Barnes was born… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Barnes (b. 1956) is an Australian rock singer.
Barnes was born James Dixon Swan on the 28th April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Australia with his family when he was six years old.
He first came to public attention as the lead singer with popular Australian pub-rock band Cold Chisel, which he joined in 1973 and with whom he recorded seven albums between 1978 and 1983. When the band split up in 1983 he launched a solo career almost immediately; his first album, Bodyswerve, entered the Australian charts at number one. It was the first of a remarkable run of top charting albums for Barnes, as each of his first six solo albums entered the charts at number one, a feat that no other Australian artist is likely to match.
In 1986 Barnes recorded two singles with INXS, duetting with that band's singer Michael Hutchence on a cover of The Easybeats' "Good Times", and "Laying Down the Law", which was co-written by Barnes with INXS members Andrew Farriss and Hutchence. "Good Times" was used as the theme song for the Australia Made series of concerts that toured the country in the summer of 1986-1987. Both songs later appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980s teen vampire film The Lost Boys.
Following Hutchence's death in 1997, Barnes appeared live on stage with INXS at shows throughout Australia between 1999 and 2001.
His album Double Happiness, released in July 2005, reaffirmed his popularity, entering the ARIAnet albums chart at number one, his seventh album to do so. Barnes was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on the 23rd October 2005 for his solo career efforts. Coupled with Cold Chisel's previous induction, Barnes is the only artist to be entered into the Hall of Fame twice.
Barnes is also the father of singer David Campbell, who recently starred in the Australian production of the musical Sunset Boulevard, and was a contestant on the Australian television programme Dancing with the Stars. The two perform the duet "Wichita Lineman" on Double Happiness.
Land Of A Thousand Dances
Jimmy Barnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three!
You gotta know how to pony like Bony Maronie
Mashed Potato, do the Alligator
Put your hands on your hips, let your back-bone slip
Do the Watusi, like my little Lucy
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
You know I feel alright.
Feel pretty good y'all.
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Dance with me honey, like Long Tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy, doin the Watusi
Gotta hold of your back, I like it like that
Do the Jerk, watch me work
Ah, do it!
The lyrics of Jimmy Barnes's song, "Land of 1000 Dances," are a call to dance and have a good time. The first verse encourages the listener to learn and perform various dance styles, like the Pony, the Mashed Potato, the Alligator, the Watusi, and to "let your back-bone slip." The second verse calls for a dance partner, to "dance with me honey like Long Tall Sally" and "twist with Lucy." The song also includes a call-and-response section, where Barnes asks for help and the crowd responds with "na, na na na na."
However, the lyrics of the song also have a deeper meaning. The "Land of 1000 Dances" can be seen as a metaphor for the various cultural and social movements happening in America during the 1960s, like the Civil Rights Movement and the counterculture movement. The song's message is one of unity and celebration of diversity, as expressed through dance.
Overall, "Land of 1000 Dances" is a fun, upbeat song that encourages people to dance and enjoy themselves while also conveying a message of inclusivity and celebration of different cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three!
Let's get ready to dance, count the beats and get in rhythm.
You gotta know how to pony like Bony Maronie
To dance the right way, you need to know the right moves and techniques.
Mashed Potato, do the Alligator
There are various dance styles required to make the most of this song, such as Mashed Potato and Alligator.
Put your hands on your hips, let your back-bone slip
Relax and move your lower back and hips to let the energy flow while shaking your body.
Do the Watusi, like my little Lucy
Do a fabulous dance style like Watusi that your partner will enjoy as much as Lucy.
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
The chorus calls for a call-and-response to synchronize the dance moves of the listeners with the song.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
The singer wants the audience to join in the chorus after the call-and-response to create a group dance environment.
You know I feel alright.
The energy from the music and the dance moves makes the singer feel good.
Dance with me honey, like Long Tall Sally
Dance with your partner and follow the rhythm while doing Long Tall Sally.
Twistin' with Lucy, doin the Watusi
Lucy loves to Twist, come and do the Watusi with her on this song.
Gotta hold of your back, I like it like that
The singer is enjoying the partner's close dance moves and enjoying the rhythm of the song.
Do the Jerk, watch me work
The singer wants to show off his dancing skills by doing the Jerk.
Ah, do it!
The singer is encouraging the audience to keep dancing and enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Kenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sonyaleewilliams7134
Just loving jimmy's songs 🎵
@blackroyal4546
One of the best Voices of all time
@seanswinton6242
I agree! I thank the band INXS for introducing me to him with their song "Good Times." Here in the US, I'd never heard of Jimmy Barnes. I was listening to many Australian artists, but I flew under the radar. I've been a fan since.
@lazzer7
Does anyone know who the bass player is? Looking forward to seeing them for the 2nd time in London in October!