Barbara Ann
Dean Torrence Lyrics
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Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a-reelin'
Barbara Ann
Went to a dance
Looking for romance
Saw Barbara Ann
So I thought I'd take a chance
Barbara Ann, take my hand
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Tried Betty Sue
Tried Betty Lou
Tried Mary Sue
But I knew it wouldn't, do
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba (take my hand)
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
The song "Barbara Ann" by Dean Torrence is a fun and upbeat tune about a guy who goes to a dance looking for romance and ends up finding it with a girl named Barbara Ann. He asks her to take his hand and she's got him "rockin' and a-rollin', rockin' and a-reelin'." The chorus repeats her name over and over again in a playful way, using the repetitive "ba ba ba ba" syllables to emphasize her name.
The lyrics have a lighthearted and carefree tone that captures the excitement of a dance and the thrill of meeting someone new. The repetition of Barbara Ann's name adds a playful and memorable element to the song that makes it easy to sing along to. The singer tries other girls, like Betty Sue, Betty Lou, and Mary Sue, but he knows they won't do because Barbara Ann has captured his heart and is the only one for him. The song leaves off with a final repetition of her name, emphasizing how she has become the focus of his attention.
Line by Line Meaning
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Unable to contain my joy after meeting Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Inviting Barbara Ann to join me in a dance
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
The happiness in my heart is causing me to dance
Rockin' and a-reelin'
Dancing in a joyful and carefree manner
Barbara Ann
The person who has captivated my heart and made me dance
Went to a dance
Attended a social event in the hope of finding love
Looking for romance
Attempting to find a person with whom to form a loving relationship
Saw Barbara Ann
Laid eyes on the person who would soon become the center of my attention
So I thought I'd take a chance
Decided to take a risk and ask Barbara Ann to dance
Tried Betty Sue
Attempted to find love with other individuals
Tried Betty Lou
Attempted to find love with other individuals
Tried Mary Sue
Attempted to find love with other individuals
But I knew it wouldn't, do
Realized that none of these other individuals compared to Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba
My spirits lift whenever I say her name
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba (take my hand)
I ask Barbara Ann to dance with me again
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
Chanting her name in celebration of our love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Fassert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnny Walker
Got to see them live when Brian was still touring with them. I still talk about it a great group with a musical genius.
david panzer
Does anyone know who is playing bass on this?
Average Joe
From what I’ve found Brian himself plays bass on this
david panzer
@Average Joe sounds like an upright bass though...hmmm?
Average Joe
@david panzer actually yeah I think you’re right. I can’t find credits for Barbara Ann individually, but for the album as a whole there are three credits for bass. Both Brian and Carl and credited for “bass” and Bruce Johnston is credited for “electric bass,” so if it is an upright bass it could very easily be Carl which makes more sense given that Brian has said Carl was a better bassist than himself.
Average Joe
@david panzer i guess it’s hard to say for sure. It’s possible they used studio musicians, I can’t find any specific info aside from the Wikipedia page
david panzer
@Average Joe If that is Carl, my almost infinite respect for him just skyrocketed!!
Derek Llewellyn
Annabelle creation Lulu Wilson Brian Wilson she was with the beach boys years before