Starting his entertainment career as a tap dancer, Jones joined a doo-wop group named The Berliners in 1954. They later changed their name to Sparks Of Rhythm.[1] In 1955 Jones co-wrote "Handy Man", which was recorded by the Sparks Of Rhythm in 1956 (after Jones left the group).
After recording with other groups, Jones went solo and, in 1959, teamed up with Otis Blackwell who reworked "Handy Man" which Jones recorded on the subsidiary MGM record label, Cub. When the flute player did not show up for the session, Blackwell famously whistled on the recording. "Handy Man," released in 1959, gave Jones his first U.S. and UK hit single. "Handy Man" went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Later in that same year, Jones' recording of "Good Timin'" shot to #1 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 in the U.S. Both "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'" were million sellers, earning Jones two gold discs.
Jones' subsequent career was low key although it included three more UK chart entries in the following twelve months. "Handy Man", which introduced a rock falsetto singing style to the British audience, later scored hits for Del Shannon and James Taylor who both covered it.
Although Jones had but two Top 40 hits, both million sellers, he nevertheless kept active in the music industry as both a songwriter and recording artist and made personal appearances as he saw fit. He kept recording through most of the 1960s and remained with Cub until 1962, scraping the lower reaches of the charts with "That's When I Cried" and "I Told You So." He recorded for Ro-Jac and Vee-Jay over the next two years, and his work gradually took on a New York style uptown soul flavor.[1] From 1965-1967, he recorded for Roulette, Parkway, and Bell, none of which restored his commercial standing.
His considerable influence using falsetto extended to Del Shannon, who paid homage to Jones and also The Ink Spots for Shannon's falsetto style. Later singers who used falsetto included Lou Christie and Barry Gibb. Gibbs cited Shannon, in turn, as an influence for his disco vocalizations with the Bee Gees.
Jones released Grandma's Rock & Roll Party in the 1990s on CD, perhaps, in part due to his popularity in the UK Northern soul circles. It included new versions of "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'". In 2002, Castle/Sanctuary issued a double album anthology titled Good Timin': The Anthology.
Good Timing
Jimmy Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good timin' a tock a tock a tock a tock a
Timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
If little, little David hadn't grabbed that stone
Lyin' there on the ground
Big Goliath might've stomped on him
But he had
Timin' a tick a tick a tick a
Good timin' a tock a tock a tock a tock a
Timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
Who in the world would've ever known
What Columbus could do
If Queen Isabella hadn't hocked her jewels in 1492
But she had
Timin' a tick a tick a tick a
Good timin' a tock a tock a tock a tock a
Timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
What would've happened if you and I
Hadn't just happened to meet
We might've spent the rest of our lives
Walkin' down misery street
But we had
Timin' a tick a tick a tick a
Good timin' a tock a tock a tock a tock a
Timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
Yeah, we had timin', woah, woah, woah good timin'
Yeah, yay, yay, yay timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
Yeah, we had timin', woah, woah, woah good timin'
Yeah, yay, yay, yay timin' is the thing it's true
Good timin' brought me to you
Jimmy Jones's song "Good Timing" is a celebration of the importance of timing and how it can bring good things into one's life. The lyrics emphasize how timing has played a role in significant historical events and how it can also apply to personal relationships. Jones highlights how David's timely use of a stone against Goliath prevented him from being crushed, and how Queen Isabella's decision to finance Columbus's voyage was a right place, right time situation.
The chorus highlights the repetitive use of the tick-tock sound, which mimics a clock ticking, to drive home the importance of timing. The chorus emphasizes that if not for good timing, the singer might not have met their love interest, and they could have ended up on the street of misery instead. The song's rhythm and melody are upbeat, giving off a sense of gratitude and appreciation for how timing worked in their favor.
In summary, Jimmy Jones's "Good Timing" is a song that emphasizes the power of timing and how events that may seem insignificant can lead to life-changing outcomes. The song suggests that good timing is often necessary to turn things around for the better, and this can apply to both significant historical events and personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you need timin' a tick a tick a tick a
Timing is crucial
Good timin' a tock a tock a tock a tock a
Good timing is even more crucial
Timin' is the thing it's true
Timing can make or break a situation
Good timin' brought me to you
Our meeting was due to perfect timing
If little, little David hadn't grabbed that stone
If David hadn't acted at the right time
Lyin' there on the ground
The stone was fortuitously placed
Big Goliath might've stomped on him
David could have been defeated
Instead of the other way
But David won due to good timing
Who in the world would've ever known
Without perfect timing
What Columbus could do
Columbus might never have discovered America
If Queen Isabella hadn't hocked her jewels in 1492
If Isabella hadn't made the right move at the right time
But she had
But she did, and history was made
What would've happened if you and I
If we missed a crucial moment
Hadn't just happened to meet
Our love story would never have begun
We might've spent the rest of our lives
We might have missed our chance
Walkin' down misery street
And lived a life of loneliness and pain
Yeah, we had timin', woah, woah, woah good timin'
Our timing was perfect
Yeah, yay, yay, yay timin' is the thing it's true
Timing cannot be overstated
Good timin' brought me to you
Good timing led us to each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED TOBIAS, CLINT BALLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jilliannjones-hendricks9354
I've been reading the comments that have been made. How this song and my fathers music has touch each and everyone of you guys lifes in a special way. He is no longer with us but i know your memories and warm words that you have sheard would make him very proud. I want to say thank you. I to know he was and is one of the greatess voices to grace this earth. Thank you keep listening and buying his music. Jilliann Jones.
@Decadent36
+Jilliann Jones - Hendricks Sorry to hear he's passed on, Jillian. I was introduced to this song through Sirrius XM 50s on 5. I heard it again today and couldn't get it out of my head so I'm playing it on YouTube now. LOL
Take care!
@JeffGR4
+Jilliann Jones - Hendricks : Your Dad's music makes me feel good.
@jilliannjones-hendricks9354
Thank you, for all the wonderful commits on the music and life of my father. Continue to listen.
@mr.warmth1511
+Jilliann Jones - Hendricks ty hon that was nice
@peterthomas6486
James Taylor's Handyman is my favourite song of all time, but took many years to discover that it was a cover of Jimmys. So when I first heard it on the radio, I wasn't that impressed, but have since come around 100% and love the joy in his music. Thanks
@janebartles9582
Fabulous!!! Ive just lost my lovely Dad. He adored this song. Wonderful xxx
@remnant88starseed33
Speak to God☺☺☺☺☺
@thesongbird2383
I was a 7th grader in Southern California, back in 1960, when this song was popular. I listened to it on KFXM & KMEN radio stations. It was just before the Surfin' craze and the Beatles. Such great singers & musicians with no autotune! I still find myself singing this catchy song in 2022! Thank you Jimmy. 👍💜
@DooWops4Ever
San Bernardino area?