He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
Ain't Gonna Bump No More
Joe Tex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man, I wanted to bump, I was rarin' to go
And this big fat woman, bumped me on the floor
She was rarin' to go, that chick was rarin' to go
Man she did a dip, almost broke my hip
She was gettin' down, that chick was gettin' down
She wanted to bump some more, but I told her no
You done knocked me down once
Said if you wanna dance
Find you a big fat man
Ya'll both can get on down
Ya'll both can get on down, huh
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Lord, I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Somebody take her
She's too big for me
She'll knock me down, oh well
She came over to me, snatched me out of my seat
She wanted to get on down, still wanna get on down
I told her to go on and leave me alone
I ain't gettin' down
You done hurt my hip once
I know what you'll do
I ain't gonna bump with you
I don't feel like gettin' down, don't feel like gettin' down
She just shook her head at every word I said
She wanted to get on down, that woman wanna to get on down
She did that dip again and I hit the floor again
She was gettin' down, Lord, that woman was gettin' down
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
Somebody take her, I don't want her
She done hurt my hip, she done knocked me down
Done hurt my hip, she done knocked me down
Somebody take her, I don't want her
Say, Leroy, you can have this one, dude
This big fat woman, dude, I don't want her
Joe Tex's song Ain't Gonna Bump No More is the story of a man who goes to a disco and is looking to dance. However, a big fat woman bumps into him and starts dancing, and although he initially enjoys it, she bumps him too hard and hurts him. He tries to tell her he doesn't want to dance anymore, but she keeps insisting on dancing with him. Eventually, he gives up and says "Somebody take her, I don't want her." The song is a comedic take on the disco and bump dance crazes of the 1970s, but it also has underlying themes of body shaming and refusing unwanted advances.
Line by Line Meaning
Three nights ago, I was at a disco
I recently went to a disco.
Man, I wanted to bump, I was rarin' to go
I was excited to dance to the popular disco style called bumping.
And this big fat woman, bumped me on the floor
A large woman suddenly collided with me while we were dancing.
She was rarin' to go, that chick was rarin' to go
She was also excited to dance the night away.
Man she did a dip, almost broke my hip
She did an intense dance move that almost injured me.
She was gettin' down, that chick was gettin' down
She was really enjoying herself while dancing.
She wanted to bump some more, but I told her no
She wanted to keep dancing with me, but I declined.
You done knocked me down once
Her bumping into me once had already made me fall.
Said if you wanna dance
I suggested that she find a partner that was better suited to dance with her.
Find you a big fat man
I recommended that she dance with someone of similar physical size.
Ya'll both can get on down
I implied that they would be able to dance better together.
I ain't gonna bump no more with no big fat woman
I do not want to dance the bumping style with a large woman anymore.
Somebody take her
I made it clear that I wanted someone else to dance with her.
She's too big for me
The woman's size is too much for me to handle while dancing.
She'll knock me down, oh well
I know that she will cause me to fall again.
She came over to me, snatched me out of my seat
The woman pulled me out of my seat to dance with her again.
I told her to go on and leave me alone
I asked her to stop bothering me and dance with someone else.
You done hurt my hip once
I reminded her that she had already caused me pain earlier.
I know what you'll do
I have a feeling she will hurt me again.
She just shook her head at every word I said
The woman ignored everything I said when I tried to get her to dance with someone else.
She did that dip again and I hit the floor again
She did the same intense move again, causing me to fall again.
Somebody take her, I don't want her
I am making it clear that I do not want to dance with her anymore.
Say, Leroy, you can have this one, dude
I am suggesting another man dance with her.
This big fat woman, dude, I don't want her
I am reiterating that I do not want to dance with a large woman again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Buddy Killen, Bennie McGinty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinjenkins5077
When this song was played in the clubs. ALL the big girls screamed and hit the dance floor. It was a fun song
@petersparks519
It was mate
@judithsweeney4982
Yeahhh Fun Times for sure!
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
Tonz O Fun
On dat dance
Floor!! I
@jessicathompson5362
That was their song!!! 😂😂😂
@alisonfreeman57
Today, it will be discrimination, humor gone bye bye
@petercolley4770
I love that song and the way the woman comes on at the end and bumps him to the floor. We need that kind of humour back
@waynedunlea6520
Not wrong m8 but in this age of political correction we are stuffed great message though
@shonfromdachi
They used to play this song whenever I came into the party! Had 24 inch waist and 48 inch hips!! I want to get on down!!💯🔥🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💃🏿💃🏿❤️❤️
@MsPopCulturista
Great!!!!