The Allstars' first release, Shake Hands With Shorty, was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Blues Album". Since then, 51 Phantom and Electric Blue Watermelon have received nominations in that same category. The group also won a Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist Debut" in 2001.
The band has been the backing band for John Hiatt, including appearing on the album "Master of Disaster".
All the members of the Allstars have also teamed up with Robert Randolph and John Medeski to form The Word.
In November 2007, Luther Dickinson joined The Black Crowes as lead guitarist, and has appeared on their albums Warpaint (2008), Before the Frost...Until the Freeze (2009) and Croweology (2010). Luther Dickinson currently devotes his time to both the Black Crowes and the North Mississippi Allstars. Cody Dickinson has also started a side project, Hill Country Revue, featuring Daniel Coburn, Kirk Smithhart, Doc Samba and Ed Cleveland. They are sometimes joined by Luther Dickinson and members of the Burnside family. They have released two albums, Make A Move (2009) and Zebra Ranch (2010),
The mid-90s were a special time for modern Mississippi country blues. RL Burnside, Jr. Kimbrough, Otha Turner and their musical families were at their peak; touring the world, making classic records and doing the all-night boogie at Jr's Juke Joint and Otha's BBQ Goat picnics -- the music and the culture rich as the black Mississippi dirt. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson soaked up the music of their father, Jim Dickinson, and absorbed the North Mississippi Blues legacy while playing and shaking it down at the juke joints with their blues ancestors. Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody (drums and vocals) joined up with bassist Chris Chew to form the core of their own band, The North Mississippi Allstars. Through the filter of generations of Mississippi Blues men, the Allstars pioneered their own blues-infused rock and roll and continue to do so.
The band hit the road with the release of their first record, Shake Hands With Shorty, Grammy-nominated for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” Bringing their hill country blues-infused rock & roll to stages all over the country and the world (including multiple tours in Europe and Asia), the Allstars quickly gained a loyal fan base, and to date have released six full-length albums. The bands’s third record, Phantom Record also received a Grammy nod.
Electric Blue Watermelon, their third album to receive a Grammy nomination, embodies the Allstars’ own sound. It reflects the band’s old times and lives growing up in their musical community in North Mississippi. “The record holds to the folk tradition of oral history,” as Luther Dickinson puts it. “Electric Blue Watermelon celebrates the lives and legends of men who are folk heroes in my community. If the traditions are passed down and kept alive, they can’t help but mutate and change.” Electric Blue Watermelon is certainly a departure from the blues tradition, but it is a record that reaches in the future and back into the past. It’s loud psychedelic southern folk rock blues.
Shake 'Em On Down
North Mississippi Allstars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put 'em down, good Lordy
Put 'em down, good Lordy
Put 'em down, shake 'em down
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
If you, come to my house
You's gon' find
Me around, good Lordy
Stop right there, baby go in
Shake 'em on down
Lordy, must I Lo-ord
Shake 'em down, to my house
Good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
If you see my baby, Lordy
Stand around
You know we gettin' ready, mama
We gonna shake 'em on down
Lordy, must I Lo-ho-hord
Shake 'em down, to my house
Good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Put yo' knees together
Babe, let yo' backbone move
Can't-a woman in town
Cain't shake 'em down like you, Lordy
Must I, Lo-ord
Shake 'em down, to my house
Good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Whoa, Lo-o-ord (chorus continues) 1.39
Shake 'em down, to my house
Good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, to my house
Whoa, Lo-o-ord 1.51
Shake 'em down, to my house
Good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
To my house, good Lordy
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Far away up over the hill, baby
Lord, to get some ice
Befo' we got back, baby
Lord, we shook 'em down twice
Lordy, must I, Lord
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house
Shake 'em down, to my house.
The song "Shake 'em Down" by North Mississippi Allstars is about inviting people to come over to the singer's house and shake things down. The song is all about shaking the body down and dancing to the tune. It's implied that the singer has an attractive partner, whom he promises to shake down with when guests come to their house. The lyrics use repetitive words and phrases such as "good Lordy" and "shake 'em down" to create an upbeat rhythm and encourage people to dance. The chorus is especially catchy and emphasizes the key message of the song. The song celebrates the idea of coming together, enjoying music, and letting go of one's worries to have a good time.
Overall, "Shake 'em Down" is an invitation to a fun and energetic celebration filled with dancing, music, and good company. The singer seems to be suggesting that the act of dancing itself is a form of liberation, allowing people to let go and shake off their troubles. The song has a strong connection with Southern blues and is reminiscent of the blues revival of the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Put 'em down, put 'em down
Let them go or dismiss them
Put 'em down, good Lordy
Discarding items or ideas in favor of new ones
Put 'em down, good Lordy
Making a strong and bold statement
Put 'em down, shake 'em down
Disposing of something in a quick and efficient manner
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Expressing excitement or anticipation
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Showing enthusiasm for an upcoming event or opportunity
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Being ready for a good time or party
Good Lordy, shake 'em down
Being in the mood for action and adventure
If you, come to my house
Inviting someone to one's home
You's gon' find
Discover something upon arrival
Me around, good Lordy
Being present and available to entertain guests
Stop right there, baby go in
Directing someone to take action
Shake 'em on down
Encouraging someone to have a good time
Lordy, must I Lo-ord
Expressing frustration or impatience
Shake 'em down, to my house
Inviting people to come and have fun at one's house
To my house, good Lordy
A welcoming declaration of intention
Shake 'em down, good Lordy
Requesting or suggesting a good time
If you see my baby, Lordy
Looking for someone special
Stand around
Being present but uninvolved
You know we gettin' ready, mama
Preparing for a big night
We gonna shake 'em on down
Planning to have a good time
Put yo' knees together
Giving advice for dancing
Babe, let yo' backbone move
Advising someone to loosen up and dance
Can't-a woman in town
Expressing superiority over others
Cain't shake 'em down like you, Lordy
Recognizing someone's exceptional skills
Far away up over the hill, baby
Referring to a distant location
Lord, to get some ice
Taking a break from the action
Befo' we got back, baby
In the end, taking advantage of the opportunity
Lord, we shook 'em down twice
Achieving success and having a great time
Shake 'em down, to my house
Inviting others to come over and have fun
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED MCDOWELL, ALAN LOMAX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@reddthedrummer
“Keep going, Caveman!”
@mikewalsh7318
Still badass 21 years later
@rockmassa4151
Holes Brought Me Here 😎
@capi1lope
Shake Hands with Shorty is such a good album. Really great for road trips.
@ahoward2kable
I was a weekend DJ for a rock station after high school and part of my show was the House of Blues Radio Hour, and I still remember when they featured these guys over 15 years later.
@donutsacrifice2588
Nashville radio brought me here!
@lumaz71
Still their best work so far.
@djbc64
Sounds like a shot of whiskey with "kick in the pants" back... What fun!
@Power_Press711
HER-NAN-DUH!!!
@prodigal71
The Hometown Heroes right there...Representing the Sipp well