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