Boppin' the Blues
Carl Perkins Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
All my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
I love you baby, but I must be rhythm bound

Well, the doctor told me, Carl you don't need no pill
Yeah, the doctor told me, boy you don't need no pill
Just a handful of nickels
The jukebox will cure your ill

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
All them cats is boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
I love you baby, I must be rhythm bound

Well, the old cat bug bit me, man I don't feel no pain
Yeah, that jitterbug caught me, man I don't feel no pain
I still love you baby
But I'll never be the same

I said, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
All my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
I love you baby, but I must be rhythm bound
(Get it cats, let's rock)

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
All them cats is boppin' the blues
It must be going 'round
I love you baby, but I must be rhythm bound

Well, grandpa done got rhythm
And he threw his crutches down
Oh, the old boy done got rhythm and blues
And he threw that crutches down
Grandma he ain't triflin'
Well, the old boy's rhythm bound

All them cats is rockin' the blues
And it must be going 'round
All my friends are boppin' the blues
And it must be going 'round
I love you baby, I must be rhythm bound
(Bop, cat, bop!)

Rock, bop, rhythm and blues
Rock, bop, rhythm and blues
Rock, rock, rhythm and blues, bop!




Rock, bop, rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, it must be going 'round

Overall Meaning

The song "Boppin' the Blues" by Carl Perkins is a classic rock and roll tune about getting caught up in the rhythm of music. Perkins sings about how all of his friends are "boppin' the blues" and that he must be "rhythm bound," expressing how music has taken over their lives. He also mentions going to the doctor who says that he doesn't need medicine but just some nickels for the jukebox, as music can be a powerful cure for the blues.


Perkins further talks about how the cat bug has "bit" him, and the jitterbug has "caught" him, saying that he'll never be the same. He still loves his baby, but music has become too much of a priority in his life. He also describes how his grandfather has started to dance, throwing his crutches down, and his grandmother understands that he has become "rhythm bound." The chorus, "rock, bop, rhythm and blues," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the strong beat and how it has taken over their lives.


Overall, Perkins's "Boppin' the Blues" is a celebration of the power of music and how it can bring people together and fill their lives with joy and energy.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
Carl Perkins' friends are all dancing to the blues, which suggests that the blues is a popular genre of music.


It must be going 'round
The popularity of the blues is spreading among Carl's friends.


All my friends are boppin' the blues
This line reinforces the fact that Carl's friends are all dancing to the blues.


It must be going 'round
Once again, Carl suggests that the popularity of the blues is spreading among his friends.


I love you baby, but I must be rhythm bound
Carl is in love with someone, but the rhythm of the blues has captured him, and he must dance.


Well, the doctor told me, Carl you don't need no pill
A doctor told Carl that he doesn't need medication to feel better.


Yeah, the doctor told me, boy you don't need no pill
The doctor's advice is reiterated, emphasizing the fact that Carl doesn't need medication.


Just a handful of nickels
Carl only needs a few coins to use the jukebox and listen to the blues.


The jukebox will cure your ill
The music from the jukebox will heal Carl's blues and make him feel better.


Well, the old cat bug bit me, man I don't feel no pain
Carl is bitten by the bug to dance to the blues, and he feels no pain.


Yeah, that jitterbug caught me, man I don't feel no pain
Carl is suggesting that he's been caught by the jitterbug, and he's pain-free.


I still love you baby
Carl is reassuring the person he loves that he still loves them.


But I'll never be the same
Carl's love of music has changed him, and he'll never be the same again.


Well, grandpa done got rhythm
Carl's grandpa has found his rhythm, and he's dancing.


And he threw his crutches down
Grandpa is so enthralled with the music that he throws his crutches to the ground and dances freely.


Oh, the old boy done got rhythm and blues
Carl's grandpa has been bitten by the rhythm and blues bug and is dancing to the music.


And he threw that crutches down
This line is repeated to emphasize grandpa's joy in dancing and his newfound mobility.


Grandma he ain't triflin'
Grandma is not jealous of grandpa's newfound love of music and dancing.


Well, the old boy's rhythm bound
Grandpa has become rhythmically bound to the music and can't stop dancing.


All them cats is rockin' the blues
Carl is emphasizing that everyone is dancing and enjoying the blues.


And it must be going 'round
Once again, the popularity of the blues is spreading.


Rock, bop, rhythm and blues
Carl is listing different dance moves that people are doing to the music.


Rock, rock, rhythm and blues, bop!
This line suggests that everyone is having a great time and dancing to the music.


Rhythm and blues, it must be going 'round
This repetition suggests that the blues is still popular and spreading among people.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHARON SHEELEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

John Dudley

Not many you can honestly say had pure talent, but Carl had more then that ! 👍👍👍👌

stevenfd123

Sang lead.....played lead guitar......and wrote the songs.....what a talent.

TheHeater90

And on top of all that, he was very entertaining performer on stage!

**Memorial**LED_ZEPPELIN- WarewolfGirl-73

And he was nice to fans.

Max Ilan

Not all of the songs and anyway they’re all white people playing black american music

Max Ilan

Not really. why miserable? why useless?

Charlie Messing

@Max Ilan Dude - you're standing in the light but you have your hand over your eyes

29 More Replies...

Rick Fah

The real thing, folks. Nobody else like Carl. The greatest rockabilly of them all!

CooManTunes

His rockabilly comes nowhere close to the greatness of Elvis' rockabilly, but this IS a Carl Perkins video, so I won't be surprised if you wastes of life disagree.

Jörg Martin Bauer

Mr. Rockabilly

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