1) Bobby Lewis… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Bobby Lewis (1925–2020) was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit singles "Tossin' and Turnin'" and "One Track Mind".
2) Bobby Lewis was an American country music singer-songwriter.
1) Bobby Lewis (born Robert Alan Lewis in Indianapolis, Indiana, on 9 February 1925; died 28 April 2020) was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit singles "Tossin' and Turnin'" and "One Track Mind".
Raised in an Indianapolis orphanage, Lewis learned to play the piano by age six. Adopted at age twelve, he moved to a home in Detroit, Michigan, growing up with the influences of the pioneer blues musicians until the advent of Rock and Roll. Lewis began to build a musical career in the 1950s and in 1960 appeared at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. He recorded a 45rpm single called "Tossin' And Turnin'" that went to No.1 on the Billboard charts in July of 1961. Later that year he had a second "Top Ten" song with "One Track Mind" which would be his only other major hit record.
His song "Tossin' And Turnin'" is part of the soundtrack for the 1978 film, Animal House. It would also be covered by KISS drummer Peter Criss on his 1978 solo album entitled Peter Criss (album).
2) Bobby Lewis (born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, on 9 May 1942) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1963 and 1985, Lewis released ten albums and charted more than twenty-five songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. His biggest hit, "How Long Has It Been," peaked at #6 in 1966. Lewis released a 26 Country charted singles from 1966 to 1985.
Tossin' And Turnin'
Bobby Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to thinkin' of you
Baby things weren't right
Well I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A tossin' and turnin' all night
I kicked the blankets on the floor
I never never did before
'Cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A-tossin' and turnin' all night
Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light
I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was strikin' four
Couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
'Cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A tossin' and turnin' all night
Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light
I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was strikin' four
I couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
'Cause I was tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A tossin' and turnin' all, yay, yay, yay
I was a tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A tossin' and turnin' all night
I was a tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin'
A tossin' and turnin' all night
The lyrics to Bobby Lewis's song Tossin' and Turnin' describe the sleepless night of a person who cannot get a certain girl off his mind. He keeps tossing and turning, and cannot sleep at all. He tries all the tricks like kicking the blanket on the floor, turning the pillow upside down, and going to the kitchen for a bite, but nothing seems to work. The clock downstairs struck at least four times and even the milkman came, but the singer was still tossing and turning over his thoughts.
The lyrics are an excellent representation of the anxiety and restlessness that often come with the infatuation or love for someone. The singer's inability to get the girl out of his mind suggests that he is deeply interested or fallen for her. The song’s catchy melody and simple lyrics perfectly capture the universal experience of being unable to sleep due to love, making it a hit during its time.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't sleep at all last night
I was unable to sleep throughout the night
Got to thinkin' of you
I kept thinking about you
Baby things weren't right
Something was bothering me
Well I was tossin' and turnin'
I kept changing sides and position
Turnin' and tossin'
I was also mixing up the order; turn and then toss
A tossin' and turnin' all night
I kept tossing and turning all night long
I kicked the blankets on the floor
I accidentally kicked the blankets off the bed
Turned my pillow upside down
I flipped my pillow over
I never never did before
That was unusual behavior for me
'Cause I was tossin' and turnin'
I couldn't sleep well
Jumped out of bed
I got out of bed suddenly
Turned on the light
I switched on the light
I pulled down the shade
I lowered the window shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
I went to the kitchen to have a snack
Rolled up the shade
I raised the window shade
Turned off the light
I switched off the light
It was the middle of the night
It was late at night
The clock downstairs was strikin' four
The clock on the wall was chiming four times
Couldn't get you off my mind
I couldn't stop thinking about you
I heard the milkman at the door
I heard the sound of the milkman delivering milk
I was a tossin' and turnin'
I kept tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep
A tossin' and turnin' all, yay, yay, yay
I was tossing and turning continuously, feeling restless and agitated
I was a tossin' and turnin'
I couldn't sleep throughout the night, kept changing positions due to discomfort
Turnin' and tossin'
I was constantly moving and shifting, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep
A tossin' and turnin' all night
I kept tossing and turning all night long
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITCHIE ADAMS, MALOU RENE, RICHARD A ZIEGLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catharina7362
So recognizable ..
Fighting with my pillows and blankets all night..
Than jump out of bed for a midnight snack for a bit!!
Haha while listening to this song; is making it way lighter and also way happier!
And now i still fight with my pillow in the night! This time it has a rhythm 🥁
And a sense of joy to it!!
Thank you, for making this song and all of you who give it heart and spirit to!
Thank you for posting!!!
At least; when i shake up my pillow it has a beat!! That makes me smile!! 🤩
So thank you for whoever posted this; please keep going on!!
And now i sure I can't sleep anymore at all; because now my body asks;
Please find that heartbeat and the rhythm and soul!!
There's so many others out there; that are seeking for the warmth kindness and glow.. And by me leaving a comment like this; i hope to inspire are that!!
I you can sleep; let's make it a joyfull we can! Pure from heart and as crazy no one van stand it!!
Thank you all!!
Keep going on!!
There are truly kind and caring people out there to!! Do give up on life!!
Let's do this together!! We includes you!!
@johnallen2771
I was 11 when this song came out and they were playing it all over the radio. Of course I quickly learned all the words and loved it. This song is so tight. The bass line and the guitars and his voice and the backup singers all fit together snugly. I've been enjoying this song for the last 60 years. I see Bobby Lewis lived to 95. Good. I hope he had a great life.
@robpelick7460
100 percent. Don't forget the killer drums - which you could hear for a change. Everything's perfect.
@curbmassa
@@robpelick7460 He ROCKED on this. People forget how great the backup bands were on these records, some of the best players on the planet. Go listen to some Frankie Lyman records and it's the Basie band backing him up., real.
@gilloera8912
Me too, still boppin' to this and I'm 73
@williamwarrenconkright3973
Bobby is rockin with the Lord now. Energy cannot be destroyed but moved on to the everlasting
@williamwarrenconkright3973
Bobby is rockin with the Lord now. Energy cannot be destroyed but moved on to the everlasting
@rosewg
I was 4 when this was out. My mom was only 22 and I recall she, my aunts and us kids dancing in the living room to this
@MusicLoverPearson
R.I.P Bobby Lewis who passed away yesterday April 28th at 97 yrs old
@ecphorizer
This came out when I was in army basic training at Fort Ord. It became our platoon's marching song because our sergeant kept waking us up at 4AM for training. Ol' Sarge thought we were the best and even the lieutenant with the stone face gave us his blessing. For us, it made training a little bit easier.
@qwertvoltaire1190
I was 43 when this came out in 1961. It was a killer song