Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Walker sought a career in professional boxing, at one point becoming the sparring partner of Archie Moore. He left boxing to pursue a career singing gospel, and in the late 1950s joined the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
In 1962 he was offered the chance to record a secular novelty song by manager Ray Vernon, the brother of Link Wray. Adopting the pseudonym Bunker Hill so as not to lose his position with the Mighty Clouds of Joy, he recorded several tracks with a band including Link Wray on guitar. One of the tracks, "Hide and Go Seek", became a hit single in the United States, reaching #27 on the Billboard R&B charts and #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was featured in the 1988 movie Hairspray. Despite hiding his identity, he was still found out and asked to leave the Mighty Clouds of Joy as a result.
His later life is obscure, although it is believed that he did perform occasionally as a member of the Mighty Clouds of Joy before leaving the music industry in the late 1960s. According to researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc, he died in Houston, Texas in 1986, aged 44.
The Girl Can't Dance
Bunker Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's mine, all mine
You know, not everybody told me that my girl can′t dance
She's mine, all mine
Well, when she can't dance, she′d a-show her old man
But what you say about her, well, I don′t give a damn
Everybody told me that the girl can't dance
She′s mine, all mine
You know, not everybody talkin' bout a girl can′t twist
She's mine, all mine
You know, not everybody talkin′ bout a girl can't twist
She's mine, all mine
Well, when she can′t twist, she′s got sugar on her lips
So always when I twist her, I gotta go and kiss
Everybody told me that my girl can't dance
She′s mine, all mine
You know, not everybody talkin' bout a girl ain′t cute
She's mine, all mine
You know, not everybody talkin′ 'bout a girl ain't cute
She′s mine, all mine
Well, when she ain′t cute, she's goin′ over to you
There's no one to please, ′cause my tutti frutti
Everybody's talkin′ 'bout my girl ain't cute
She′s mine, all mine, hoo!
You know, not everybody told me how my girl ain′t cute
She's mine, all mine
You know, not everybody told me ′bout my girl ain't cute
She′s mine, all mine
Well, when she ain't cute, she′s goin' over to you
There's no one I please, she′s my tutti frutti
Everybody′s talkin' how my girl ain′t cute
She's mine, all mine
She′s mine, she's mine
I love her, I got her!
Ain′t [?] 'bout her, my tootie fruity!
Sugar, ice cream, no, no
The song "The Girl Can't Dance" by Bunker Hill is an energetic and fun track that is all about telling the world that despite what others may think, his girl can indeed dance. The first verse of the song emphasizes this point, and the repetition of the phrase "She's mine, all mine" emphasizes the singer's possessiveness and pride in his girl. He doesn't care what others say, and he believes in her ability to dance.
The second verse shifts the focus to the girl's ability to twist, and the lyrics suggest that even if she isn't the best at it, she compensates with her other charming qualities like "sugar on her lips", which lead to him wanting to kiss her. The third verse addresses the girl's appearance, and once again emphasizes the singer's love and pride in his girl. He doesn't care if she isn't considered cute by others because she is his, and he loves his "tutti frutti."
Overall, the song is a lighthearted celebration of love and fun. The catchy beat and upbeat tone make it a perfect dance track, and the lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to defend their loved one against criticism. It is a classic example of a rock and roll song in the early 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, you know, not everybody told me that my girl can′t dance
Not everyone has told me that my girl is a bad dancer.
She's mine, all mine
I am the only one who is dating her.
Well, when she can't dance, she′d a-show her old man
When she doesn't know how to dance, she will show me and I will help her out or teach her.
But what you say about her, well, I don′t give a damn
I don't care about what others say or think about her, as long as I love her.
Everybody told me that the girl can't dance
Many people have told me that my girlfriend can't dance well.
You know, not everybody talkin' bout a girl can′t twist
Not everyone is talking about how my girl can't twist.
Well, when she can′t twist, she′s got sugar on her lips
When she doesn't know how to twist, she compensates with kissing me and having sugar on her lips from the food she has eaten.
So always when I twist her, I gotta go and kiss
Whenever I twist with her, I always end up kissing her.
Everybody told me that my girl can't dance
Many people have told me that my girlfriend is not a good dancer.
You know, not everybody talkin' bout a girl ain′t cute
Not everyone is saying that my girlfriend is not attractive.
Well, when she ain′t cute, she's goin′ over to you
When she doesn't feel cute, she may hang out with other people, but there's no one else who can please her as much as I do.
There's no one to please, ′cause my tutti frutti
No one else can please her as much as I do because I am her tutti frutti (term of endearment).
Everybody's talkin′ 'bout my girl ain't cute
Many people have been commenting on how they don't find my girlfriend cute.
You know, not everybody told me how my girl ain′t cute
Not everyone has told me that they don't find my girlfriend attractive.
There's no one I please, she′s my tutti frutti
No one else can please her as much as I do because I am her tutti frutti (term of endearment).
She′s mine, she's mine
I am happy that my girlfriend belongs to me and no one else.
I love her, I got her!
I love her and I am proud to have her as my girlfriend.
Ain′t [?] 'bout her, my tootie fruity!
I don't care what others say about her, she is my sweetheart (tootie fruity).
Sugar, ice cream, no, no
This line has no significant meaning, and might just refer to a line from a popular song during the time Bunker Hill wrote this song.
Contributed by Addison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andywankel2720
Y'all know who his band is? None other than Link Wray & The Wraymen. The surf-driven sound that won't stop. All these cats linking up is a match made in heaven. One of my favorite songs ever.
@stephenstone8817
What a vocal, brilliant haven't heard this track before😎
@user-zq3rf7fs5g
producer: how loud do you want this to be?
Bunker: Yes
@user-ws7jp1zc6r
Jesus Christ those vocals are vicious! More wicked than any generic death metal singer
@KilledBySchool
This is the link between Little Richard and the Sonics. WOO
@danmoyer5773
this comment deserves everything
@ronniechilds2002
That's EXACTLY what it is. The Sonics HAD to have covered this.
@bfaulk
Nailed it
@smokeemonkee
Somebody who really digs r 'n' r should make a movie about Link and his brothers and their music...the soundtrack alone would make it classic but with stuff like Bunker Hill and gang fights while the Raymen were playing in dangerous nightclubs...can you imagine?
@JohnPeel3904
Wow now that's what I call rock 'n' roll !!