Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
P.J. Proby Lyrics

The lyrics to P.J. Proby's "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" convey the singer's desire to dance and be with his significant other, but he is inhibited by various physical and logistical obstacles. The repeated lines "Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too / I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu" suggest that the singer is completely consumed by the musical energy and spirit of the moment, to the point where it manifests physically as a form of fever.

The first two lines of each verse paint a picture of frustration and longing: "I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall / I wanna holler but the joint's too small" or "I wanna kiss her but she's way too tall / I wanna squeeze her but I'm way too low". These lines encapsulate the singer's state of mind - his desire for release and connection is tempered by practical concerns or physical limitations. However, the chorus reframes these frustrations as an expression of the singer's immersion in the music. This suggests that the singer finds a sense of liberation and joy through music, even as it presents him with obstacles in other areas of his life.

Overall, the lyrics to "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" capture the exuberance and physicality of rock and roll as a genre, as well as its power to transport the listener to another realm of emotion and experience. The song celebrates both the freedom and the limitations of the body, suggesting that music can be a means of transcendence even as it grounds us in our physical selves.