After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Ain't That Too Much
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the ruby red lips look and the jet black hair
With the autumn of smile and the eyes that shine
If you don't see her, then you must be blind
You can look my friend, but you better not touch
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
(Ain't that too much)
Everywhere we go, I feel oh, so proud
'Cause my baby draws, she draws a great big crowd
So we go dancin' about every night
I ain't got much bread loaf, but we make it alright
'Cause wherever we go, we go dutch
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Oh, when I watch my baby dance
I just stand there in a trance
She's the cutest little girl I've ever known
Oh, when she's walkin' down the street
Hearts are fallin' at her feet
But my baby saves her love for me alone
Talkin' 'bout my baby, she's a prettiest sight
I'm in love with that girl, with all my might
She's so pretty, she just a knocks me out
She knows what lovin' is all about
She's my leanin' post, tower and my crutch
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Hit it
She's my leanin' post, tower and my crutch
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much, now
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
Ain't that too much, now
(Ain't that too much)
Lord, ain't that too much
(Ain't that too much)
In Gene Vincent's song "Ain't That Too Much," the singer is enamored with his girlfriend and describes her physical attributes and charisma in the chorus. He is proud to be with her and go out dancing every night, even though he doesn't have much money. He is so captivated by her that he stands in a trance watching her dance and knows that she saves her love for him alone. He declares that she is his everything, his "leanin' post," tower, and crutch. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that his love for her is overwhelming.
The song is a classic example of rockabilly, a subgenre of rock and roll that emerged in the early 1950s. The genre combined elements of country and rhythm and blues music and was known for its fast-paced, upbeat sound. Gene Vincent was a prominent figure in the rockabilly scene and is best known for his hit song "Be-Bop-A-Lula."
Interestingly, "Ain't That Too Much" was not originally released by Gene Vincent but was instead recorded by a fellow rockabilly singer, Marty Robbins, in 1956. However, Vincent's version, which was released in 1958, is arguably the more well-known of the two.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, that's my baby, right over there
I am pointing out my significant other who is nearby
With the ruby red lips look and the jet black hair
She has distinctive features like red lips and black hair
With the autumn of smile and the eyes that shine
My partner has a beautiful smile and her eyes sparkle
If you don't see her, then you must be blind
It's hard to miss her, she stands out and catches the attention of others
You can look, my friend, but you better not touch
She is mine and I wouldn't appreciate it if someone touched her without my permission
Everywhere we go, I feel oh, so proud
I feel happy and proud when we are together
'Cause my baby draws, she draws a great big crowd
She gets a lot of attention from others when we go out
So we go dancin' about every night
We love to dance and go out often to do so
I ain't got much bread loaf, but we make it alright
I don't have a lot of money, but we are still happy together
'Cause wherever we go, we go dutch
We split the cost of everything we do
Oh, when I watch my baby dance
I enjoy watching my partner dance
I just stand there in a trance
I am mesmerized and in awe of her dancing
She's the cutest little girl I've ever known
She is adorable and lovable
Oh, when she's walkin' down the street
She turns heads and attracts stares when she walks in public
Hearts are fallin' at her feet
Other people are attracted to her and her looks
But my baby saves her love for me alone
She only has feelings for me
Talkin' 'bout my baby, she's a prettiest sight
I love talking about and showing off my beautiful partner
I'm in love with that girl, with all my might
I love her deeply and with everything I have
She's so pretty, she just a knocks me out
Her beauty is so stunning that it leaves me speechless
She knows what lovin' is all about
She is great at showing affection and love
She's my leanin' post, tower and my crutch
She provides support and stability in my life
Ain't that too much
Isn't that amazing
Hit it
Let's start the music
Lord, ain't that too much
Goodness, isn't that incredible
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FULLER, KNIGHT, Jerry Fuller, Thomas Knight
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim Colledge
Love this track ! RIP Gene Vincent.
Dollie DeVille
This is a great song, killer! Thanks for sharing. For my tastes though, this wouldn't make much of a stroller. Too fast. It would make a great jiver though!
n00se
Well, that's my baby right over there-ere
With the ruby red lips look and the jet black hair
With the autumn of smi-i-ile and the eyes that shine
If you don't see her-er-er-er-er, then you must be bli-ind
You can look my friend, but you better not touch
Ain't that too much (ain't that too much) [2x]
Everywhere we go-o-o-o, I feel oh so proud
'Cause my baby draw-aw-aws, she draws a great big crowd
So we go danci-in' about-a every night
I ain't got much bread loa-oa-oaf, but we make it alright
'Cause where ever we go, we go Dutch
Ain't that too much (ain't that too much [2x]
Oh, when I watch my baby da-ance
I just stand there in a trance
She's the cutest little gir-irl I've ever know-own
Oh, when she's-a walkin' down the street
Hearts are fallin' at her feet
But my baby saves her love for me alone
Talkin' 'bout my baby-y, she's a pretty sight
I'm in love with that gir-irl with-a all my might
She's so pretty, she just-a knocks me out
She knows what lovi-i-i-i-in' is all abou-out
She's my leanin' post, tower and my crutch
Ain't that too much (ain't that too much) [2x]
Hit-it
Lou Costello
Great song. Great Gene. Thanks.
peter leonard
gene vincent at his best . aint that to much
bonkey dollocks
Sweet gene Vincent
michael snider
Too bad this and Gene's other mid sixties releases weren't hits, this was closer to his Capitol recordings of the fifties and early sixties than his other Challenge recordings, which were more folk rock. All great though
johnnybsteelriff
Yeah Mike these mid 60s recordings are great...love 'em to bits and the folk-rock stuff too!!!
Lois Prima
ZUPPER!!!