Rip It Up
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

'Cause it's Saturday night and I just got paid
Fool about my money don't try to save
My heart says go, go
Have a time 'cause it's Saturday night
And I'm feelin' fine

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna rip it up

I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up
I'm gonna ride it out
And ball tonight

I got a date and I won't be late
Pick her up in my '88'
Shag it on down to the union hall
When the music starts jumpin'
I'll have a ball

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna rip it up
I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up
I'm gonna ride it out
And ball tonight

Along about 10 I'll be flying high
Rocking on out into the sky
I don't care if I spend my gold
'Cause tonight I'm gonna be one happy soul

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna rip it up
I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up
I'm gonna ride it out
And ball tonight, aw

Well it's Saturday night and I just got paid
Fool about my money don't try to save
My heart says go, go
Have a time 'cause it's Saturday night
And I'm feelin' fine

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna rip it up
I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up
I'm gonna ride it out
And ball tonight

Along about 10 I'll be flying high
Rocking on out into the sky
I don't care if I spend my gold
'Cause tonight I'm gonna be one happy soul

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna rip it up
I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up

I'm gonna ride it out
And ball tonight

Overall Meaning

Elvis Presley's "Rip It Up" is an upbeat, feel-good song about enjoying one's earnings and letting loose on a Saturday night. The opening lines set the tone immediately, as Elvis sings, "Cause it's Saturday night and I just got paid, Fool about my money don't try to save." The song encourages the listener to enjoy life, forget about saving money and have a good time because they've earned it. The lyric, "My heart says go, go, have a time 'cause it's Saturday night and I'm feeling fine" is about following your heart, letting go of stress, and having fun. The '88' mentioned in the lyrics refers to a 1949 Oldsmobile '88' car, which, at the time of the song, was known for its speed and style.

Elvis and the band then head to a dancehall. "Shag it on down to the union hall, When the music starts jumpin', I'll have a ball." The lyrics suggest that the dancing and music bring joy to the speaker, and the night becomes even more enjoyable as the lyrics show Elvis 'flying high, rocking out into the sky.'

The song's message is one of living in the moment, enjoying life, and appreciating the simple pleasures, such as a Saturday night out. As the song rolls into the catchy, uptempo chorus, Elvis sings, "I'm gonna rock it up, I'm gonna rip it up, I'm gonna shake it up, I'm gonna ball it up, I'm gonna ride it out, And ball tonight." The repetitive chorus emphasizes the idea of living in the moment, having a good time while reminding the listener that tonight is a night to remember.

Line by Line Meaning

Cause it's Saturday night and I just got paid
I'm excited because it's the end of the week and I finally have some money in my pocket.

Fool about my money don't try to save
I'm not worried about saving my money, I just want to have a good time.

My heart says go, go
I have a strong desire to have fun and enjoy myself.

Have a time 'cause it's Saturday night
I want to make the most of this special night and create some great memories.

And I'm feelin' fine
I'm feeling happy and carefree.

I'm gonna rock it up
I'm going to enjoy the music and dance with enthusiasm.

I'm gonna rip it up
I'm going to let loose and have a lot of fun.

I'm gonna shake it up
I'm going to dance and move my body in a lively way.

I'm gonna ball it up
I'm going to have an amazing time and enjoy myself to the fullest.

I'm gonna ride it out
I'm going to stay all night and keep the party going.

And ball tonight
I'm going to have a great time tonight.

I got a date and I won't be late
I have an appointment with someone special and I don't plan on being late.

Pick her up in my '88'
I'm going to pick her up in my car and take her to the party.

Shag it on down to the union hall
We're going to dance all night at the union hall.

When the music starts jumpin', I'll have a ball
I'm going to enjoy myself when the music starts playing and have a great time.

Along about 10 I'll be flying high
I'll be having a lot of fun and feeling great around 10pm.

Rocking on out into the sky
I'll be dancing and enjoying the music so much that it will feel like I'm flying.

I don't care if I spend my gold
I'm not worried about money tonight, I just want to enjoy myself.

Cause tonight I'm gonna be one happy soul
Tonight, I am going to be incredibly happy and have a great time.

Well it's Saturday night and I just got paid
It's Saturday night and I just got paid, so I'm ready to have a good time.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Read Full BioElvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.

Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.