His piano playing incorporated the boogie styles of Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons; the jazz style of Jelly Roll Morton and the piano playing of Fats Domino. Allmusic journalist, Steve Huey, also noted "At the peak of his game, Smith epitomized New Orleans R&B at its most infectious and rollicking, as showcased on his classic signature tune, "Don't You Just Know It."
Smith was born in New Orleans' Garden District, and was influenced by New Orleans' piano innovator, Professor Longhair. He became known for his shuffling right-handed break on the piano that influenced other Southern players.
Smith wrote his first song on the piano, "Roberson Street Boogie" (named after the street where he lived), when he was only eight years old, and performed the tune with a friend. They billed themselves as Slick and Dark. Smith attended McDowell High and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. When Smith was fifteen he began working in clubs and recording records with his flamboyant partner, Eddie Jones, who rose to fame as Guitar Slim. When he was eighteen, in 1952, he signed a recording contract with Savoy Records, which released his first known single, "You Made Me Cry". In 1953 Smith recorded with Earl King.
In 1955, Smith turned 21, and became the piano player with Little Richard's first band for Specialty Records. The same year he also played piano on several studio sessions for other artists such as Lloyd Price. Two of the sessions resulted in hits for Earl King ("Those Lonely Lonely Nights"), and Smiley Lewis ("I Hear You Knocking").
In 1957, Smith formed 'Huey 'Piano' Smith and the Clowns' with blues singer and female impersonator Bobby Marchan, and signed a long term contract with former Specialty record producer, Johnny Vincent at Ace Records. They hit the Billboard charts with several singles in succession, including a breakout Top Five R&B hit entitled "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu". The record was issued as "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 1" on the topside, (a vocal) and "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 2", an instrumental, on the flip. The lyrics were written by John Vincent, and the record sold over one million copies, achieving gold disc status.
In 1958, Vin Records, a subsidiary of Ace Records, released a popular single "Little Chickie Wah Wah" with Clowns singer Gerri Hall, under the billing of Huey and Jerry. Meanwhile, Ace Records released several more singles from 'Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns', including "We Like Birdland", "Well I'll Be John Brown", and "Don't You Know Yockomo" (later in 1964, New Zealand artist Dinah Lee took her energetic version of this song to number 1 in both New Zealand & Australia).
Their most famous single, released in 1958, "Don't You Just Know It" b/w "High Blood Pressure", hit number 9 on the Billboard Pop chart and number 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart. It was their second million seller.
In 1959, Ace Records erased Huey Smith's vocal from the now classic single Smith composed, arranged and performed entitled "Sea Cruise", and replaced it with a more energetic vocal track by white singer Frankie Ford.[2] The tune was a huge hit for Ford.
Smith left Ace Records for Imperial Records, to record with Fats Domino's noted producer (and fellow Louisianan) Dave Bartholomew, but the national hits did not follow. Instead, Ace Records again overdubbed new vocals by Gerri Hall, Billy Roosevelt and Johnny Williams on another one of Smith's unreleased tracks, to produce the last hit single credited to Huey "Piano" Smith, entitled "Pop-Eye".
In the years following, he made several comebacks, performing as 'Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns', 'The Hueys', 'The Pitter Pats', and as 'Shindig Smith and the Soul Shakers', but he has never attained his former degree of success. Thereafter, Smith joined the Jehovah's Witnesses, and left the music industry permanently.
In 2000, Smith was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu
Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna holler but the joint's too small
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu
Want some lovin', baby, that ain't all
I wanna kiss her but the gal's too tall
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I wanna scream, I want you all to know
I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu
Yeah
Well, all right, yeah
I wanna scream, I want you all to know
I would be runnin' but my feets' too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu
Baby, comin' now I'm hurryin' home
I know she's leavin' 'cause I'm takin' too long
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu
I wanna scream
I wanna scream
I wanna scream
I wanna scream
The lyrics of Huey 'Piano' Smith's song "Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" are powerful and gripping, communicating a multitude of emotions and themes. The song deals with the singer's experience of being affected by the boogie woogie flu, a condition that represents a sense of urgency and longing for love and connection. The singer is caught up in the rhythm and energy of the music, and as a result, feels compelled to express themselves in various ways.
In the first stanza, the singer expresses a desire to jump and holler, but fears they may falter due to the small environment they are in. The second stanza sees the singer wanting some loving, wanting to kiss a tall woman but feeling unsure due to the rhythm holding them back. The third stanza has the singer expressing their desire to scream and let everyone know, but finds themselves unable to run due to their sluggish feet. The final stanza has the singer hurrying home to their loved one, knowing that their delayed return may have caused them to leave.
These lyrics speak to the urgency and passion that the boogie woogie music invokes in the singer. They are both wanting to express themselves and being held back by the very rhythm that inspires them. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and urgency for love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall
I am eager to dance but I am worried that I may lose my balance.
I wanna holler but the joint's too small
I want to shout with excitement, but the venue is too cramped for such an outburst.
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
The music's rhythm is captivating and has taken control of me.
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie woogie flu
I have contracted an infectious disease from too much dancing.
Want some lovin', baby, that ain't all
I crave physical intimacy with my partner and more.
I wanna kiss her but the gal's too tall
I desire to kiss my partner, but she is too tall for me to reach comfortably.
I wanna scream, I want you all to know
My excitement is so intense that I cannot contain myself, and I want everyone to know how I feel.
I would be runnin' but my feet's too slow
I feel like I want to run with excitement, but my body cannot keep up with my energy levels.
Baby, comin' now I'm hurryin' home
My partner is waiting for me at home, and I am rushing back to her.
I know she's leavin' 'cause I'm takin' too long
I realize that my partner may be upset and ready to leave because I am running late.
I wanna scream
I am so excited that I want to scream again.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Huey Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
I wanna jump, but I'm afraid I'll fall
I wanna holler, but the joint's too small
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me, too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
Want some lovin' babe and that ain't all
I wanna kiss her, but she's way too tall
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me, too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
Wanna squeeze her, but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feets too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me, too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
I wanna squeeze her, but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feets too slow
Young man rhythm got a hold of me, too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
Baby comin', now, I'm hurryin' home
I know she's leavin', 'cause I'm takin' too long
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me, too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu
@GEForman
When Huey Piano Smith played for a sock hop in Monroe, Louisiana in 1958 his drummer was sick, He asked me to play the drums to all these tunes. Was the most fun, but in the deep south I had to hide my white ass behind the curtains as I played the beats.
@jamespfitz
So Jim Crowe cut both ways? I'll bet people don't know that. I'm not saying you suffered as a result but it makes sense.
@trtlgrdl
This doesn't mean Jim crow?!.. keep your politics out of music Please .. but as to playing with huey smith..amazing story.
@sarge420
Excellent
@siamesevodka
I sang this song in a primary (elementary) school choir program nearly 20 years ago in Australia, and promptly forgot about it afterwards. Yesterday, though, when I saw a brief obit that Huey Piano Smith had died at 89 and that this was his biggest hit, I could still sing along to every line from memory. Great fucking song. RIP Huey Piano Smith!
@robertchesnosky3508
NOW THATS REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS ROCK AND ROLL.
@judymcvey9005
I was in high school when I could hear this WONDERFUL, MAKE-YOU-SMILE song! Loved it then...love it today!
@caribman10
Nothing, nothing like N'Awlins rock and roll.
@eddygsmusicworld1708
Only knew the Johnny Rivers version. This is great.
@karlneumann5785
Heard this great tune on NPR this morning!