Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Bonds was living in Norfolk, Virginia in the 1950's when he began singing publicly in church, and with a group called The Turks. He joined record producer Frank Guida's small Legrand label and Guida changed his name to U.S. Bonds in hopes that it would be confused with a public service announcement advertising the sale of government bonds and thus get more airtime. Bonds' first hit was the song "New Orleans", which was followed by "Not Me", a flop for Bonds, but later a hit for The Orlons, and then by his only Number One hit, "Quarter To Three" in June 1961. Subsequent hits, under the name Gary (U.S.) Bonds, included "School Is Out", "Dear Lady Twist" and "Twist, Twist, Senora" in the early 1960s. In a 1963 tour of Europe, he headlined above The Beatles. Eventually, the singer came to be known as Gary U.S. Bonds.
"Quarter To Three" appears on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.
In the early 1980s, Bonds had a career resurgence, working off collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, and the E Street Band. Later hits included "This Little Girl", "Jolé Blon" and "Out Of Work". Bonds continues to release albums sporadically, and today is a mainstay of the nostalgia concert circuit.
While Gary U.S. Bonds is mostly known for achievements within Rhythm and Blues and Rock 'n' roll, he often transcends these genres, e.g. he has been nominated for the Country Music Association's "Songwriter of the Year" distinction. He is also a honoree of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Bonds is an accomplished golfer and often plays celebrity PGA events.
He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on Oct 15, 2006.
Dear Lady Twist
Gary "U.S." Bonds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The pleasure of having, (Get up from your chair)
This next twist with you, (Get up from your chair)
I don't know how to twist, (Get up from your chair)
Well, let me tell you, (Get up from your chair)
Well now, there's a new dance,That's known as the twist
It's really not new, It's something you`ve missed
But there's a new dance, That's known as the twist
It's really not new, It's something you've missed
Dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Dear, dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Well, now, doctors agree, So I've been told
Do the twist and, You'll never grow old
Well, one night I happened, to go to a dance
Believing I'd find, Me some romance
And this old lady, I happened to see
I said, come on, baby, Do the twist with me
Dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Oh, dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Well, now, doctors agree, So I've been told
Do the twist and, You'll never grow old
---- Instrumental Interlude ----
Get up and do the twist now, Yeah, oh, yeah
Well, I said, I'd love to dance, From now until dawn,
She said, crazy, baby, But I'm almost gone,
I said, now the rhythm, Is getting real sweet,
This is no time, To slow up your feet
Dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Dear, dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Well, now, doctors agree, So I've been told
Do the twist and,You'll never grow old
You gotta do the twist, You gotta do the twist
Come on, get up, Get up
Come on, come on
Get up and do the twist
The lyrics of Gary "U.S." Bonds's song Dear Lady Twist are an invitation for a lady to join the singer and dance the twist. He first politely asks her to get up from her chair and have the pleasure of dancing with him. He then acknowledges that both of them may not know how to twist, but that he can teach her. The song then goes on to describe how the twist is a new dance and how doctors agree that doing the twist can help to stay young. The singer narrates how he met an older lady at a dance and invited her to do the twist with him. The instrumental interlude consists of the enthusiastic and upbeat music that characterizes the twist dance. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus urging people to get up and twist.
The theme of this song is the Twist dance craze that swept the United States during the early 1960s. The twist is a dance style characterized by gyrating hip movements while standing in place, and it was popularized by Chubby Checker's single "The Twist." Gary "U.S." Bonds's Dear Lady Twist is a fun and catchy song that celebrates the twist and invites both men and women to join in the fun. Despite its explicit invitation to a lady to dance, the song is not a romantic ballad but a popular dance song aimed at getting people on their feet twisting.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, may I have, (Get up from your chair)
Gary is asking the lady to join him and get up from her chair to dance the twist.
The pleasure of having, (Get up from your chair)
Gary is requesting the lady to dance the twist with him and enjoy the pleasure of it.
This next twist with you, (Get up from your chair)
Gary is inviting the lady to dance the next twist with him and encouraging her to get up from her chair.
I don't know how to twist, (Get up from your chair)
Gary admits that he doesn't know how to twist but he still wants the lady to get up from her chair and join him.
You don't know how to twist, (Get up from your chair)
Gary tells the lady that it's alright if she doesn't know how to twist but he still wants her to get up and dance with him.
Well, let me tell you, (Get up from your chair)
Gary wants to show the lady how to twist and encourages her to get up and dance with him.
Well now, there's a new dance,That's known as the twist
Gary introduces the lady to a new dance called the twist.
It's really not new, It's something you've missed
Gary tells the lady that the twist is not a new dance, but something she has missed out on.
Dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Gary addresses the lady again and urges her to get up and dance with him.
Dear, dear lady, (Get up from your chair)
Gary calls the lady endearingly and asks her to get up and dance the twist with him.
Well, now, doctors agree, So I've been told
Gary informs the lady that doctors recommend the twist because it keeps one young.
Do the twist and, You'll never grow old
Gary repeats the line and emphasizes the benefits of doing the twist.
Well, one night I happened, to go to a dance
Gary tells the lady about going to a dance one night.
Believing I'd find, Me some romance
Gary went to the dance hoping to find some romance.
And this old lady, I happened to see
Gary saw an old lady at the dance.
I said, come on, baby, Do the twist with me
Gary asks the old lady to dance the twist with him.
---- Instrumental Interlude ----
This line suggests a musical interlude without vocals.
Get up and do the twist now, Yeah, oh, yeah
Gary urges the lady to get up and dance the twist while expressing his excitement for the dance.
Well, I said, I'd love to dance, From now until dawn,
Gary expresses his enthusiasm for dancing the twist with the lady all night until dawn.
She said, crazy, baby, But I'm almost gone,
The lady responds jokingly, calling Gary crazy but indicating she's up for the dance despite being tired.
I said, now the rhythm, Is getting real sweet,
Gary describes the rhythm of the twist as being really sweet and enjoyable.
This is no time, To slow up your feet
Gary tells the lady that it's not the time to slow down or stop dancing.
You gotta do the twist, You gotta do the twist
Gary encourages the lady to keep dancing the twist.
Come on, get up, Get up
Gary urges the lady again to get up and keep dancing with him.
Come on, come on
Gary repeats his invitation for the lady to keep dancing and enjoy the music together with him.
Get up and do the twist
Gary's final encouragement for the lady to get up and dance the twist.
Contributed by Madelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@josephscovitch2701
Memory lane on this sexy twist ska record by Gary. He was all over tv & radio back in the day. So danceable, party record. Like Jimmy Soul too. Gary also made a minor song comeback from 1980-82, pop soul & disco.Thanks Gary US Bonds. Vive les rock & retro freaks...
@patriciafootejohnson2817
Love the saxophone and that his songs sound like a party; dear lady twist, quartet to three, new Orleans. Love you Gary and your great music that brings a smile to everyone and makes you want to get up and dance even this old lady 😀
@samuelgriffin4167
One weekend can we bring back this wonderful music again
@srercrcr
It's right here on You Tube...24/7.
@samuelgriffin4167
@@srercrcr Thank you Steve
@TheDejael
Great song with great rhythm and beat! And Gary's gritty voice, with Daddy G's saxophone making it really swing!
@Rich2241
Happy 83rd birthday Gary. Keep doin the Twist and never grow old.
@abbottcooper3243
One of my all-time faves. I will NEVER grow tired of listening to it even after my knees stop letting me dance to it.
@Lisbeth22250
Dear Lady Twist is also one of my all-time favorites. Never, ever tire of hearing this song.
@rentslave
Get a cortisone shot.