He was born in Spring Gulley, SC, USA, and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended South Philadelphia High School with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. The wife of American Bandstand's host Dick Clark suggested the name "Chubby Checker" to Evans as a take-off on then-popular singer Fats Domino. In 1964, he married Catharina Lodders, a Dutch girl who had been Miss World in 1962.
His material during his 1960s heyday was recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records and along with the label's other material, became unavailable after the early 1970s because of the company's internal legal disputes. For decades, almost all compilations of Checker's hits consisted of re-recordings.
Twist It Up
Chubby Checker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh oh oh oh
Aye Aye Aye Aye
Oh Aye Aye Aye Oh
Gonna twist it up
Gonna twist it down
Gonna twist it out
Hey girl let's twirl, let's twist
Gonna shake it up
Gonna break it up
Gonna whip it up
Gonna twist it about
Hey child go wild let's twist
So baby go go go go like it's all brand new
Oh baby go go go go got my eyes on you
Gonna twist it up
Gonna rip it up
Gonna run it down
Twist it round and round
Hey let's shout work out let's twist
Everybody
Oh oh oh oh
Aye Aye Aye Aye
I like a chumba
A borrow your zoot
Oh Aye Aye Aye Oh
Gonna twist it up
Gonna twist it down
Gonna twist it round
Hey miss let's twist
Are you ready
Hey miss, hey sis, let's twist
Are you ready
The lyrics of "Twist It Up" by Chubby Checker paint a picture of a lively dance party where everyone is grooving and moving to the beat. The repeated lines "Oh Yeah everybody" and "Oh oh oh oh Aye Aye Aye Aye Oh Aye Aye Aye Oh" create a sense of excitement and eagerness to dance. The chorus of the song encourages everyone to twist, shake, whip, and go wild as they move their bodies to the rhythm of the music. The lyrics express the joy and freedom of dancing and encourage everyone to let loose and have fun.
The verse "So baby go go go go like it's all brand new Oh baby go go go go got my eyes on you" suggests a romantic interest by the singer of the song towards someone in the crowd. The repeated "Hey girl," "Hey child," and "Hey miss" indicate that the singer is addressing different individuals and inviting them to dance with him. The upbeat tone and energetic lyrics of the song create a party atmosphere that encourages crowd participation and enjoyment.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Yeah everybody
Addressing the audience and getting their attention
Oh oh oh oh
Encouraging everyone to sing along and join in
Aye Aye Aye Aye
Adding emphasis to the exhortation
Oh Aye Aye Aye Oh
Encouraging audience participation with catchy lyrics
Gonna twist it up
Setting the theme of the song, promising lively entertainment
Gonna twist it down
Promising variation in the tempo to keep it interesting
Gonna twist it out
Extending the promise of variety and fun
Gonna twist it round
Continuing the promise of variation and lively entertainment
Hey girl let's twirl, let's twist
Inviting girls to dance in the twist dance style
Gonna shake it up
Promising more lively movement in the music
Gonna break it up
Promising alternative tempos in the music
Gonna whip it up
Encouraging the audience to move more dynamically
Gonna twist it about
Encouraging more twisting and turning in the dance
Hey child go wild let's twist
Asking children to join along and have fun
So baby go go go go like it's all brand new
Encouraging people to have fun, as if they're discovering the twist dance for the first time
Oh baby go go go go got my eyes on you
Hinting at the possibility of romance or a flirtatious dance
Gonna rip it up
Promising more dynamic movements in the music
Gonna run it down
Promising variation in tempo, potentially slowing things down
Twist it round and round
Extending the promise of variation in the twist dance style
Hey let's shout work out let's twist
Encouraging vocals and greater physical exertion in the dance
Oh oh oh oh
Encouraging more audience participation in the fun
Aye Aye Aye Aye
Adding emphasis to the exhortation
I like a chumba
Inserting nonsensical lyrics for rhyme and rhythm
A borrow your zoot
Inserting further nonsensical lyrics for rhyme and rhythm
Oh Aye Aye Aye Oh
Encouraging more audience participation in the fun
Hey miss let's twist
Inviting ladies to the dance floor to try the twist
Are you ready
Inquiring as to the willingness of the audience to join in
Hey miss, hey sis, let's twist
Inviting more ladies to the dance floor to try the twist
Are you ready
Inquiring once again as to the willingness of the audience to join in
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE APPELL, KAL MANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind