They are well known for being a very versatile group; their style on a single album can range from jazz to blues to country to pop. Fans know and love them for their wacky quirkiness and unpredictability in concert.
NRBQ's 1994-2004 incarnation comprised of members Terry Adams (vocals, keyboards), Joey Spampinato (Bass), Tom Ardolino (drums), and Johnny Spampinato (Guitar). Past members include Al Anderson (1972-1994; Guitar), Tom Staley (1967-1974; drums), Steve Ferguson (1967-1971; Guitar), and Frank Gadler (1967-1972; Vocals, Cowbell). The band's most stable incarnation lasted from 1974 to 1994 and consisted of Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato, Tom Ardolino and Al Anderson.
The band has kept a small, but extremely devoted cult following in its 40 year career. Many well known celebrities are fans of the group, such as George A. Romero, Mike Scully, Matt Groening, Elvis Costello, John Sebastian, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Penn and Teller and various staff members of the review website Allmusic.
The band's only chart hit was 1977's "Get that Gasoline Blues" (which only hit #70 on the American pop charts) and the band would only briefly flirt with success throughout their career (such as the band's several guest performances on the extremely popular Animated sitcom The Simpsons during the show's 10th, 11th and 12th seasons, and the inclusion of their song "Wacky Tobacky" on the soundtrack of the the TV show Weeds). The band is also known for persuading their record label Rounder to reissue the record Philosophy of the World by outsider music artists The Shaggs.
The band formed in Miami, Florida in 1967, and moved to New Jersey, and then New York City in hopes of a record deal, where in 1968, they cut their first Album, the self-titled "NRBQ" on Columbia, released in 1969. This was followed by "Boppin' the Blues" which featured rockabilly legend Carl Perkins. Columbia, disappointed with the band's lack of Album sales, dropped the band after these two records. NRBQ moved on to Kama Sutra records, where they recorded 2 more albums, before moving on to Rounder Records, where they have been until forming their own label, Edisun in 2002. The band has been on hiatus since 2004.
In 2011, founding keyboardist Terry Adams announced he was reforming the band and that they would release a new album, "Keep This Love Goin'", the band's eighteenth studio album, later in the year. Adams is the only previous member of NRBQ that is a member of this new incarnation.
Cecilia
NRBQ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little over sweet sixteen
But the cutest flapper that you've ever seen
When the fellows pass her by
She will always wink her eye
When she talks to them
When she walks with them
This is what they'll cry
Does your mother know you're out Cecilia?
Does she know that I'm about to steal you?
Oh my when I look in your eyes
Something tells me you and I should get together
How bout a little kiss Cecilia
Just a kiss you'll never miss Cecilia
Why do we two keep on wasting time?
Oh Cecilia
Say that you'll be mine
Many funny things occur
While the boys are courting her
I refer to one case in particular
She went with a boy named Joe
Who was always lisping so
When he'd ask this miss
For a little kiss it would sound just like this
Doeth your mother know you're out The-thiel-yuh
Doeth thee know that I'm about to thteal "yuh"
Oh my when I look in your eyth
I feel very you know tho un-neth-the-tha-ry
How about a little kiss The-thiel-yuh
Jutht a kith you'll never mith The-thiel-yuh
Why do we two keep on wathting time?
Oh The-thiel-yuh
Thay that you'll be mine
Mine How about a little kith, the thiel yuh
Jutht a kith you'll never mith, the thiel yuh.
Why do we two keep on wathing time
Oh, the theil yuh
The lyrics to NRBQ's "Cecilia" are a commentary on the flapper culture of the 1920s. Little Miss Cecilia Green is described as a cute, flirty young woman who enjoys the attention of the boys who pass her by. She is playful and mischievous, always winking her eye and teasing the boys who try to court her. The chorus of the song is a series of questions and propositions, with the singer asking Cecilia if her mother knows she's out, and suggesting that the two of them should get together and share a kiss.
Throughout the song, there are references to the unique slang and speech patterns of the time, with one particular case being highlighted in which a boy named Joe, who had a lisp, could barely ask Cecilia for a kiss without it sounding comical. The song is a catchy and light-hearted ode to the flapper lifestyle, with its emphasis on fun, flirting, and youthful rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Little Miss Cecilia Green
Cecilia is a young girl with the name Green.
Little over sweet sixteen
Cecilia is slightly older than sixteen.
But the cutest flapper that you've ever seen
Cecilia is really pretty and stylish.
When the fellows pass her by
Whenever guys walk past her.
She will always wink her eye
Cecilia winks at them.
When she talks to them
Whenever she speaks to them.
When she walks with them
Whenever she walks with them.
This is what they'll cry
The guys ask her the following questions.
Does your mother know you're out Cecilia?
They ask Cecilia if her mother knows she is out.
Does she know that I'm about to steal you?
They inform Cecilia that they plan to take her away.
Oh my when I look in your eyes
They express their attraction towards Cecilia.
Something tells me you and I should get together
They feel like they are meant to be with Cecilia.
How bout a little kiss Cecilia
They ask Cecilia for a kiss.
Just a kiss you'll never miss Cecilia
They assure Cecilia that they won't forget the kiss.
Why do we two keep on wasting time?
They wonder why they are not already together.
Say that you'll be mine
They ask Cecilia to be theirs.
Many funny things occur
We hear many amusing stories.
While the boys are courting her
While the guys are trying to woo her.
I refer to one case in particular
The storyteller refers to one specific incident.
She went with a boy named Joe
Cecilia went out with a guy named Joe.
Who was always lisping so
Joe had a noticeable lisp.
When he'd ask this miss
When Joe asked Cecilia.
For a little kiss it would sound just like this
When he asked for a kiss, it sounded like what follows.
Doeth your mother know you're out The-thiel-yuh
Joe asked Cecilia if her mother knows she is out.
Doeth thee know that I'm about to thteal 'yuh'
Joe informed Cecilia that he is about to 'steal' her.
Oh my when I look in your eyth
Joe expressed his admiration for Cecilia.
I feel very you know tho un-neth-the-tha-ry
Joe was nervous and fumbled over his words.
Thay that you'll be mine
Joe asked Cecilia to be his.
Mine How about a little kith, the thiel yuh
Joe asked Cecilia for a kiss again using his lisp.
Jutht a kith you'll never mith, the thiel yuh.
Joe promised Cecilia that she wouldn't regret the kiss.
Wathing
Typo. Should be 'watching'.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DREYER, RUBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind