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.
B-I-Bickey-Bi Bo-Bo-Go
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard a crazy song with a crazy beat
The band in the house was a-going real wild
And all them cats just a-jumpin′ in the hall
Be-bi-bickey-bi, bo-bo
Grab your girl and go-go
You love me, I love you
Well I stepped inside just to look around
I had to join rockin' upside down
Asked a little chick how it got that swing
She said, search me dad, but it′s got that thing
Be-bi-bickey-bi, bo-bo
Grab your girl and go-go
You love me, I love you
Be-bi-bickey-bi, go-bo-go!
Well I grabbed me a chick and I headed for the floor
The roof was a-shakin' and so was the floor
The guys in the hall was a-ziggin' and a-zaggin′
She′s a real cool doll and I'm not a-waggin
The Gene Vincent song "B-I-Bickey-Bi Bo-Bo-Go" is a classic rock and roll tune from the 1950s. The lyrics describe the singer's experience at a wild party where the band is playing "a crazy song with a crazy beat." The singer meets a girl with excellent dance moves and they hit the floor together. The chorus of the song is a playful call-and-response where the singer urges his listeners to "grab your girl and go-go" while he sings "be-bi-bickey-bi, bo-bo-go!" The lyrics are straightforward and lighthearted, capturing the joyful spirit of early rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking down the street
While strolling down the street
I heard a crazy song with a crazy beat
I caught a song with a wild rhythm playing
The band in the house was a-going real wild
The band in the house was playing furiously
And all them cats just a-jumpin' in the hall
Everyone was recklessly dancing in the hall
Be-bi-bickey-bi, bo-bo
Nonsense sounds with no real meaning
Grab your girl and go-go
Seize your girl and dance
You love me, I love you
Affirming love between partners
Be-bi-bickey-bi, go-bo-go!
More nonsensical sounds
Well I stepped inside just to look around
I walked in to take a look
I had to join rockin' upside down
Had to indulge in wild and reckless dancing
Asked a little chick how it got that swing
Inquired from a lady how she had such a swing in her dance
She said, search me dad, but it's got that thing
She answered that she didn't know how she got the swing, but it just happened
Well I grabbed me a chick and I headed for the floor
I took a lady and headed towards the dancing floor
The roof was a-shakin' and so was the floor
The impact of the music was causing the roof and floor to shake
The guys in the hall was a-ziggin' and a-zaggin'
Men in the hall were moving erratically
She's a real cool doll and I'm not a-waggin'
I'm happy to have a great companion and I'm not unsure
Writer(s): Jack Rhodes, Don Carter, Dub Nails
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@koko-pu5vn
How do more people not know about Cliiff Gallup???!!? Phenomenal stuff!! Keep rockin' in the great beyind Gene, Cliff and all the great Rockabilly cats we've lost!!!!
@hakimhamidi8160
C'était le bon temps années 50 et 60 et ce sont de guitares magiques. Gene vincent and the blue caps et surtout eddie cochran a ne jamais les oublier c'était 2 frères inséparables.merci
@seanmeisner3190
GO GUYS GO!!!
Man--Cliff was a MONSTER!!!
@DH-ve5bl
Really great guitar work on this one. The melody is similar to “Rip It Up” but the lead guitar knocks it up a notch.
@debheron5193
second guitar break in this is phenominal,cliff at his best
@billyonions6024
You are so right, Deb.
These things can injure you.
@davidblack3021
Between gallup, Burton, and setzer do you need any other guitar players
@leeetchells609
@David Black yep. Grady Martin and Hank Garland 🤣
@alanireland5222
Cliff Gallup, Jeff Becks hero
@SuperEddierivers
To me Gene could do no wrong,but if I had to pick a favorite song of his,this would be it.Too cool for words.