I. David Wilcox i… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named David Wilcox.
I. David Wilcox is a Canadian rock and blues musician.
II. David Wilcox is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter guitarist.
I. More than three decades into his career, singer/songwriter David Wilcox continues to push himself, just as he always has. Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well.
That's not by accident; it's very much by design. It's the result of a man giving himself over in gratitude and service to something bigger than himself. “I'm grateful to music,” he says. “I have a life that feels deeply good, but when I started playing music, nothing in my life felt that good. I started to write songs because I wanted to find a way to make my life feel as good as I felt when I heard a great song. I don't think I'd be alive now if it had not been for music.”
An early '80s move to Warren Wilson College in North Carolina set his wheels in motion, as he started playing guitar and writing songs, processing his own inner workings and accessing his own inner wisdom. In 1987, within a couple of years of graduating, Wilcox had released his first independent album, The Nightshift Watchman. A year later, he won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award and, in 1989, he signed with A&M Records, selling more than 100,000 copies of his A&M debut, How Did You Find Me Here.
In the 30 years and more than 20 records since — whether with a major label, an indie company, or his own imprint — Wilcox has continued to hone his craft, pairing thoughtful insights with his warm baritone, open tunings, and deft technique. He's also kept up a brisk and thorough tour itinerary, performing 80 to 100 shows a year throughout the U.S., and regularly deploying his talents by improvising a “Musical Medicine” song for an audience member in need. In recent years he’s taken that process a step further, carefully writing and recording dozens of his “Custom Songs” for long-time fans who seek his help in commemorating and explaining the key milestones in their lives.
Lest anyone think that he's lost his touch, Wilcox pulled no punches on his most recent release, 2018's The View From the Edge. Not only does the song cycle find him delving into mental health, family legacies, spiritual contemplations, and topical concerns, the song “We Make the Way By Walking" also won him the Grand Prize in the 2018 USA Songwriting Contest.
"I think the coolest thing about this kind of music is that, if you listen to a night's worth of music, you should know that person,” he explains. “If you're hearing a performer sing all these songs, you should know not only where he gets his joy and what he loves, but you should know what pisses him off and what frightens him and what runs him off the rails, what takes him apart and what puts him back together.”
To attain that level of revelatory honesty, Wilcox follows a song to its deepest truth, even when it haunts him, a practice which demands the strength of vulnerability that he has sought since his teen years. That honesty is why Rolling Stone has written that his “ongoing musical journey is compelling and richly deserving of a listen.” It's also why Blue Ridge Public Radio has noted that, “The connection people feel with David’s music is also the connection they feel with each other.”
But Wilcox's unique brand of storytelling doesn't come easily. And it doesn't come quickly. “I could always think of a lot of possible ways the song could go, but the trick was recognizing truth amidst all the cleverness,” he confesses. “The more time I took, the more my deep heart could speak to me through the process of songwriting. I could gradually craft a song that felt like it was coming from the place I was going. If you decide to trust heart over cleverness, you not only get a song that moves you, you get a song that moves you toward being who you want to be. The time you spend immersed in the emotion of a song changes you. The song shows you the world through a particular point of view. Once you have seen the world that way, you can't un-see it.”
Website: David Wilcox
II. The American David Wilcox was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His work features lyrical insight, asmooth baritone voice, virtuosic guitar chops, and creative open tunings. He released an independent album in 1987, won the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk award in 1988, and by 1989 he had signed with A&M Records. His first release on the label, ‘How Did You Find Me Here’, sold over 100,000 copies its first year. 17 albums later his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others.
That Hypnotizin' Boogie
David Wilcox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
THAT HYPNOTIZIN' BOOGIE
Back in the year nineteen and five
We had to have a rhythm very much alive
We didn't have thing
Still we'd sing
Hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
Sure feels good
I can't dance but I wish I could
Now Queen Victoria gave a costume ball
Bow to your lady turn your back to the wall
One guy jumped up in a ratty zoot suit
Ripped off his mask he wanted to see if the sucker flew
Hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
Sure feels good
I can't dance but I wish I could
Back in the Coliseum man oh Rome
Caesar and Cleopatra make themselves at home
Julie said to Cleo, let's take a little walk
Cleo said to Julius shut up and don't talk
Hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
Gimme such a thrill
I wanna dance I wish I could
Hey inside outside every all around
We got to hava hava the hypnotizin' boogie type of sound
If you ain't heard it
You wish to know
I'll give you a little taste just before I go
Hypnotizin' boogie
Hoo hypnotizin' boogie
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
Gimme such a thrill
I wanna dance I think I will
I wanna dance I think I will
I wanna dance I think I will
"That Hypnotizin' Boogie" by David Wilcox is a catchy tune with a rich history behind its lyrics. The song begins by describing a time back in 1905 when rhythm was essential, and people would sing and walk for the king until the bell rings. This concept resonates with the time when African Americans would work hard labor and sing to maintain their spirits amidst challenging times. The song title "That Hypnotizin' Boogie" refers to the musical style of Boogie Woogie, a style of piano-based blues that gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. It is often characterized by its catchy, energetic, and upbeat rhythm.
The next two verses reference significant historical events. In the second verse, the song mentions the costume ball of Queen Victoria, where one man in a zoot suit stands out and removes his mask, hoping to provoke a reaction of some sort. This event occurred in 1897 and is known as the Diamond Jubilee Costume Ball. The last verse of the song refers to Caesar, Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar in the Coliseum in Rome. The lyrics are witty and humorous, with Julie asking Cleo to take a walk, and Cleo telling Julius to shut up.
In conclusion, "That Hypnotizin' Boogie" is a festive and lively song that pays homage to the genre of Boogie Woogie and references significant historical events. The lyrics are witty and humorous, and the rhythm is sure to get the listener's feet tapping.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in the year nineteen and five
In the year 1905, we needed an active rhythm to follow
We had to have a rhythm very much alive
In that time, we required upbeat music to keep us going
We didn't have thing
We were not blessed with any material possessions
Still we'd sing
Regardless, we kept our spirits up and sang along
We had to walk for the king til' the bell would ring
We walked to the beat of our own making until our duty to the king was over
It's that hypnotizin' boogie
The rhythm we grooved to so long ago is that mesmerizing boogie
Sure feels good
It felt great to be part of something and enjoy it
I can't dance but I wish I could
I, myself, couldn't dance, but I yearned to be able to partake
Now Queen Victoria gave a costume ball
Back in time, Queen Victoria had a party where everyone dressed up in costume
Bow to your lady turn your back to the wall
One had to bow to their partner, then turn around and face the wall
One guy jumped up in a ratty zoot suit
A person suddenly got up in a shabby, outrageous costume
Ripped off his mask he wanted to see if the sucker flew
He tore his mask off and wanted to see what others' reactions would be
Back in the Coliseum man oh Rome
In ancient Rome, at the Coliseum, where many sporting events took place
Caesar and Cleopatra make themselves at home
Caesar and Cleopatra were very comfortable at the Coliseum
Julie said to Cleo, let's take a little walk
Julie asked Cleo if they could go for a walk outside
Cleo said to Julius shut up and don't talk
Cleo told Julius to be quiet and not talk
Gimme such a thrill
The experience gave forth such an ecstatic feeling
Hey inside outside every all around
All-encompassing, surrounding everybody and everything
We got to hava hava the hypnotizin' boogie type of sound
We must engage in that hypnotizing boogie rhythm
If you ain't heard it
If you haven't already, listen up
You wish to know
You'd want to be informed
I'll give you a little taste just before I go
I'll give you a sample before I take off
Hoo hypnotizin' boogie
The hypnotizing boogie is compelling
Gimme such a thrill
Enjoyment and excitement is derived from the experience
I wanna dance I think I will
I would like to participate in this dance and most likely shall
I wanna dance I think I will
I want to join in the dancing and it is highly likely that I will
I wanna dance I think I will
I express a desire to take part in the dancing, and I believe I will
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreybarkin3177
Such ENERGY in DAVID WILCOX BAND Shows!
DAVID's facial expressions while he SHREDS is Engaging Too!
GR8 #Performer!!!
@kevincampbell5785
First heard this song in the movie "Cocktail" with Tom Cruise!
@gavinsheppard2191
Heard David's music in my 20's in the early '80s and saw him live in Toronto one wild night. These tunes were always on the playlist at parties but seldom found on the radio. I am adding several Wilcox tunes today to my camping playlist for next weekend in Anawangin Bay, Zambales so a new generation can enjoy.
@HUTINAK
just heard this 100 times over. just killer
@drew7564
Canadian classic right here folks!!
@robbreedon1407
Toronto boy here now living in Nebraska going to expose them to Mr Wilcox this summer plus the Hip as well !!!!!!!!!
@anotherkat4u
Scarborough here.....give them shit , show them how to party !! ,,,,=^--^=,,,
@BJ-qs8ji
good luck with that..'mericans don't understand our music or our comedy....Canada Rocks!
@purplepuppygirl166
Dont forget The Headstones!!!
@salliesloier3001
You can really dance yourself silly with this song!