Boppin' The Blues
Ricky/Rick Nelson Lyrics


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Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It must be goin' 'round
All my friends are boppin' the blues
And it must be goin' 'round
I love you, baby but I must be rhythm bound

Well, the doctor told me
Boy, you don't need no pills
Yeah, that doctor told me
Son, you don't need no pills
Just a handful of nickels
And a jukebox will cure your ills

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
And it must be goin' 'round
All them cats are boppin' the blues
And it must be goin' 'round
I love you, baby, but I must be rhythm bound

Well, the cat bug bit me
Man, I don't feel no pain
Yeah, jitter bug caught me
Man, I don't feel no pain
I still love you, baby
But I'll never be the same, yeah

Well, all them cats are boppin' the blues
It must be goin' 'round
All my friends are boppin' the blues
And it must be goin' 'round
I love you, baby, I must be rhythm bound

Well, rock bop rhythm'n blues
Rock bop rhythm'n blues, baby
Rock bop rhythm'n blues




Rock bop rhythm'n blues
Rhythm'n blues it must be goin' 'round

Overall Meaning

In "Boppin' The Blues," Ricky Nelson sings about the contagious nature of rhythm and blues music. He observes that all his friends are boppin' the blues, indicating that the trend is spreading among his social circle. The repetition of the line "It must be goin' 'round" emphasizes the infectious quality of the music. Despite his love for someone, he feels bound by the rhythm and unable to resist its pull.


The lyrics also touch upon the idea of using music as a form of therapy. The doctor advises the singer, telling him that he doesn't need any pills to cure his ailments. Instead, all he needs is a handful of nickels and a jukebox to heal. This suggests that music has a transformative power, capable of uplifting spirits and providing solace.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, all my friends are boppin' the blues
It seems like all of my friends are feeling sad and down


It must be goin' 'round
It seems like this feeling of sadness is spreading among them


I love you, baby but I must be rhythm bound
I care about you, darling, but I am bound to this rhythm and cannot break free


Well, the doctor told me
The physician advised me


Boy, you don't need no pills
You don't require any medication


Just a handful of nickels
Just a few coins


And a jukebox will cure your ills
Listening to music on a jukebox will heal your troubles


All them cats are boppin' the blues
All those individuals are experiencing this sadness


Well, the cat bug bit me
I got infected by this feeling, just like a bug bite


Man, I don't feel no pain
It doesn't hurt me, man


I still love you, baby
I continue to have strong feelings for you, darling


But I'll never be the same, yeah
However, I have changed permanently


Well, rock bop rhythm'n blues
An energetic mix of rock, bop, and rhythm and blues


Rhythm'n blues it must be goin' 'round
The feeling of rhythm and blues must be spreading




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHARON SHEELEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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