Kay Starr (Katherine Laverne Starks, July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016) was … Read Full Bio ↴Kay Starr (Katherine Laverne Starks, July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016) was an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 1950s.

Kay Starr was successful in every field of music she tried, jazz, country and pop. But her roots were in jazz, Billie Holiday, considered by many the greatest jazz singer of all time, called Starr "the only white woman who could sing the blues."
She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz".

Kay Starr was born on a reservation in Dougherty, Oklahoma. Her father, Harry, was a full-blooded Iroquois Indian; her mother, Annie, was of mixed Irish and American Indian heritage. When her father got a job installing water sprinkler systems, the family moved to Dallas, Texas.

While her father worked for the Automatic Sprinkler Company, her mother raised chickens, and Kay used to sing to the chickens in the coop. As a result of the fact that her aunt, Nora, was impressed by her singing, she began to sing at the age of seven on a Dallas radio station, WRR, first in a talent competition where she finished third one week and won every week thereafter, then with her own weekly fifteen minute show. She sang pop and "hillbilly" songs with a piano accompaniment. By the age of ten, she was making $3 a night, a lot of money in the Depression days.

As a result of her father's changing jobs, her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and she continued performing on the radio, singing "Western swing music," still mostly a mix of country and pop. It was while she was on the Memphis radio station WMPS that, as a result of misspellings in her fan mail, she and her parents decided to give her the name "Kay Starr". At the age of fifteen, she was chosen to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra. Venuti had a contract to play in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis which called for his band to feature a girl singer, which he did not have; Venuti's road manager heard her on the radio, and suggested her to Venuti. Because she was still in junior high school, her parents insisted that Venuti take her home no later than midnight.

Although she had brief stints in 1939 with Bob Crosby and Glenn Miller (who hired her in July of that year when his regular singer, Marion Hutton, was sick), she spent most of her next few years with Venuti, until he dissolved his band in 1942. It was, however, with Miller that she cut her first record: "Baby Me"/"Love with a Capital You." It was not a great success, in part because the band played in a key more appropriate for Marion Hutton, which was less suited for Kay's vocal range.

On a Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor
Kay Starr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
You oughta hear the beat
Of all the happy feet
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

There you′re havin' fun
You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

The theatre′s all squeakin'
And guitars are speakin'
And piano plays the jelly roll
And the man on the drums
He′s far from dumb
And the bassman plays them a soul

Well, the tables are shakin′
And the walls are a-quakin'
And the people swarmin′ in at the door
Well you're havin′ fun
You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
You oughta hear the beat
Of all the happy feet
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
Say you're havin′ fun
You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

There's mom and dad
They're dancin′ out of bad
But they′re trying to get in the groove
When the band plays loud
You oughta see the crowd
Everybody's on the move

Well the whole darn′s jumpin'
All the clubs are a-bumpin′
But you keep on beggin' for more
Say you′re havin' fun
You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
Inst
There's a bartender handy
Who makes drinks dandy
And he′ll even serve ya sody-pop
The couples slip and slide
They dance from side to side
And they haven′t got a chance to stop

Well if you have no money
But you're with Honey
He′s the one that you adore
Well you're havin′ fun
You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
You oughta hear the beat
Of all the happy feet
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
On a honky tonk hardwood floor
Say you're havin′ fun

You lucky son of a gun
On a honky tonk hardwood floor

Overall Meaning

Kay Starr's song, "On a Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor," describes the experience of being inside a honky-tonk bar, where the hardwood floor is the center of the action. The song opens by inviting the listener to "hear the beat of all the happy feet" dancing on the floor. The lively rhythm of the song reflects the energetic atmosphere found inside these types of bars. The singer describes the band performing on stage, consisting of guitars, pianos, drums, and a bass. The people in the bar are having fun, with tables shaking and walls quaking as patrons swarm in through the doors. The song highlights the lively atmosphere of these bars, where people can let loose and have a great time.

Starr's lyrics suggest that anyone can experience the joy of dancing on the hardwood floor, no matter their financial status. The bartender serves up drinks and even sody-pop for those without money. Couples dance together, slipping and sliding to the rhythm of the music. Even parents can join in the fun, as they dance to the beat and try to get in the groove. The song has a light-hearted tone, emphasizing the carefree nature of the honky-tonk scene.

Line by Line Meaning

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The setting of the song is a lively, energetic bar with a wooden floor.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song emphasizes the atmosphere of the bar with the repetition of this line.

You oughta hear the beat
The music in the bar is so lively and upbeat that even the floor vibrates with it.

Of all the happy feet
The patrons of the bar are all having a good time dancing and moving to the music.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The setting of the song is emphasized once again.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song continues to emphasize the lively bar setting.

There you're havin' fun
The song is about the excitement and enjoyment of being in a bustling bar filled with people and music.

You lucky son of a gun
The artist admires those who are lucky enough to experience this atmosphere and enjoy themselves fully.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The squeaking of the floorboards and the sounds produced by the band add to the energetic atmosphere of the bar.

The theatre's all squeakin'
The sound created by the floorboards as people dance adds to the overall sound of the bar.

And guitars are speakin'
The sound of the live music, especially the sounds of the guitars, is an important part of the atmosphere.

And piano plays the jelly roll
The piano player is performing a lively, upbeat tune.

And the man on the drums
The drummer is skilled and contributes greatly to the music being played.

He's far from dumb
The drummer is not only talented, but also intelligent.

And the bassman plays them a soul
The bassist is also talented and contributes to the energy of the music.

Well, the tables are shakin'
The energy of the music is so intense that it affects the physical space of the bar.

And the walls are a-quakin'
The same energy that shakes the tables is also felt in the walls of the bar.

And the people swarmin' in at the door
The lively atmosphere inside the bar attracts more and more people to come in and join in on the fun.

Well you're havin' fun
The song emphasizes the importance of having a good time while in the bar.

You lucky son of a gun
Those who are enjoying themselves are praised for their ability to fully engage in the atmosphere of the bar.

There's mom and dad
Even older people are enjoying themselves and dancing along with the younger crowd.

They're dancin' out of bad
They are having such a good time that they forget their worries and cares.

But they're trying to get in the groove
The older generation is trying to dance along to the fast-paced, energetic music.

When the band plays loud
The band is playing music that is loud and upbeat, creating a party atmosphere in the bar.

You oughta see the crowd
The crowd is lively and active, all enjoying themselves and dancing to the music.

Everybody's on the move
The energy of the music has everyone in the bar dancing and moving along to the beat.

Well the whole darn's jumpin'
The energy of the music is so intense that everyone in the bar is jumping up and down.

All the clubs are a-bumpin'
Other bars and nightclubs in the area are also lively and filled with activity, but none compare to the one described in the song.

But you keep on beggin' for more
Despite the intensity of the atmosphere, people keep coming back for more.

Say you're havin' fun
The song emphasizes that the focus of the experience in the bar is on having a good time.

You lucky son of a gun
Those who are able to fully appreciate and enjoy the atmosphere of the bar are praised once again.

There's a bartender handy
The bar is fully staffed, adding to the experience of the patrons.

Who makes drinks dandy
The bartender is skilled and creates delicious drinks for the patrons.

And he'll even serve ya sody-pop
The bar even offers drinks for those who don't want anything alcoholic.

The couples slip and slide
Couples dance closely and slide against one another as they move to the music.

They dance from side to side
They move in sync with the music, swaying from side to side as they dance.

And they haven't got a chance to stop
The energy of the atmosphere is so intense that the couples keep dancing without feeling tired or needing to take a break.

Well if you have no money
Even those who don't have a lot of money can still come and enjoy the atmosphere of the bar.

But you're with Honey
As long as you're with someone you love and enjoy spending time with, no amount of money can detract from the experience.

He's the one that you adore
Having someone you adore with you makes the entire experience even more enjoyable.

You lucky son of a gun
Once again, those who are able to enjoy the atmosphere of the bar to the fullest are praised.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song comes full circle, emphasizing once again the importance of the atmosphere of the bar.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song ends with the same line it begins with, once again emphasizing the lively setting.

You oughta hear the beat
The song's final words remind the listener of the upbeat and energetic music that defines the bar.

Of all the happy feet
The patrons of the bar are all enjoying themselves and dancing along to the beat.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song ends with the same line it began with, for a final emphasis on the energetic atmosphere of the bar.

On a honky tonk hardwood floor
The song ends with a repetition of the title line, emphasizing once again the importance of the bar's setting.

Say you're havin' fun
The listener is reminded that the entire focus of the experience is on having a good time and enjoying oneself.

You lucky son of a gun
Those who are truly enjoying the atmosphere are praised one last time for their ability to appreciate and engage fully in the bar's vibe.

Writer(s): Eddy Hazelwood, Scotty Harell, Tex Atchison

Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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