I'm Shakin'
Little Willie Lyrics
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An' talk sweet talk
I got a knocking in my knees
And a wobble in my walk
I'm trembling
And I'm shaking
A when ya take me in your arms
To talk romance
My heart starts doing the St. Vita's dance
An' I'm panting
An' I'm shaking
Early in the morning time
Late in the middle of the night
Whenever this chill comes over me
I want to hug you with all-a my might, ay-ay
An' I'm sweating
An' I'm shaking
A chill an a fever
So I've been told
Makes your head spin around
An' your feet run cold
I got fever
An' I'm shaking
Feel like I been run through the mill
I can't move around an' I can't stand still
I'm so jittery
An' I'm shaking
Samson was a mighty good man
Strongest in his day
Then along came Delilah an' clipped his wig
An' it looks like you took me
The same old way
So, I'm 'noy-vous'
An' I'm shaking
Well, a storm rocks a ship on a sea
The wind shakes the leaves on a tree
I'm like a nervous wreck
I'm all shook up
And that's what you are doing to me
'Cause I'm jumping
An' I'm shaking
An' I'm jumping
An' I'm shaking
Shaking
Shaking, shaking, shaking
Shaking, um
I'm shaking
Shaking
Shaking
I'm shaking
The lyrics to Little Willie John's song "I'm Shakin" describe the physical and emotional effect that the presence of the singer's love interest has on him. When she touches him or speaks sweetly, he feels a tremble and wobble in his body. When she holds him and talks romance, his heart races and he feels panting and shaking. He compares his feelings to a fever and chill that leaves him unable to move or stand still. The final verse describes the singer as a "nervous wreck" who is all shook up by his love.
The lyrics of the song suggest a sense of vulnerability and surrender in the face of passion and desire. The physical symptoms that the singer describes - shaking, tremors, sweating, fever - all suggest an almost overwhelming intensity of feeling. The comparison to the story of Samson and Delilah further highlights the idea of being taken over by a force outside of oneself.
On another level, the song can be seen as a celebration of the power of love and attraction. The fact that the singer is unable to control his body or emotions in the face of his love interest suggests the depth of his connection to her. The use of various musical and cultural references - the St. Vitus dance, Samson, and Delilah - adds layers of meaning to the song, connecting it to broader cultural ideas about passion, strength, and surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
When ya touch my hand
When you touch my hand
An' talk sweet talk
And talk in a sweet manner
I got a knocking in my knees
I feel a literal knocking sensation in my knees
And a wobble in my walk
And my walk becomes unsteady
I'm trembling
I'm shaking with fear or excitement
And I'm shaking
I'm experiencing uncontrollable movements
A when ya take me in your arms
When you hold me close to you
To talk romance
To exchange romantic words
My heart starts doing the St. Vita's dance
My heart beats rapidly and erratically
An' I'm panting
I'm breathing heavily
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
Early in the morning time
In the early hours of the day
Late in the middle of the night
In the late hours of the night
Whenever this chill comes over me
When I experience this sensation of coldness
I want to hug you with all-a my might, ay-ay
I want to hold onto you tightly
An' I'm sweating
I'm sweating profusely
A chill an a fever
A sensation of being cold and warm at the same time
So I've been told
According to what I've heard
Makes your head spin around
Causes dizziness and confusion
An' your feet run cold
And your feet become cold
I got fever
I'm experiencing an increase in body temperature
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
Feel like I been run through the mill
I feel exhausted or worn out
I can't move around an' I can't stand still
I'm unable to stay still or move properly
I'm so jittery
I'm nervous or anxious
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
Samson was a mighty good man
A reference to biblical character Samson
Strongest in his day
Known for his strength in his time
Then along came Delilah an' clipped his wig
Reference to the story of Delilah cutting Samson's hair, which was the source of his strength
An' it looks like you took me
And it seems that you have done the same to me
The same old way
In a way that is similar to what happened to Samson
So, I'm 'noy-vous'
I'm feeling anxious or uneasy
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
Well, a storm rocks a ship on a sea
A metaphor of being shaken by an external force
The wind shakes the leaves on a tree
A metaphor of being shaken by an external force
I'm like a nervous wreck
I'm like a person who is about to break down
I'm all shook up
I am completely overwhelmed
And that's what you are doing to me
You're the reason why I'm feeling this way
'Cause I'm jumping
Because I'm literally jumping
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
And I'm jumping
I'm still literally jumping
An' I'm shaking
I'm still experiencing uncontrollable movements
Shaking
Still shaking
Shaking, shaking, shaking
The act of shaking repeatedly
Shaking, um
Still shaking
I'm shaking
Still shaking
Shaking
Still shaking
Shaking
Still shaking
I'm shaking
Still shaking
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rudolph Toombs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BrianCarnevaleB26
William Edward "Little Willie" John (November 15, 1937 – May 26, 1968) was an American R&B singer who performed in the 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his successes on the record charts, with songs such as "All Around the World" (1955), "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956), "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (1958), "Leave My Kitten Alone" (1960), "Sleep" (1960), and his number-one R&B hit "Fever" (1956). An important figure in R&B music of the 1950s, he faded into obscurity in the 1960s and died while serving a prison sentence at the young age of 30 in 1967.
John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2022, John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
John performed for the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on August 3, 1958. The other headliners were Ernie Freeman and his Band, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, The Clark Kids, and Bo Rhambo. Sammy Davis Jr. was there to crown the winner of the Miss Cavalcade of Jazz beauty contest.
John was also known for his short temper and propensity to abuse alcohol. He was arrested multiple times for charges that include narcotics, swindling, and grand larceny!
John was dropped by his record company, King Records, in 1963, sadly enough.
Then In 2022, John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. His induction citation noted "... John was a sharply attired and exciting showstopper, recalled by fellow singers as mischievous!'
He was a fun-loving man, and very generous to others.
RIP Brother.
@alek071187
When ya touch my hand
An' talk sweet talk
I got a knockin' in my knees
And a wobble in my walk
I'm tremblin'
And I'm shakin'
A-when ya take me in your arms
To talk romance
My heart starts doin' the St. Vitas dance
An' I'm pantin'
An' I'm shakin'
Early in the mornin' time
Late in the middle of the night
Whenever this chill comes over me
I wanna hug you with all-a my might, ay-ay
An' I'm sweatin'
An' I'm shakin'
A chill an a fever
So I've been told
Makes your head spin around
An' your feet run cold
I got fever
An' I'm shakin'
Feel like I been run through the mill
I can't move around an' I can't stand still
I'm so jittery
An' I'm shakin'
Samson was a mighty good man
Strongest in his day
Then along came Delilah an' clipped his wig
An' it looks like you took me
The same old way
So, I'm 'noy-vous'
An' I'm shakin'
Well, a storm rocks a ship on a sea
The wind shakes the leaves on a tree
I'm like a nervous wreck
I'm all shook up
And that's what you are doin' to me
'Cause I'm jumpin'
An' I'm shakin'
An' I'm jumpin'
An' I'm shakin'
Sha-aaaa-kin'
Shakin', shakin', shakin'
Shakin', um-mmm-mmm
I'm shakin'
@stedebassett1523
He was an absolutely amazing vocalist. My parents saw him perform and he never let you down
@dora_thedestroyer
or deserted you
@jucabnubster
He never told a lie
@djaymyriam3004
❤❤❤❤❤❤@@jucabnubster
@corrynthiaiam9205
His voice is soulful, David Ruffin has that soulful voice too.
@BrianCarnevaleB26
William Edward "Little Willie" John (November 15, 1937 – May 26, 1968) was an American R&B singer who performed in the 1950s and early 1960s. He is best known for his successes on the record charts, with songs such as "All Around the World" (1955), "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956), "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" (1958), "Leave My Kitten Alone" (1960), "Sleep" (1960), and his number-one R&B hit "Fever" (1956). An important figure in R&B music of the 1950s, he faded into obscurity in the 1960s and died while serving a prison sentence at the young age of 30 in 1967.
John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2022, John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
John performed for the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on August 3, 1958. The other headliners were Ernie Freeman and his Band, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, The Clark Kids, and Bo Rhambo. Sammy Davis Jr. was there to crown the winner of the Miss Cavalcade of Jazz beauty contest.
John was also known for his short temper and propensity to abuse alcohol. He was arrested multiple times for charges that include narcotics, swindling, and grand larceny!
John was dropped by his record company, King Records, in 1963, sadly enough.
Then In 2022, John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. His induction citation noted "... John was a sharply attired and exciting showstopper, recalled by fellow singers as mischievous!'
He was a fun-loving man, and very generous to others.
RIP Brother.
@HunterSydenhamRacing
1:34 can't get over the "I'm noiy-vus"
@manly1974
"Oiy" is easier to pronounce than "er' when you're belting at the top of your lungs.
@gregdavidson5898
That's just how Shemp said it.
@danceswithcollage7046
No one can. And that's okay.