Born John Lewis Carrell (Carrell was printed incorrectly as Carroll on the record label), Carroll began recording for Decca Records in the middle of the 1950s as Johnny Carroll & His Hot rocks. He released several singles, but none of them saw significant success, though they are now critically acclaimed. His records were eclipsed by the success of other rockabilly and early rock & roll musicians such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.
His career ended toward the end of the 1950s, but he made a comeback in 1974 with a Gene Vincent tribute song. He continued to record well into the 1980s. For many years he was connected with the Cellar Club in Ft Worth, Texas and other Cellar Clubs around Texas. He died of liver failure on January 13, 1995, and is buried in his hometown of Godley, Texas. In 1996 a 33-track reissue of his early recordings was released as Rock Baby Rock It: 1955-1960.
Rock Baby Rock It
Johnny Carroll Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rockin' and a-sockin' all around this town
You oughta see my baby when she gets real gone
Lots of good rockin' when my baby comes a-home Well, rock baby, rock it, rock baby, rock it
Oh baby, stop that shakin', now do some rockin' with me Well, I got a baby, she can dance real cool
Says that I'm just a real square fool
She shakes it in the morning, she shakes it in the evening
If I stay stop, then she says that she'll be leavin' Yeah! Well, I saw my baby, she was shakin' last night
Shake it to the left, shake it 'round and 'round
But I like it best when she's down, down, down Yeah! Well, I saw my baby, she was shakin' last night
Boy, that's what I call a real gone sight
Shake it to the left, shake it 'round and 'round
But I like it best when she's down, down, down
The lyrics "Rock Baby Rock It" by Johnny Carroll are about a man who is proud of his girlfriend's dancing skills. He brags about how she shakes and rocks around town, and how she's the best dancer he's ever seen. He seems to be in awe of her moves and mesmerized by her beauty. He invites her to dance with him and urges her to keep on rockin'.
The song is written in a classic rockabilly style with a fast tempo beat, a guitar riff, and catchy lyrics that make you want to dance along. It was released in 1956 and became an instant hit, reaching the top of the charts in the US and UK. The popularity of the song brought Johnny Carroll to the spotlight and cemented his career as a rockabilly singer.
Overall, "Rock Baby Rock It" is a fun and playful song that captures the essence of rock and roll in the 50s. It's a celebration of music, dancing, and youth culture that continues to inspire generations of rockabilly fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, yes, my baby's been a-shakin' around
My girlfriend has been dancing energetically in various places.
Rockin' and a-sockin' all around this town
She has been dancing quickly and has likely caught many people's attention.
You oughta see my baby when she gets real gone
My girlfriend's dancing gets even more intense when she's really into it.
Lots of good rockin' when my baby comes a-home
When she's at home or feels comfortable, my girlfriend rocks and dances even harder.
Well, rock baby, rock it, rock baby, rock it
I'm encouraging my girlfriend to keep up her energetic dancing and to rock out.
Oh baby, stop that shakin', now do some rockin' with me
I want to join in on the fun and dance with her, but I want her to slow down a bit first.
Well, I got a baby, she can dance real cool
My girlfriend is a talented dancer who has a unique and appealing style.
Says that I'm just a real square fool
She thinks I'm not as cool as her because I don't dance as well.
She shakes it in the morning, she shakes it in the evening
My girlfriend's dance moves are not just limited to one time of day– she dances all the time.
If I stay stop, then she says that she'll be leavin'
If I tell her to stop dancing, she'll get upset and might leave me.
Well, I saw my baby, she was shakin' last night
I saw my girlfriend dancing energetically last night.
Boy, that's what I call a real gone sight
I think my girlfriend's dancing is an amazing sight to see.
Shake it to the left, shake it 'round and 'round
She incorporates a lot of movement and variety in her dance moves.
But I like it best when she's down, down, down
I enjoy it most when she does a particular move that involves bending down low.
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alainzilka1018
Excellent 👍
@kamui5579
Rock baby rock!
@jonsantos9816
Elvis was a big fan of Johnny Carroll, go figure !
@chrisp.frye-noodles8761
OK - your story checks out.
@Buddy50s
Dreat rocker!! Thanks for posting this one!
@usaquanaught
I do believe that song is from a 1956 or 1957 recording session in Texas that was sent to Sun Records in Memphis. One of the guitarists backing Johnny up was none other than George "Thumper" Jones ( I always thought he hated rock and roll! O.K., Rockabilly was a little different!)