Bohannon was drumming in a high school band while an elementary school student. After graduating from Clark College, Atlanta, and playing in local bands, he was hired by Stevie Wonder to be the drummer in his touring band. He moved to Detroit in 1965, and was employed by Motown as band leader and arranger for many of the label’s top acts. When Motown moved from Detroit in 1972, he stayed behind to form his own band.
He signed with Dakar/Brunswick Records, and in early 1973 released the album Stop And Go. This was followed by five more albums for the label over the next two years, on which he perfected his formula of heavy, thudding bass accents and aggressive rhythms. Although several of his tracks were club hits he had limited chart success – however, in 1975 "Disco Stomp" made the Top Ten in the UK, and "Foot Stompin’ Music" later that year scraped into the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Top 40.
In 1976 Bohannon signed to Mercury Records, and two years later had his biggest success with "Let’s Start The Dance". It made the R&B Top Ten and featured the singer Carolyn Crawford, whose subsequent albums Bohannon went on to produce.
Although he continued to release records through the 1980s, using new vocalists Liz Lands and Altrinna Grayson, he met with diminishing success. Nevertheless, more recently his music has been widely sampled.
Let's Start the Dance
Bohannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on and do it
Come on and do it, do it, do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it, do it, do it
Well, I've been watching you all night
Don't you wanna dance?
Don't you wanna dance?
Everybody, get on up and dance
Get on up, yeah
Yeah
Ain't you tired of sitting down?
Get on up and dance, hey, well
Come swing to the music
Ooohooo
Ooohooohooo
This ain't your funky show
Come on and do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it, do it, do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it
Come on and do it, do it, do it
Come on and do it
Everybody, well, stand up and shout
Ohoho, ohoho, well!
That's what you got to do, yeah
Get your body goin'
Inside and out, yeah
Just dance
Shout with the music, yeah
Ohohohoho!
You got to get down
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Well, you ain't stop the groove
'Cause it makes your body move, yeah
Good funky music
Just move that funky song
Don't stop the groove
Get the groove
Let's do a good dance
Oh, you!
I'm talking to you!
Get up and shout!
Clap your hands and dance
Say what you wanna in the house
So shout with the music, well
Some funky, funky music
Ah, yeah, stand up and funk to the groove
You got to get down
The lyrics to Bohannon's song "Let's Start the Dance" are an invitation to get up and dance. The repetitive and upbeat nature of the lyrics, with lines like "Come on and do it" and "Get on up and dance," create a sense of excitement and urgency to get moving. The song encourages every listener to join in, with lyrics such as "Everybody, get on up and dance" and "Everybody, well, stand up and shout."
The lyrics also highlight the power of music to move the body and create a sense of joy and freedom. Lines such as "Get your body goin' inside and out" and "Shout with the music" emphasize the physical and emotional release that dancing can provide. The song also emphasizes the importance of funk and funky music, with lyrics such as "Some funky, funky music" and "Let's do a good dance."
Line by Line Meaning
Come on and do it
Encouraging people to participate in dancing
Well, I've been watching you all night
Observing the crowd and implying they need to dance
Don't you wanna dance?
Asking if anyone wants to dance
Everybody, get on up and dance
Urging everyone to dance
Ain't you tired of sitting down?
Asking if people are tired of not dancing
Come swing to the music
Inviting people to move their bodies to the rhythm
This ain't your funky show
This is not a show to just watch, but to participate in
Everybody, well, stand up and shout
Encouraging people to get excited and vocalize their enjoyment
Get your body goin' Inside and out, yeah
Encouraging people to fully embrace the music and dance with their whole body
Just dance Shout with the music, yeah
Encouraging people to dance and express themselves vocally
Well, you ain't stop the groove 'Cause it makes your body move, yeah
Acknowledging that the music is irresistible and makes people want to dance
Good funky music Just move that funky song Don't stop the groove
Urging people to keep dancing to the good music and not stop the flow
Get the groove Let's do a good dance
Encouraging people to catch the groove and dance well
Ah, yeah, stand up and funk to the groove
Inviting people to stand up and get funky with the music
You got to get down
Implying that dancing is essential and everyone should participate
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HAMILTON FREDERICK BOHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BheeOrgh
Who's still listening to this banger in 2024?
@dazza6333
Me
@Cymande1961
It will never get old.
@slyfoxy11
Meeeeee
@debraharris7076
I'm 67 yrs young and still slaying this 🎵 💃💃💃🎶 who's still rocking in 2022
@azariyahbenyahudah5
ATL College Park class of 76, the Black Mecca.
@bettyborghart7287
I am!
@theresajones6328
I'm listening to it now!!! Reminds me of Club days..
@jacqueline4514
I sure as hell am!!!! This will always make me get on up and dance, yeah ❤❤😂
@michaeldera4298
Iam 64 and this tune came from nowhere into my head today fond memories of my clubbing days had to look it up.