Tighten Up
James Brown Lyrics


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Hi everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the drells
Of Houston, Texas, we don't only sing but we dance
Just as good as we walk, in Houston we just started
a new dance called the tighten Up, This is the music
We tighten up with, first tighten up on the drums

Come on now, drummer, I want you to tighten it up
For me now, oh, yeah, tighten up on that bass, now
Tighten it up, Ha, ha, yeah, now let that guitar fall in
Oh, yeah, Tighten up on that organ now

Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah, now
I said, if you can do it now, It sure would be tough
Now look here, come on now
Now make it mellow

Let's tighten it up now
Do the tighten up
Everybody can do it now
So into get to it

We're gonna tighten up
Let's do the tighten up
You can do it now
So baby, get to it

Look to your left, now
Look to your right
Everybody can do it
But don't you get too tight

Come on and tighten up
Let's tighten it up, now
Let's tighten it up, now
Tighten it up

Do the tighten up
Come and tighten it up
Tighten it up, now

Come on now, Billy
Tighten it up, oh, yeah
Sock it to me, now
Tighten it up

Come on and tighten up that bass, oh, yeah
Now look here, I want that guitar to fall in on there
Tighten it up now, oh, yeah
Now tighten it up, organ, yeah
Now everybody tighten it up now

Now look here
We gonna make it mellow for you now
We gonna make it mellow now

Tighten it up, you can get it
Move to your left, move to your right
Tighten it up now, everything will be outta sight




Come on and tighten it up, tighten it up now
You can do it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James Brown's song "Tighten Up" are actually being spoken by Archie Bell of the group The Drells from Houston, Texas, and is a call to action for people to dance to their new dance called "The Tighten Up." The song begins with the introduction of the various instruments that make up the music, and then urges the musicians to tighten up their playing. As the song progresses, Archie Bell encourages listeners to join in and do the tighten up dance. The song also includes instructions on how to do the dance, telling people to look to their left and right, move to the rhythm, but not to get too tight.


The lyrics of "Tighten Up" are a celebration of the dance and the music that accompanies it. However, as with many songs of this era, they also have a deeper political and cultural significance, representing the growing sense of empowerment and self-expression among African Americans in the 1960s. The song's upbeat rhythm and message of unity and inclusion made it an anthem for civil rights activists and a symbol of African American pride and identity.


Line by Line Meaning

Hi everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the drells
Archie Bell introduces himself and his group to the audience.


Of Houston, Texas, we don't only sing but we dance
The group hails from Houston, Texas and they are not only singers but dancers as well.


Just as good as we walk, in Houston we just started
The people from Houston have started a new dance called the Tighten Up which is just as good as the way they walk.


a new dance called the tighten Up, This is the music
The Tighten Up is a new dance and this is the music that is played during the dance.


We tighten up with, first tighten up on the drums
The song starts with the drums playing and the audience is encouraged to tighten up.


Come on now, drummer, I want you to tighten it up
James Brown asks the drummer to play tighter and more precisely.


For me now, oh, yeah, tighten up on that bass, now
James Brown asks the bass player to tighten up his playing and be in sync with the rest of the group.


Tighten it up, Ha, ha, yeah, now let that guitar fall in
The group tightens up their playing and the guitar comes in as the next instrument.


Oh, yeah, Tighten up on that organ now
The organ now comes in and the group tightens up their playing to include the organ's sound.


Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah, now
James Brown encourages the audience to also tighten up and get ready to dance.


I said, if you can do it now, It sure would be tough
James Brown challenges the audience to perform the Tighten Up dance as it is not easy.


Now look here, come on now
James Brown is getting serious and is now urging the audience more emphatically.


Now make it mellow
The group changes the pace of the song to a mellower vibe.


Let's tighten it up now
The group returns to their original rhythm and wants everyone to tighten up again.


Do the tighten up
The Tighten Up dance is easy for everyone to do.


Everybody can do it now
James Brown reinforces that anyone can dance the Tighten Up.


So into get to it
The audience is encouraged to start dancing.


We're gonna tighten up
The group is leading the Tighten Up dance.


You can do it now
James Brown believes that anyone can dance the Tighten Up.


So baby, get to it
Another encouragement to start dancing the Tighten Up.


Look to your left, now
The audience is instructed to look left.


Look to your right
The audience is instructed to look right.


Everybody can do it
James Brown clearly states that anyone can dance the Tighten Up.


But don't you get too tight
James Brown reminds the audience not to dance too tightly.


Come on and tighten up
The group is once again leading the Tighten Up dance.


Tighten it up, now
The group wants everyone to tighten up now.


Do the tighten up
The Tighten Up dance is reinforced.


Come and tighten it up
More encouragement to tighten up and dance.


Come on now, Billy
James Brown addresses Billy to get ready to play.


Tighten it up, oh, yeah
Continue to encourage tighter playing.


Sock it to me, now
James Brown wants Billy to really go all out while playing.


Come on and tighten up that bass, oh, yeah
James Brown wants the bassist to make sure he is in sync with the rest of the group.


Now look here, I want that guitar to fall in on there
The group needs the guitar to cue in at the right moment.


Now everybody tighten it up now
The group is leading the Tighten Up dance again.


Now look here
James Brown is getting serious again and wants everyone to pay attention.


We gonna make it mellow for you now
The group is changing the pace of the song again to a mellower vibe.


Tighten it up, you can get it
The audience is reassured that they can dance the Tighten Up.


Move to your left, move to your right
The audience is instructed to do a specific move while dancing.


Tighten it up now, everything will be outta sight
The group is confident that dancing the Tighten Up will be great.


Come on and tighten up, tighten it up now
Another reinforcement to tighten up and dance.


You can do it
James Brown is still reassuring the audience that they can dance the Tighten Up.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARCHIE BELL, BILLY BUTTIER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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