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)".
You Said a Bad Word
Joe Tex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna tell your mama on you, huh
She gonna whip you, too, huh
Yeah, that's what's she's gonna do
Get down at your bad self
Talking that bad talk
Saying them bad words, oh
You said a bad word
You'd better take it back
'Cause good little girls
Don't talk like that
And if I told your mama
What you said
She'd make you come in the house
And go to bed
But now, wait a minute
We can make a deal
If you do what I tell you
I won't tell your mama on you
Let me whisper in your ear
I don't want everybody
Listening to our business
Come here
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
You said a bad word
And don't you forget
That you're not really
In the clear yet
'Cause any old day
And any old time
I just might
Wanna change my mind
Like right now
Wait a minute
Baby, we gotta make another deal
'Cause that last deal we made
Is gone bye-bye
Let me whisper in your ear some more
I don't want everybody
Listening to our business
Come here
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Well, come on round the house
You said a bad word
Talking that bad talk, come on
All them bad words
Coming out of that pretty little mouth of yours
The lyrics to Joe Tex's song "You Said a Bad Word" speak to the consequences of using explicit or inappropriate language. Tex begins the song by scolding the person who said the bad word, warning that they'll get in trouble with their mother if she finds out. He urges the person to take back the bad word, stating that "good little girls don't talk like that." However, Tex then offers a deal, saying that if the person does what he tells them to do, he won't tell their mother about the bad word.
The lyrics are playful and humorous, using call-and-response vocals to engage the listener. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Are you gonna do it?" over and over, adds to the playful tone of the song. However, despite its lightheartedness, the song also has a moral message about the power of words and the importance of using appropriate language.
Overall, "You Said a Bad Word" is a fun, upbeat song that serves as a reminder to watch our language and think before we speak.
Line by Line Meaning
Ahh, you said a bad word
You used inappropriate language
I'm gonna tell your mama on you, huh
I will inform your mother of your behavior
She gonna whip you, too, huh
Your mother will punish you for what you said
Yeah, that's what's she's gonna do
Your mother will take disciplinary action
Get down at your bad self
Reprimanding for bad behavior
Talking that bad talk
Using inappropriate language
Saying them bad words, oh
Using vulgar language
You'd better take it back
You must retract your statement
'Cause good little girls
Proper behavior is expected of you
Don't talk like that
Inappropriate language is unacceptable
And if I told your mama
Informing your mother of what you said
What you said
Referring to the inappropriate language used
She'd make you come in the house
Your mother will bring you inside the house
And go to bed
You will be put to bed as punishment
But now, wait a minute
Let us pause and think
We can make a deal
Let us negotiate an arrangement
If you do what I tell you
Following my instructions is required
I won't tell your mama on you
I won't inform your mother of your behavior
Let me whisper in your ear
This information is confidential
I don't want everybody
Our conversation should be private
Listening to our business
No one else should know our discussion
Come here
Come closer to me to hear what I have to say
Are you gonna do it?
Are you willing to comply?
Huh, huh?
Asking if you understand
You're not really
You are not completely
In the clear yet
You are not free of consequences
'Cause any old day
At any moment
And any old time
At any given time
I just might
I could potentially
Wanna change my mind
I may want to do something different
Well, come on round the house
Come to my house
All them bad words
The inappropriate language
Coming out of that pretty little mouth of yours
Used by someone who should know better
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE TEX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Arturo7881
Ahh, you said a bad word
I'm gonna tell your mama on you, huh
She gonna whip you, too, huh
Yeah, that's what's she's gonna do
Get down at your bad self
Talking that bad talk
Saying them bad words, oh
You said a bad word
You'd better take it back
'Cause good little girls
Don't talk like that
And if I told your mama
What you said
She'd make you come in the house
And go to bed
But now, wait a minute
We can make a deal
If you do what I tell you
I won't tell your mama on you
Let me whisper in your ear
I don't want everybody
Listening to our business
Come here.
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
You said a bad word
And don't you forget
That you're not really
In the clear yet
'Cause any old day
And any old time
I just might
Wanna change my mind
Like right now
Wait a minute
Baby, we gotta make another deal
'Cause that last deal we made
Is gone bye-bye
Let me whisper in your ear some more
I don't want everybody
Listening to our business
Come here.
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Are you gonna do it?
Huh, huh?
Well, come on round the house
You said a bad word
Talking that bad talk, come on
All them bad words
Coming out of that pretty little mouth of yours.
@t-dude4773
So glad Ash vs Evil Dead brought me to this amazing song
@apachephenix1643
t-dude you too bro
@DakotaVhs
Me too man
@killak.o.5647
Yeah me too! But now that I've heard it I can see where Mystikal may have gotten his influence in music lol
@andrewjsutcliffe2482
t-dude same!!!
@feathercarbon
I hate Starz for not doing the 4th season.
@storress12
I swear ash v evil dead has the sickest soundtracks
@damien1978able
On today's episode of "Songs You Can't Get Away With in 2019 America" I think it's pretty funny, but imagine if somebody came out with this today.
@artvasch147
Why can't artists like this pop up a few years back when I typed "Sounds like James Brown Funk". Ash Vs Evil Dead brought me here too
@groalerable
just look up deep funk playlists