Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Uptown
Joe Bataan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uptown
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Uptown
How!
Uptown
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Uptown
Well it all started long ago
When I was a young boy and didn't know
That life could be very tough
On a young boy who grew up to be rough
It was uptown
On block of soul street
It was uptown
Where I was born
Well I didn't listen to the golden rule
And suddenly found myself kicked out of school
I was a-hanging 'round the blocks playing pool
I was a out and know I was a fool
It was uptown
In a private world of make believe
On a hundred and third street
Where all the fellas hang around
As I grew up and learned to tell the time
I found my life was a full time road of crime
And when the judge sentenced me far away
I knew right then and there that crime doesn't pay
For the sound of Manhattan on a summer day
Is just too much to bear when you've been away
Life is like a merry-go-round
First you're up and then you're down
Is it any wonder that a kid like me
Has so much trouble trying to stay free?
My life like is like a pearl
Always in the dark
Except the pearl is happier
As it doesn't own a heart
Uptown
The people try to put me down
It's gonna be my town
With a brand new sound
Hey! Hey!
Uptown
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Uptown
How!
Uptown
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Uptown
How!
Well it all started long ago
When I was a young boy and didn't know
That life could be very tough
On a young boy who grew up to be rough
It was uptown
On block of soul street
It was uptown
Where I was born
Well I didn't listen to the golden rule
And suddenly found myself kicked out of school
I was a-hanging 'round the blocks playing pool
I was a out and know I was a fool
It was uptown
In a private world of make believe
On a hundred and third street
Where all the fellas hang around
Life is like a merry-go-round
First you're up and then you're down
Is it any wonder that a kid like me
Has so much trouble trying to stay free?
My life like is like a pearl
Always in the dark
Except the pearl is happier
As it doesn't own a heart
Uptown
The people try to put me down
It's gonna be my town
With a brand new sound
Hey, everybody now!
All the fellas uptown
All the poor boys, hey!
Come on now and get yourself together
Anybody can do the thing
Just come on uptown
The song "Uptown" by Joe Bataan expresses the hardships and struggles of growing up in the urban neighborhood of Harlem. The repeated phrase "uptown" represents the location where the singer came from, which was a private world of make-believe where all the fellas hang around. The song starts with the singer acknowledging his upbringing and how tough life can be for a young boy who grew up to be rough.
As the song progresses, we learn about the mistakes that the singer has made in his life, such as not following the golden rule and getting kicked out of school. The lyrics convey how life is like a merry-go-round, where one is up one minute and down the next. The singer acknowledges his troubles and the people who try to put him down but also emphasizes how he will make it his own town with a brand new sound.
The song's themes of hardship, perseverance, and self-reliance are common themes in many soul and funk classics. The song's strong beat and memorable horn riff made it a favorite among fans of Latin Soul and Boogaloo, an offshoot of Latin music that was popular in the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey! Hey!
An exclamation used to express excitement or enthusiasm.
Uptown
Referring to a location that is situated towards the northern, more affluent part of New York City.
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Vocal sounds with no clear meaning; possibly used to fill gaps or create a rhythmic pattern.
Uptown
Referring to a location that is situated towards the northern, more affluent part of New York City.
How!
An exclamation used to express excitement or enthusiasm.
Uptown
Referring to a location that is situated towards the northern, more affluent part of New York City.
Shoop shoo dooby dooby
Vocal sounds with no clear meaning; possibly used to fill gaps or create a rhythmic pattern.
Uptown
Referring to a location that is situated towards the northern, more affluent part of New York City.
How!
An exclamation used to express excitement or enthusiasm.
Well it all started long ago
Introducing a story from the past and indicating that the story is about to be told.
When I was a young boy and didn't know
Indicating that the story is set in Bataan's childhood, during a time when he lacked knowledge or experience.
That life could be very tough
Suggesting that Bataan was not prepared for the difficulties he would face later in life.
On a young boy who grew up to be rough
Implying that despite the challenges he faced, Bataan ended up becoming a tough person.
It was uptown
Referring again to the location uptown.
On block of soul street
Describing a specific street uptown that was known for its soulful music and culture.
It was uptown
Referring again to the location uptown.
Where I was born
Revealing that Bataan was born uptown and spent his childhood there.
Well I didn't listen to the golden rule
Admitting to breaking social norms or expectations of behavior.
And suddenly found myself kicked out of school
Describing a consequence resulting from breaking rules or social norms.
I was a-hanging 'round the blocks playing pool
Suggesting that Bataan spent his time outside of school doing activities that were not productive or positive.
I was a out and know I was a fool
Acknowledging that his past decisions were foolish and not in his best interest.
In a private world of make believe
Imaginary or escapist thinking during a difficult time.
On a hundred and third street
Referring to a specific street in uptown where Bataan and others would spend time.
Where all the fellas hang around
Describing a place where young men would gather and socialize.
As I grew up and learned to tell the time
Indicating that Bataan gained more knowledge and maturity as he got older.
I found my life was a full time road of crime
Revealing that Bataan was involved in criminal activities as he got older.
And when the judge sentenced me far away
Describing a consequence resulting from illegal behavior.
I knew right then and there that crime doesn't pay
Realizing that criminal activities are not worth the consequences that come with them.
For the sound of Manhattan on a summer day
Reflecting on the pleasant sounds and memories of life before the legal consequences.
Is just too much to bear when you've been away
Revealing that being away from the city and in jail was a difficult experience for Bataan.
Life is like a merry-go-round
Comparing life to a circular ride that alternates between good and bad moments.
First you're up and then you're down
Continuing the comparison between life and a merry-go-round by describing its cyclical nature.
Is it any wonder that a kid like me
Asking a rhetorical question about why someone in Bataan's position would have trouble staying on the right path.
Has so much trouble trying to stay free?
Acknowledging that it is difficult to stay out of trouble or avoid the consequences of past actions.
My life like is like a pearl
Comparing his life to a valuable and rare object.
Always in the dark
Indicating that Bataan's life is often difficult or challenging.
Except the pearl is happier
Suggesting that the pearl (symbolic of his life) would be happier without certain negative elements.
As it doesn't own a heart
Implying that Bataan's problems are due to emotional or personal issues.
The people try to put me down
Suggesting that others have been critical or unsupportive of Bataan's actions or decisions.
It's gonna be my town
Expressing determination and confidence in taking ownership of his life and surroundings.
With a brand new sound
Imagining a future that is different from the past and characterized by positive changes and innovation.
Hey everybody now!
Addressing a group of people and asking for attention.
All the fellas uptown
Specifying the group of people that the singer is addressing.
All the poor boys, hey!
Expanding the addressed group to include young men who might face similar struggles.
Come on now and get yourself together
Encouraging people to focus on self-improvement or personal growth.
Anybody can do the thing
Suggesting that everyone has the ability to improve their situation and succeed.
Just come on uptown
Encouraging people to join the community in uptown New York City.
Writer(s): Joe Bataan
Contributed by Emma F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hernan romero
FLAVOR AT ITS BEST!!!
ricardo vargas
PURO JOE BATAAN BIEN CHINGON RAZA
ricardo vargas
UPTOWN FIRME CARNAL ATODA MADRE BUENA ROLA
byron martinez
my favorite joe bataan song ....
Rose Davila
JOE always loved ur music when they say ur KING OF LATIN SOUL thats the TRUTH from the MISSION DIST SAN FRAN Steve Venegas
Izzy_Is_Oran9e YT
Izzy love's salsa 🎸 💘 Enjoy 1969.