Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, Mississippi-native Taylor took up the guitar when he was 20 years old. He made a few appearances on Sonny Boy Williamson's fabled KFFA King Biscuit Time radio broadcasts out of Helena, AR, before coming to Chicago in 1942. It was another 15 years before Taylor made blues his full-time vocation, though. Taylor was a favorite on the South and West sides during the late 50s and early 60s. It's generally accepted that Freddie King copped a good portion of his classic "Hide Away" from an instrumental he heard Taylor cranking out on the bandstand.
Taylor's relentlessly raucous band, the HouseRockers, consisted of only two men, though their combined racket sounded like quite a few more. Second guitarist Brewer Phillips, who often supplied buzzing pseudo-bass lines on his guitar, had developed such an empathy with Taylor that their guitars intertwined with ESP-like force, while drummer Ted Harvey kept everything moving along at a brisk pace.
Hound Dog Taylor began playing guitar when he was 20 and became a full-time musician around 1957. He wasn’t well known outside of the Chicago area until his debut album, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, with Alligator Records in 1971. The LP contained the typically rowdy Give Me Back My Wig while Taylor's first Alligator encore in 1973, Natural Boogie, boasted the hypnotic Sadie and a stomping Roll Your Moneymaker.
His fourth Alligator album, Beware of the Dog, was recorded live in 1974 but only released after his death. Hound Dog Taylor died of cancer in 1975 and was buried in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1984.
Roll Your Moneymaker
Hound Dog Taylor & the House Rockers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake your moneymaker, honey you're really alright
Roll your moneymaker, yeah
I got a gal who lives up on the hill
Well I got a gal, she lives up on the hill
Well the fool tried to quit me but man I love her still
She rolled her moneymaker, oh boy she really can shake her
Shake your moneymaker, honey you're really alright
Roll your moneymaker
Well I'm leaving in the morning I won't be here till fall
Well I'm leaving in the morning I won't be here in the fall
Well my mind won't change I won't be here at all
Roll your moneymaker, honey you really can shake her
Shake your moneymaker, baby your really alright
Roll your moneymaker
Well I'm leaving in the morning I won't be here till fall
Well I'm leaving in the morning I won't be back till fall
Well my mind only chance I won't be here at all
Roll your moneymaker, honey you really can shake her
Baby your really alright, yeah your out of sight
Roll your moneymaker
The song "Roll Your Moneymaker" by Hound Dog Taylor & the House Rockers is a classic blues tune about a man who loves his girl's moves on the dance floor. The phrase "roll your moneymaker" is a reference to the woman's hips and the way she dances, suggesting that she can make money with the way she moves. The lyrics talk about the man's love for his girl, even though she tried to leave him. He admires her dance moves and encourages her to keep dancing and shaking her moneymaker. The repetition of the chorus adds to the driving rhythm of the song and emphasizes the importance of the woman's dancing.
The lyrics also have a sense of finality, with the man stating that he is leaving and won't be back until fall. He acknowledges that his mind won't change and that he might not come back at all. This suggests that he is moving on from the relationship but still admires his girl's dance moves. The song ends on a positive note, with the man again praising his girl's dance skills.
Overall, "Roll Your Moneymaker" is a traditional blues song that celebrates the art of dancing and the beauty of a woman's body. It is a classic example of the blues genre and showcases the talent of Hound Dog Taylor & the House Rockers.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll your moneymaker, honey you really can shake her
Encouragement to the listener, the singer praises the way their dance moves embody the importance of earning and making money.
Shake your moneymaker, honey you're really alright
This line is a compliment to the listener's moves, indicating that the way they dance and make money is admirable and attractive.
Roll your moneymaker, yeah
This line is a repetition of the central theme of the song, encouraging the listener to continue using their dance moves to earn money.
I got a gal who lives up on the hill
The singer introduces a character who is geographically proximal to their home or location.
Well I got a gal, she lives up on the hill
Reiteration of the previous line to further introduce the character and provide context for the upcoming lyric.
Well the fool tried to quit me but man I love her still
The singer admits that their relationship with this character is tumultuous but describes their ongoing love despite difficulties.
She rolled her moneymaker, oh boy she really can shake her
The character mentioned earlier is praised for her skill and ability to earn money through dance moves.
Shake your moneymaker, honey you're really alright
Reiteration of the value of the listener's ability to earn money through dance moves.
Well I'm leaving in the morning I won't be here till fall
The singer indicates their impending departure and a significant amount of time before their return.
Well my mind won't change I won't be here at all
The singer affirms their decision to leave and the unlikelihood of changing their plans.
Baby your really alright, yeah your out of sight
A compliment to the listener on their appearance and dance moves, indicating their appeal and desirability.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: THEODORE R TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind