know it needs stirring.
Oh, you know it needs stirring.
Oh, you know it needs stirring.

SPOKEN: Stir it, baby. Round and round,
Mama. Make it nice.? Stir it a little more.

Now, won't you work it, babe?
Oh, work it, babe.
Oh, work it, babe.
Oh, work it, babe.
Now, you know it needs working.
Oh, you know it needs working.
Oh, you know it needs working.
Oh, you know it needs working.

SPOKEN: Work it, babe. Up and down,
Mama. Now, that′s nice. Work it, baby.

Now, won't you wind it, babe?
Oh, wind it, babe.
Oh, wind it, babe.
Oh, wind it, babe.
Now, you know it needs winding.
Oh, you know it needs winding.
Oh, you know it needs winding.
Oh, you know it needs winding.

SPOKEN: Looks fine when you wind it,
Baby. Wind it, mama; that makes it nice.

Now, won't you twist it, babe?
Oh, twist it, babe.
Oh, twist it, babe.
Oh, twist it, babe.
Now, you know it needs twisting.
Oh, you know it needs twisting.
Oh, you know it needs twisting.
Oh, you know it needs twisting.

SPOKEN: Twist it, baby. Don′t twist it too much, now;
It might hurt. Twist it a little more, mama. How is that, baby?

Now, won′t you boot it, babe?
Oh, boot it, babe.
Oh, boot it, babe.
Oh, boot it, babe.
Now, you know it needs booting.
Oh, you know it needs booting.
Oh, you know it needs booting.
Oh, you know it needs booting.

SPOKEN: Boot it, mama. Baby,
Don't boot it so hard. Oh, my goodness! Boot it, baby.

Now, won′t you love me, babe?
Oh, love me, babe.
Oh, love me, babe.
Oh, love me, babe.
Say, you know it needs loving.
Oh, you know it needs loving.
Oh, you know it needs loving.
Oh, you know it needs loving.

SPOKEN: Love me, baby.
If you can't love me, you got to leave it, mama. I love that.

Overall Meaning

The song "Twist It Baby" by Bo Carter is a suggestive and playful tune that may have various interpretations. The recurring phrase "won't you stir it, baby?" can be seen as a euphemism for sexual activity, as well as other commands like "work it," "wind it," "twist it," "boot it," and finally "love me." The lyrics indicate a desire for a partner to participate in different activities with the singer, some of which may be more physical, while others may be more emotional. The song uses repetition and musicality to create a catchy and upbeat rhythm that can elicit a fun and playful response from the audience.

The spoken interjections in the lyrics add an element of humor and informality to the song, making it feel like a conversation between two playful partners. The lyrics could also be seen as an early example of the sexualization of music, as it was released in the 1930s when such content was not widely accepted in mainstream media. Nonetheless, the song became popular in its time, and its upbeat rhythm and suggestive nature continue to captivate listeners today.

Line by Line Meaning

Now, won't you stir it, babe?
Please mix it, baby.

Oh, stir it, babe.
Oh, mix it, baby.

Now, you know it needs stirring.
You know it requires mixing.

SPOKEN: Stir it, baby. Round and round, Mama. Make it nice.? Stir it a little more.
Spoken: Mix it, baby. Around and around, Mama. Make it taste good. Mix it some more.

Now, won't you work it, babe?
Please use it, baby.

Oh, work it, babe.
Oh, use it, baby.

Now, you know it needs working.
You know it requires usage.

SPOKEN: Work it, babe. Up and down, Mama. Now, that′s nice. Work it, baby.
Spoken: Use it, baby. Up and down, Mama. Now, that's good. Keep using it, baby.

Now, won't you wind it, babe?
Please twirl it, baby.

Oh, wind it, babe.
Oh, twirl it, baby.

Now, you know it needs winding.
You know it requires twisting.

SPOKEN: Looks fine when you wind it, Baby. Wind it, mama; that makes it nice.
Spoken: It looks good when you twirl it, baby. Twirl it, Mama; that makes it taste better.

Now, won't you twist it, babe?
Please bend it, baby.

Oh, twist it, babe.
Oh, bend it, baby.

Now, you know it needs twisting.
You know it requires bending.

SPOKEN: Twist it, baby. Don′t twist it too much, now; It might hurt. Twist it a little more, mama. How is that, baby?
Spoken: Bend it, baby. Don't bend it too much; it might be painful. Bend it a bit more, Mama. Is that enough, baby?

Now, won′t you boot it, babe?
Please kick it, baby.

Oh, boot it, babe.
Oh, kick it, baby.

Now, you know it needs booting.
You know it requires kicking.

SPOKEN: Boot it, mama. Baby, Don't boot it so hard. Oh, my goodness! Boot it, baby.
Spoken: Kick it, Mama. Baby, don't kick it too hard. Oh, wow! Kick it, baby.

Now, won′t you love me, babe?
Please show me affection, baby?

Oh, love me, babe.
Oh, show me affection, baby.

Say, you know it needs loving.
You know it requires affection.

SPOKEN: Love me, baby. If you can't love me, you got to leave it, mama. I love that.
Spoken: Show me affection, baby. If you can't show me affection, you have to stop, Mama. I love it.

Writer(s): Bo Armenter Carter

Contributed by Eliana K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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