He was born John Ned Shines in Frayser, Tennessee. He spent most of his childhood in Memphis playing slide guitar at an early age in local “jukes” and for tips on the streets. His first musical influences were Blind Lemon Jefferson and Howlin’ Wolf, but he was taught to play the guitar by his mother. Shines moved to Hughes, Arkansas in 1932 and worked on farms for three years putting his musical career on hold. But it was a chance meeting with Robert Johnson, his greatest influence, that gave him the inspiration to return to music. In 1935, Johnny Shines began traveling with Robert Johnson, touring the south and heading as far north as Ontario. There, they both appeared on a local radio program. The two went their separate ways in 1937, one year before Johnson’s death.
Johnny Shines played throughout the U.S. South until 1941 when he decided to head back to Canada and then to Africa. He never made it past Chicago. In Chicago, Shines found work in the construction trade and continued to play in local bars.
He made his first recording in 1946 for Columbia Records, but the takes were never released. He later recorded for Chess and was once again denied. He kept playing with local blues musicians in the Chicago area for several more years. In 1952, Johnny Shines recorded what is considered his best work for the J.O.B. Records label. The recordings were a commercial flop and Shines frustrated with the music industry, sold his equipment and returned to construction.
In 1966, Vanguard records found Shines taking photographs in a Chicago blues club. He recorded with the label takes for the 3rd installment of Chicago/The Blues/Today!. The album has since then become a blues classic and it brought Johnny Shines into to mainstream music scene.
Shines toured with the Chicago All Stars alongside Lee Jackson, Big Walter Horton and Willie Dixon. In the late sixties and seventies, Johnny Shines toured with Robert Johnson’s step-son, Robert Junior Lockwood as the last remaining original delta blues musicians. In 1980, Shines’ music was brought to a standstill when he suffered a stroke. He would later appear in the documentary “Searching for Robert Johnson” and manage to release one last album, Back To The Country. Johnny Shines Died on April 20, 1992 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In 1989, Johnny Shines met a Minnesota born young blues player named Kent Duchaine, and the two of them toured for the next several years until Shines' death.
Just a Little Tenderness
Johnny Shines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of the people start to rush (start to rush by)
A dizzy twister dance
Can't find my drink or man
Where are my keys?
I lost my phone.
What's goin? on, on the floor?
Keep it cool
What's the name of this club?
I can't remember but its alright, a-alright
JUST DANCE!
Gonna be okay
Da da doo doo
JUST DANCE!
Spin that record babe
Da da doo doo
JUST DANCE!
Gonna be okay
D-d-d dance, dance, dance, just
J-J-JUST DANCE!
Half psychotic sick hypnotic got my blueprint its symphonic
Half psychotic sick hypnotic got my blueprint electronic
JUST DANCE!
Gonna be okay
Da da doo doo
JUST DANCE!
Spin that record babe
Da da doo doo
JUST DANCE!
Gonna be okay
D-d-d dance, dance, dance, just
J-J-JUST DANCE!
It is clear from the first few lines of the lyrics to Johnny Shines's song, "Just a Little Tenderness," that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. The repetition of "I've had a little bit too much" establishes a sense of intoxication, which is further emphasized with the struggling "Can't find my drink or man," "Where are my keys?" and "I lost my phone." The chaotic scene around the singer is also described with "All of the people start to rush," and "What's goin' on, on the floor?"
Despite feeling dizzy and confused, the singer still finds solace in the music, exclaiming "I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore." The call to "JUST DANCE!" repeatedly throughout the song serves as a way for the singer to cope with the chaos around them and find a sense of release and freedom on the dance floor.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had a little bit too much (much)
I have consumed too much alcohol or drugs, and I feel overwhelmed by the effect.
All of the people start to rush (start to rush by)
The people around me are moving quickly, and it feels like they are all in a hurry.
A dizzy twister dance
The dance is chaotic and disorienting, making me feel dizzy and helpless.
Can't find my drink or man
I am looking for either my drink or a man, but I can't locate either of them.
Where are my keys?
I have lost my keys and can't find them.
I lost my phone.
I have misplaced my phone and am unable to locate it.
What's goin' on, on the floor?
I am confused and disoriented by what is happening on the dance floor.
I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore
I think the music playing is great, but I am so high or drunk that my vision is blurry.
Keep it cool
This line is a reminder to stay calm and collected despite feeling overwhelmed.
What's the name of this club?
I am too out of it to remember the name of the club I am in.
I can't remember but its alright, a-alright
Despite not remembering the name of the club, I am trying to reassure myself that everything is okay.
JUST DANCE!
This line is a command to keep dancing despite feeling overwhelmed.
Gonna be okay
I am telling myself that everything will be okay despite feeling disoriented.
Da da doo doo
This is a nonsensical lyric, perhaps intended to convey the chaotic nature of the experience.
Spin that record babe
This line is an exhortation to the DJ to keep playing music to keep everything going.
D-d-d dance, dance, dance, just
This line implies that the best course of action amid chaos is to just keep dancing.
J-J-JUST DANCE!
This is a repeating command to keep dancing until the end of the song.
Half psychotic sick hypnotic got my blueprint its symphonic
The experience is making the author feel like they are a little bit insane, but in a way that is aligned with the music playing.
Half psychotic sick hypnotic got my blueprint electronic
This line cements the idea that the author's experience is aligned with electronic music.
Writer(s): JOHNNY SHINES
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.