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.
Bird Doggin
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got to find some sweet little thing to love
To put my arms around and hold oh-oh so tight
Well, I know I just can't last another night
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some love somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin'
I think of all the things she'd do and say
(Bird doggin')
Makes me want her more and more each day
(Bird doggin')
Well, now all these pretty girls just don't wanna turn around
Oh, just a-git it to me and I got to track a woman down
(Bird doggin')
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
Well, I got to get some love somehow
Bird doggin', yeah, bird doggin'
(Oh, let's go, guitar boy, let's give you some of it)
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some lovin' somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin', hey
Yeah, bird doggin'
I got to, got to, got to get me a woman tonight, love
(Bird doggin')
Yeah, I got to, got to, got to get me a woman tonight, yeah
(Bird doggin', bird doggin', bird doggin')
The lyrics to Gene Vincent's song "Bird Doggin'" are about a man who is tired of being alone and wants to find a woman to love. He is experiencing sleepless nights and is looking for someone to hold and love. He compares himself to an old hound dog on the prowl, searching for love. He imagines all the things this woman could do and say, which only makes him want her more. He laments that all the pretty girls he sees don't want to turn around and give him a chance, but he is determined to find a woman to love.
Overall, the song is about the universal desire for love and companionship. The lyrics use animal imagery to convey the singer's feelings of restlessness and hunting for something they need - in this case, love. The use of the phrase "bird dogging" gives the song a sense of energy and urgency, as the singer is actively pursuing love and trying to find a woman to hold and love.
Line by Line Meaning
All these sleepless nights I'm so tired of
Being unable to sleep due to loneliness is exhausting
I've got to find some sweet little thing to love
I need to find a kind and lovely woman to be with me
To put my arms around and hold oh-oh so tight
I want someone to embrace lovingly and tightly
Well, I know I just can't last another night
I can't go through another night alone
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
Comparing myself to a determined dog seeking prey
But I got to get some love somehow
I need to find love any way possible
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin'
I am actively searching for a woman to love
I think of all the things she'd do and say
Imagining how wonderful it would be to be with her
Makes me want her more and more each day
My desire for her grows stronger every day
Well, now all these pretty girls just don't wanna turn around
The women I approach are not interested in me
Oh, just a-git it to me and I got to track a woman down
I need someone to give me a chance and I will pursue her
Bird doggin', yeah, bird doggin'
Continuing to search for love with tenacity
(Oh, let's go, guitar boy, let's give you some of it)
Encouraging the guitarist to play with more energy
But I got to get some lovin' somehow
I am determined to find love in any way possible
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin', hey
Continued dedication to finding a woman to love
Yeah, bird doggin'
Still actively searching for my perfect match
I got to, got to, got to get me a woman tonight, love
I need to find a woman tonight, no matter what
Yeah, I got to, got to, got to get me a woman tonight, yeah
Reiterating my determination to find love tonight
(Bird doggin', bird doggin', bird doggin')
Continuing to actively search for love with determination
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
All these sleepless nights I'm so tired of
I've got to find some sweet little thing to love
To put my arms around and hold oh-oh so tight
Well, I know I just can't last another night
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some love somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin'
I think of all the things she'd do and say
(Bird doggin')
Makes me want her more and more each day
(Bird doggin')
Well, now all these pretty girls just don't wanna turn around
Oh, just a-git it to me and I got to track a woman down
(Bird doggin')
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
Well, I got to get some love somehow
Bird doggin', yeah, bird doggin'
(Oh, let's go, guitar boy, let's give you some of it)
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some lovin' somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin', hey
Eric Coudrill
What an absolute classic. Rips my heart to shreds with over delirium!! I'm a massive 2tone fan, and I can imagine Roddy Radiation ( Specials guitarist) taking note. It's got his DNA all over this. Keep rockin and skanking folks!
Hyperloop Records
Hey Eric I guess you feel the same as me about this tune. Jaw droppingly amazing. Works for me every time.
n00se
All these sleepless nights I'm so tired of
I've got to find some sweet little thing to love
To put my arms around and hold oh-oh so tight
Well, I know I just can't last another night
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some love somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin'
I think of all the things she'd do and say
(Bird doggin')
Makes me want her more and more each day
(Bird doggin')
Well, now all these pretty girls just don't wanna turn around
Oh, just a-git it to me and I got to track a woman down
(Bird doggin')
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
Well, I got to get some love somehow
Bird doggin', yeah, bird doggin'
(Oh, let's go, guitar boy, let's give you some of it)
Call me an old hound dog on the prowl
But I got to get some lovin' somehow
I'm bird doggin', yeah, I'm bird doggin', hey
Lazlo Kovacs
The master teaching garage rock. The best!
Christian BAVAN
garage? rock to me
mibius
What a Singer,, what a band, what a guitarrist!!
bonkey dollocks
One of the lesser played ones, I absolutely love it, that's how I like my rock n roll, sweet gene Vincent
jean-marie Basset
excellent groupe d'accompagnement,les Champs,qui eurent leurs heures de gloire avec Tequila groupe formé par Dave Burgess,Ale Cassey,Glen Campbell,Jimmy Seals et Dash Croft,enregistrement du 15 juin 1966
Erwin V
So way ahead such a great song. Can sit still. Love from Holland
Lee Mills
A master piece rock on gene