Twist and Shout
Papas the Lyrics
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Shake it up, baby;
Now twist and shout.
Shake it, shake it up, baby;
Come on and work it on out .
You know you move real good, girl;
(Shake it up baby, now)
(Twist and shout)
Come on and move a little closer;
(Shake it up baby, now)
Show the world that you're mine
(Now work it on out)
You know you got me goin'
(You know you got me goin')
Like I knew you would
You really really got me goin', yeah,
Just like I knew you could.
(Like I knew you could)
C'mon, baby, (c'mon baby)
Twist and shout (c'mon baby).
Shake it up baby;
(C'mon and) work it on out.
You know you move real good;
You know you move real fine.
C'mon and move a little closer, girl;
And let 'em know you're mine
(Shake)
You know you got me goin' girl,
Like I knew you would.
You really got me goin' yeah,
Like I knew you could
Like I knew you would.
Shake it up, baby;
Shake it, baby, c'mon
Move a little closer
The Mama's & Papa's song "Twist and Shout" is a classic rock and roll song that is all about dancing and having a good time. The lyrics of the song encourage the listener to let loose and shake it up, twisting and shouting to the beat. The verses describe how well the girl dances and how she has the ability to get the singer "going" and losing control. The chorus then repeats the command to "shake it up" and "work it on out" – a directive to let go and fully engage in the dance.
In addition to a fun and upbeat tone, the lyrics suggest a sense of liberation and release. The girl is encouraged to let the world know that she is "mine," suggesting a sense of ownership or possession, but also a sense of pride and autonomy. The repetition of the phrase "like I knew you could" further reinforces the idea that the listener should feel confident and empowered in their ability to dance and enjoy the moment.
Overall, "Twist and Shout" is a joy-filled celebration of dancing and letting go. The simple lyrics and catchy beat make it a classic party anthem that has stuck around for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Shake it up, baby;
Encouragement to move and dance
Now twist and shout.
Specifically encouraging twisting and shouting as dance moves
Shake it, shake it up, baby;
Repeat of the first line to emphasize movement and energy
Come on and work it on out .
Urging the dancer to give it their all and move their body to the beat
You know you move real good, girl;
Complimenting the girl's dance skills
(Shake it up baby, now)
Repeating the encouragement to keep moving and shaking
You know you move real fine.
Complimenting the girl's physical appearance and poise while dancing
(Twist and shout)
A reminder of the specific dance moves that the song calls for
Come on and move a little closer;
Inviting the girl to dance closer to the singer
Show the world that you're mine
Pride in being seen dancing with the girl
(Now work it on out)
Reiterating the earlier urge to dance and move energetically
You know you got me goin'
The girl's dancing is having an effect on the singer
(You know you got me goin')
Repetition for emphasis
Like I knew you would
The singer expected the girl to be a good dancer
You really really got me goin', yeah,
The girl's dancing is particularly impressive
Like I knew you could.
Reassurance that the singer had faith in the girl's dancing abilities
(Like I knew you could)
Repetition for emphasis
C'mon, baby, (c'mon baby)
An invitation to keep dancing and perhaps to be more physically intimate
Twist and shout (c'mon baby).
Reiterating the specific dance moves that the song is calling for
Shake it up baby;
A reminder to keep moving energetically
(C'mon and) work it on out.
Urging the dancer to put in effort and give it their all
And let 'em know you're mine
Showing pride in dancing with the girl
(Shake)
Encouraging the girl to keep moving and dancing
Move a little closer
An invitation to be physically closer while dancing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BERT BERNS, PHIL MEDLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind