He was born in Detroit, Michigan but grew up in Bessemer, Alabama, where he sang in church.
In 1951, Ballard moved back to Detroit and formed a doo wop group. He soon joined a group called The Royals, along with Henry Booth, Charles Sutton, Sonny Woods and Alonzo Tucker. The Royals had already signed to Federal Records when Ballard joined, and the group soon released Get It (1953), a major R&B hit.
The Royals' first major hit was "Work With Me, Annie", a R&B hit that also sold well in mainstream markets, along with the answer song Annie had a Baby The song "Work With Me Annie" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.[1].
The group changed its name to The Midnighters to avoid confusion with The "5" Royales. Their next major hit was Sexy Ways, a song that cemented the band as one of the most risque groups of the time. This was to be their last major hit. Sutton was replaced by Lawson Smith, while Thrasher was replaced by Sonny Woods. Tucker was replaced first by Arthur Porter and then Cal Green.
In 1959, Ballard's The Twist was released as a B-side for Teardrops on Your Letter. Chubby Checker then took The Twist to #1 twice. Though this brought about The Midnighters renaissance, it lasted only a few years. The group dissolved in 1965. Ballard tried to launch a solo career, working with James Brown. Though he later tried to re-form The Midnighters, the new lineups never achieved much success.
On March 2, 2003 Ballard died of throat cancer in his Los Angeles home, aged 75.
Do You Remember
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody is learning how
Put on a tight dress
We're on our way
We'll twist til
The break of day
(CHORUS)
Oh, baby, let's twist (let's twist)
If you resist, look what you miss
Baby, if it's late at night
Or if the sun is shinging bright
The twist is the thing to do
It's good for me and you
(CHORUS)
Do you know how to twist
If you don't, I'll show you how
Log on to Top40db.
Do you know how to twist
If you don't, you're out of style
The gang is on the move
They're in a twisting groove
Now that you've got the news
Put on your twisting shoes
Let's twist (let's twist)
Oh, baby, let's twist (let's twist)
If you resist, see what you miss
Do you know how to twist
If you don't, I'll show you how
One more time now
Do you know how to twist
If you don't, you're out of style
thank you
The song "Do You Know How to Twist" by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters is a fun and upbeat song about the popular dance craze of the 1960s, the Twist. The lyrics encourage listeners to join in and learn how to twist, emphasizing the importance of this dance in modern society. The first verse sets the scene, with everyone around them getting into the twisting groove. Hank Ballard then urges all to put on a tight dress and join him in twisting until the break of day. The line "If you resist, look what you miss" is a clear statement that if someone doesn't join the twisting, they will be missing out on all the fun.
The verses continue to highlight the universality of the twist, stating that it doesn't matter whether it's day or night, and that this dance is perfect for all situations. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, enforcing the message that everyone should be twisting. The lyrics even provide a solution for those who don't know how to twist, directing them to log on to Top40db for instructions. The final verse sums up the importance of the twist, stating that it is a "thing to do" that is "good for me and you."
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody is twisting now
Everyone is dancing the twist right now
Everybody is learning how
Everyone is learning how to do the twist dance
Put on a tight dress
Wear a fitting dress
We're on our way
We are ready and leaving to go somewhere
We'll twist til The break of day
We will keep dancing the twist all night long
Let's twist (let's twist)
Let's dance the twist (repeated for emphasis)
Oh, baby, let's twist (let's twist)
Oh, honey, let's dance the twist (repeated for emphasis and affection)
If you resist, look what you miss
If you don't join in, you will miss out on the fun
Baby, if it's late at night
Darling, even if it's very late at night
Or if the sun is shinging bright
Or if the sun is shining brightly outside
The twist is the thing to do
Then dancing the twist is the activity we should choose
It's good for me and you
It is beneficial for both of us
Do you know how to twist
Do you know how to dance the twist
If you don't, I'll show you how
If you don't know, I will teach you
Log on to Top40db.
Go to Top40db website to listen to twist music
If you don't, you're out of style
If you don't know how to twist, you are no longer fashionable or trendy
The gang is on the move
Our group is going somewhere
They're in a twisting groove
They are happily dancing the twist
Now that you've got the news
Now that you are informed
Put on your twisting shoes
Wear proper shoes to dance the twist
One more time now
Let's dance the twist again (repeated for emphasis)
Thank you
Gratitude for listening to the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE REDD, HANK BALLARD, NATHALIE NATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lee Groce
Rock n Roll at its best. Thanks for posting. He is one of my favorites.. Peace
Ray Burton
Love me Hank Ballard!