Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".
The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.
Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.
Ring a Rockin
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the corner candy store
School is over and homework done
Now's the time to have some fun
Gonna fly right off the ground
To that ringin' rockin' sound
Jukebox music spinnin' around
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Bring a ring a ring your sweetheart
String a ring a ring along
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Bring a ring a ring your smile
Swing a ring a ring your baby
And ting a ling a ling go wild
We're gonna rock it 'til we're out of breath
Watch us swing a rock it beat the floor to death
Spread the dust around the room
Keep yourself a shakin' like a nervous broom
Come on cat let's strut our stuff
Boy that music is really tough
I just cannot get enough
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Sing a ring a rockin' song
Bring a ring a ring your sweetheart
String a ring a ring along
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Bring a ring a ring your smile
Swing a ring a ring your baby
And ting a ling a ling go wild
Throw a little silver in the coin machine
That ring-o rockin' music is really keen
You light the fuse and you start to fly
Like a firecracker on the 4th of July
Like a rollercoaster ride
First you slip and then you slide
Watch me go a rock a bye
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Sing a ring a rockin' song
Bring a ring a ring your sweetheart
String a ring a ring along
Ring a ring a rockin' music
Bring a ring a ring your smile
Swing a ring a ring your baby
And ling a ling a ling go wild
Swing a ring a ring your baby
And ring a ring a rock a while
The lyrics to Neil Sedaka's song "Ring a Rockin'" paint a vivid picture of teenage life in the 1950s. The song is a celebration of teenagers letting loose and having fun after a long day at school. The singer in the song invites listeners to meet them at the corner candy store at half past four, where they can dance to the jukebox music and enjoy the ringing, rocking beat. The music is described as being so intense that it compels the dance floor to vibrate and is likened to a roller coaster ride. The singer and their friends are portrayed as wild and carefree, eager to dance until they're out of breath and light up the room with their energy.
The song captures the spirit of the 1950s rock and roll scene, which was rapidly becoming a cultural force. At the time, rock and roll was seen as a youthful rebellion against conservative values and a way for teenagers to assert their independence. "Ring a Rockin'" emphasizes the pleasure of teenage life and the desire to escape from adult responsibilities. The lyrics also hint at a sense of danger or risk-taking associated with rock and roll, as indicated by the line "Keep yourself a shakin' like a nervous broom."
Overall, Neil Sedaka's "Ring a Rockin'" is a fun and upbeat song that captures the spirit of teenage life in the 1950s. It romanticizes the freedom and excitement of youth and evokes the energy of the rock and roll scene in its early years.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on and meet me 'bout a half past four
Let's rendezvous at the corner candy store at 4:30 pm
At the corner candy store
Let's meet at the candy store
School is over and homework done
We finished our school work
Now's the time to have some fun
This is the perfect time to enjoy ourselves
Gonna fly right off the ground
We'll be dancing wildly
To that ringin' rockin' sound
To the music from the jukebox
Jukebox music spinnin' around
The music from the jukebox is playing
Ring a ring a rockin' music
The music is lively and upbeat
Sing a ring a rockin' song
Let's sing and dance to the rockin' music
Bring a ring a ring your sweetheart
Bring your significant other
String a ring a ring along
Come and join us
Bring a ring a ring your smile
Come with a cheerful expression
Swing a ring a ring your baby
Dance with your loved one
And ting a ling a ling go wild
Let's get wild and crazy
Throw a little silver in the coin machine
Insert some coins into the jukebox
That ring-o rockin' music is really keen
The music from the jukebox is great!
You light the fuse and you start to fly
The music makes you feel euphoric
Like a firecracker on the 4th of July
Like fireworks on Independence Day
Like a rollercoaster ride
Like a thrilling amusement park ride
First you slip and then you slide
We'll start slow and then dance with more energy
Watch me go a rock a bye
Watch me dance energetically
Swing a ring a ring your baby
Dance with your loved one
And ling a ling a ling go wild
Let's get wild and crazy
Ring a ring a rock a while
Let's dance to the rockin' music for a while
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redrav4
In the mid 70s when "oldies" were getting really popular they were playing mostly standards, but I never heard of this one til my uncle bought an 8 track tape stereo and a various artist tape and this song was on it. I've all of Neil's hits except this one. It's actually my favorite ❤
@carlobergonzo1116
They were the good old days
@castelobrancopaulo
1958
@adrinathegreat3095
Released in the usa in 1958 and the UK 1959, it wasn't a success in either
@stevenwinter5175
The pop choruses are pretty naff...the rest of it is great..Never heard it before.