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.
Twist Twist Senora
Gary "U.S." Bonds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey now, hey now
Twist all around
What you say now
Twist, twist, senora
Come on, come on
Shake it all night
Jump, jump, senora
Let me hear you now
Jump all around
Come on, come on
Twist, twist, senora
Well, all right
Twist it all around
Well, there's a real swinging
Dance called the twist now
Come on and get with it
Young and old dance together
Come on and dance
Bring your partner
Twist, twist, senora
Come on, come on
Twist all around
Well, well alright
Twist, twist, senora
Yeah, oh, yeah
The place is hopping now
Let me hear you now
Jump, jump. Senora
Jump up in the air
Jump through the night
Let me hear you now
Twist, twist senora
Come on, come on
Twist it all around, well
When I say stick your
Shoulders, I mean so
Left or right to the temple
And in case you get a notion
Jump in the air, come down
In slow motion
Twist, twist, senora
Come on, come on
Twist all around
Twist with me now
Twist, twist, senora
Come on, come on
Shake it up and down
Come on, baby
Jump, jump senora
Let me hear you now
Jump through the night
What you say now
Twist, twist, senora
Alright, well, alright
Twist it all around
Blow, blow, daddy
I want a pretty girl to assist me
Go with me on up 5th street
And in case she gets a notion
I want her to jump in the air
Come down in slow motion
Twist, twist, senora
Come on, come on
Twist all around
And jump up, jump up
Twist, twist, senora
Yeah, well, alright
Twist it up and down
Shake, baby now
Jump, jump, senora
Yeah, oh, yeah
"Twist Twist Senora" is a fun and upbeat song by Gary "U.S." Bonds that encourages listeners to dance and enjoy themselves. The lyrics are repetitive and simple, with the chorus urging listeners to "twist" and "jump" while also giving a special nod to a dance partner referred to as "senora." The repeated instructions to twist and jump provide a sense of community and unity, as if everyone in the room is doing these steps together.
The dance instructions in the song are quite specific, instructing dancers to "stick your shoulders" and "come down in slow motion." These instructions transform the song from a simple dance tune into a set of instructions for those who want to learn a particular dance. Additionally, the upbeat energy of the song can lend itself well to a wide range of dance styles, from more formal ballroom dancing to looser, improvisational styles.
Overall, "Twist Twist Senora" is a fun and upbeat song that encourages listeners to get up and dance while providing them with specific dance instructions.
Line by Line Meaning
Twist, twist, senora
Invitation to a swinging dance called twist, for the lady named senora
Hey now, hey now
Address to meet the host’s immediate attention
Twist all around
A call for the lady to perform the twist dance move
What you say now
A request for the lady's response
Come on, come on
A repeated, enthusiastic invitation
Shake it all night
An energetic urge for the lady to keep dancing
One more time now
Request for the lady to perform her favorite dance one more time
Jump, jump, senora
Invitation for the lady to jump and dance along
Let me hear you now
A desire to hear the lady's cheers and shouts
Twist, twist, senora
Repeat invitation to the lady Senora to twist with the others
Well, all right
A positive expression of content and enthusiasm
Well, there's a real swinging
Introduction to the topic of the twist dance
Dance called the twist now
Naming the current popular rhythm
Come on and get with it
Encouragement to dance together and enjoy the music
Young and old dance together
All ages dancing as a community
Bring your partner
Welcome to bring along those you love to dance with
The place is hopping now
Description of the energy and excitement at the dance floor
Jump up in the air
Encouragement to jump and have fun with the rhythm
Jump through the night
An invitation to dance throughout the night
When I say stick your
Explanation of how to twist
Shoulders, I mean so
Clarification of the body part being mentioned
Left or right to the temple
A specific body part being directed to move for the twist dance
And in case you get a notion
A premonition if a dancer wants to try another move
Jump in the air, come down
To jump and fall back on the beat
In slow motion
To fall back smoothly to the rhythm
Twist with me now
A personal invitation to dance together
Shake it up and down
A smoother, calmer movement for the lady's dance
And jump up, jump up
Encouragement to jump along
Blow, blow, daddy
A random phrase to tag on to the end of the line for effect
I want a pretty girl to assist me
Expressing a desire to dance with a beautiful lady
Go with me on up 5th street
A location to go together and continue the fun
And in case she gets a notion
Reassurance if the lady wishes to try another move
Twist it up and down
Directions for the lady's dance
Shake, baby now
Encouragement and compliment to dance skill
Yeah, oh, yeah
Expression of excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frankmerrill2366
So all the history books that say that you died in 51 A. D. are WRONG??? Wow - who knew?
No, obviously you made a typo...lol.
Both of my favorite songs of his, are NOT the obvious; they're two of his three releases that Bubbled Under on Billboard:
1. Take Me Back To New Orleans (actually got moderate airplay on Detroit radio)
2. I Dig This Station
That happens so often with me, that my favorites are not necessarily the big hits; The Association, Petula Clark, and especially The Ventures are among the examples that come to mind immediately...
@maxtew6521
Dude has real intensity in that vocal. It's almost like an anachronistic hardcore punk performance. Rocks pretty hard.
@ak.freeman
What a energy
@hotdog12ify
Old days beauty at it's best,
@hotdog12ify
i could watch these beauties dance all night.
@robertsmith8963
Love these girls dancing, especially the girl on the right👍
@pattiesilva6209
I agree, the one with the long dark hair.
@downtownbobbybrown6237
I agree the one on the right ! I like the way she moves ,so dam hot !
@melanieboykin9932
I also had to introduce my wife to this song and she is 68. I liked it years ago and I love it now. Go Curly. Rip that bass fiddle.
@jbsilver8665
JB SILVER HERE TO TELL YOU THIS TUNE REFLECTS MY BEGINNING IN CHASING THE MUSIC. YES I KNOW GARY AND MET HIM TWICE! SPRINGSTEEN AND I LOVE THIS MAN CAUSE HE IS THE MAN! LOVE YAH GARY REMEMBER YOU CALL ME JOEY!!!
@ElKabong47
My wife had never heard this song and she is a great dancer (age 67). Could not believe it....a standard where I grew up....