James Purify was born May 12, 1944 in Pensacola, Florida. "Bobby Purify" was actually two different singers; the first was James's cousin Robert Lee Dickey (Sep 2nd 1939 - Dec 29th 2011), who adopted the Purify name for performing, and sang on their early records. The I'm Your Puppet Songfacts states that after retiring, Dickey returned to his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, in 1972 where he became a custodial crew supervisor at the Tallahassee Police Department. He continued singing with his church and as a member of the Bethlehem Male Singers. Dickey died on December 29, 2011.
The second Bobby was vocalist Ben Moore, who replaced Dickey when he suffered health problems. ("I'm Your Puppet" was written and produced by Dan Penn, who introduced Purify and Moore.) The duo continued into the 1980s, with no other big hits, but remained popular on the tour circuit. When Purify faced legal problems (not career-related), Moore went solo, though still using the name "Bobby Purify" occasionally. In 1983, he was nominated for a Grammy award, for a gospel recording.
Shake A Tail Feather
James & Bobby Purify Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I heard about the fella
You been dancing with
All over the neighbourhood
So why didn't you ask me baby?
Or didn't you think I could?
Well I know that the Boogaloo is out of sight
But the shing-a-ling's the thing tonight
I would have shown you how to do it right
Do it right, do it right
Do it right
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Twistin'
Shake it shake it shake it shake it baby
Here we go loop-de-loop
Shake it up baby
Here we go loop-de-lie
A bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Come on let me see you shake your tail feather
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Twistin'
Shake it shake it shake it shake it baby
Here we go loop-de-loop (oh yeah)
Shake it up baby
Here we go loop-de-lie
A bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Twistin'
Oh yeah
Alright
C'mon girl, baby
C'mon child
Do the shing-a-ling
Shake that thing
C'mon O yeah baby ....
The song Shake a Tail Feather by James & Bobby Purify is a classic R&B track that was released in 1963. The opening lyrics set the stage for the rest of the song, as the singer asks why his love interest has been dancing with someone else without asking him to dance. He then goes on to mention a few specific dance moves of the time, including the Boogaloo and the shing-a-ling, before inviting his partner to dance with him and showing her how to do it right. The repeated chorus encourages his partner to shake her tail feather, a phrase that has since become a synonymous with dancing and having a good time.
One interesting aspect of the song is the use of call and response between the lead singer and the backup vocalists. This technique is common in gospel and blues music, and was also used in many early R&B tracks. The lyrics themselves are simple and repetitive, but the energetic vocals and catchy melody make the song a dance floor classic.
Another notable feature of Shake a Tail Feather is the emphasis on dance. During the early 1960s, dance crazes were sweeping the nation, and music was often created specifically to encourage these new dance moves. The lyrics of Shake a Tail Feather specifically name-check two popular dances, the Boogaloo and the shing-a-ling, and the song's overall upbeat and danceable rhythm is designed to get people moving.
Overall, Shake a Tail Feather is a fun and lighthearted song that captures the spirit of early R&B and the dance crazes of the time. Its timeless refrain to "shake your tail feather" continues to be an enduring anthem for people who love to let loose and have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Ow! Get it baby! Alright
Let's get this party going and have a good time!
Well I heard about the fella you been dancing with
I heard you've been dancing with someone else.
All over the neighbourhood
Everyone is talking about your dancing.
So why didn't you ask me baby?
Why didn't you ask me to dance?
Or didn't you think I could?
Did you think I couldn't dance as well as the other guy?
Well I know that the Boogaloo is out of sight
I know the popular dance now is the Boogaloo.
But the shing-a-ling's the thing tonight
But tonight we're all about the Shing-a-ling dance.
And if that was you and me out there baby, I would have shown you how to do it right
If we were dancing together, I would have helped you master the Shing-a-ling steps.
Do it right, do it right, do it right
Let's get those moves down pat!
Twistin'
Let's add some twirls to those steps.
Shake it shake it shake it shake it baby
Move those hips and follow the rhythm!
Here we go loop-de-loop
Let's add a loop-de-loop to our dance routine now.
Shake it up baby
Keep shaking those hips and getting the party going!
Here we go loop-de-lie
Again with the loop-de-loop!
A bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Bend over and show me what you've got with those tail feather shakes!
Bend over let me see you shake your tail feather
Hey, let's see you do that again - shake it like there's no tomorrow!
Come on let me see you shake your tail feather
Don't be shy, get up and show us all your moves!
C'mon girl, baby, c'mon child
Come on all you girls and guys, let's get dancing!
Do the shing-a-ling
Let's focus on perfecting our Shing-a-ling dance moves!
Shake that thing
Keep those hips moving and bring your best energy to the dance floor!
C'mon O yeah baby ....
Let's keep the energy and momentum up and enjoy the party all night long!
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CDF DeSantis
THIS is rockin' soul at its FINEST! My fave version - it'll MAKE you get up & "shake a tail feather"! Ain't got NOTHIN' like this no more! Glad I came along at the right time!
Timothy Thorne
Awesome cover version. This one is just as lively, and you can understand the lyrics
Samantha Kerridge
OMG not heard this for years, stunning
ProudKansan08
I like all three versions, myself. Unusual, because its rare that I like all cover versions of the same song.
Ulises Mavridis
Rest in Peace Ben Moore (Bobby Purify) (August 7, 1941 – May 12, 2022)
grammarita1
My 2nd favorite by them. "Let Love Come between Us," which I own, is my favorite.
notconvincedgranny
My favorite: I Can Remember.
pabc
Loved this!!
David P
Still do!
The Groovy Side Of the Tube
This version is great for lots of reasons! I'd cut a rug to it fer sure!