Born on Florida Street, in Memphis, Tennessee, Gordon was one of the "Beale Streeters", a group of musicians in 1949 that also featured Johnny Ace, B.B. King, and Bobby "Blue" Bland a.o., who helped to develop the style known as Memphis Blues. Gordon used a style of piano playing known as 'The Rosco Rhythm', he placed the accent on the off beats, and although other influential rhythm & blues pianists such as Professor Longhair (on "Willie Mae" among other songs) recorded in the same off beat style before him, through his influence on the Jamaican pianist, Theophilus Beckford ("Easy Snappin'"), Gordon was cited as the foundation of Jamaican ska, bluebeat and reggae music.
Rosco Gordon made a number of his early recordings for Sam Phillips at Sun Records.
"Booted" (1952) gave his career a sound start, and was followed by "No More Doggin'" the same year. Sam Phillips later sold the master tape of "Booted" to two competing record labels, Chess and RPM, both of whom released it as a single as he had done with some early Howlin' Wolf songs. The RPM release reached #1 on the Billboard R&B record chart. Chess and the Bihari Brothers later settled the conflict with the Biharis getting exclusive rights to Gordon and Chess signing Wolf to an exclusive contract.
In 1960, Gordon released his last charting single "Just a Little Bit", which was both an R&B and pop hit. However there were no further hits despite Gordon's youth, talent and exuberant and oddball personality. In 1962, he gave up the music industry and moved to Queens, New York with his new wife where he purchased a partnership in a laundry business. Following his wife's death in 1984, he returned to performing in the New York area.
In 2002, he was invited by filmmaker Richard Pearce to be featured as part of a documentary film about several blues musicians returning to Memphis for a special tribute to Sam Phillips in conjunction with the May 2002 W. C. Handy Awards. Called The Road To Memphis, the documentary aired on PBS television. Six weeks after filming finished, Gordon died of a heart attack at his apartment in Rego Park, Queens. He was 74 years old. He was interred in the Rosedale Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey.
Booted
Rosco Gordon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever (you give me fever) when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight (you give me fever)
Fever... In the mornin'
Fever all through the night
Sun lights up the day time
Moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name
'Cause I know you're gonna treat me right
You give me fever (You give me fever) when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight (You give me fever)
Fever... In the mornin'
Fever all through the night (Wow!)
Everybody's got the fever
That is somethin' you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing
Fever started long time ago
(You give me fever)
Baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah)
Let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah)
Well, baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah)
And let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah)
Well, just a little bit higher (Yeah, yeah)
And just a little bit brighter, baby (Yeah, yeah)
Ow!
You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
You give me fever.
Romeo loved Juliet
Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her
He said, "Julie baby you're my flame"
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Fever with thy flaming youth
Fever I'm on fire
Fever yea I burn forsooth
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Had a very mad affair
When her daddy tried to kill him
She said "Daddy oh don't you dare"
"He gives me fever with his kisses"
"Fever when he holds me tight"
"Fever, I'm his missus"
"Daddy won't you treat him right?"
Now you've listened to my story
Here's the point that I have made
Chicks were born to give you fever
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
We give you fever when we kiss you
Fever if you live and learn
Fever till you sizzle
What a lovely way to burn [Repeat x 4]
The song "Fever" was first recorded by Little Willie John in 1956 and has since been covered by numerous other artists, including Elvis Presley and Peggy Lee. The version we're looking at today is by Rosco Gordon, who recorded it in 1959. The song's catchy melody and lyrics have made it a classic of R&B and rock and roll music.
The song begins with the singer expressing their love and passion for someone. When the person they love puts their arms around them, they feel a feverish sensation that is almost unbearable. The phrase "You give me fever" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the intense physical and emotional attraction between the two people.
The second verse compares the way the sun and moon light up the sky to the way the person the singer loves lights up their life. The chorus is repeated again, with the singer declaring that they feel feverish all day and all night because of their love. The third verse references the fact that everyone experiences fever when they are in love, and mentions famous love stories like Romeo and Juliet and Pocahontas and Captain Smith.
The song ends with the singer telling the listener that they have shared their story and made their point – that love is like a fever that can consume you. The repeated phrase "What a lovely way to burn" suggests that the singer is willing to endure the heat and intensity of love, even if it makes them feel a little feverish.
Overall, "Fever" is a timeless classic that perfectly captures the feeling of intense passion and desire. Its simple melody and lyrics make it easy to sing along to, and the infectious energy of the song is hard to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
Never know how much I love you
I truly adore you beyond my understanding
Never know how much I care
I show immense concern for you with all my heart
When you put your arms around me
Your embrace makes me feel safe
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
It ignites a passionate feeling within me
You give me fever (you give me fever) when you kiss me
Your kiss creates a sensation of fire inside me
Fever when you hold me tight (you give me fever)
Your tight grip always makes me burn with desire
Fever... In the mornin'
I feel the same way in the morning
Fever all through the night
My burning sensation lasts all night
Sun lights up the day time
The sun illuminates the day
Moon lights up the night
The moon illuminates the night
I light up when you call my name
Your call makes me excited
'Cause I know you're gonna treat me right
I trust that you will take care of me well
Everybody's got the fever
Everyone experiences this burning sensation
That is somethin' you all know
It's well known among people
Fever isn't such a new thing
This feeling is not a new concept
Fever started long time ago
It's been around for a while
(You give me fever)
You're responsible for this feverish feeling
Baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah)
Show me your love
Let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah)
Share your love with me
Well, baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah)
I want you to show me love
And let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah)
I want your love to come to me
Well, just a little bit higher (Yeah, yeah)
I need your love to be more intense
And just a little bit brighter, baby (Yeah, yeah)
I need your love to be more passionate
Ow!
This excitement is too much to handle
You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I feel burning passion because of your love
Romeo loved Juliet
Romeo adored Juliet
Juliet she felt the same
Juliet loved him equally
He said, "Julie baby you're my flame"
He expressed his love passionately
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Their kiss created a feverish feeling
Fever with thy flaming youth
Their young passion was feverish
Fever I'm on fire
Their love was too intense
Fever yea I burn forsooth
They both burned with desire
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Captain Smith and Pocahontas had an affair
Had a very mad affair
Their love was passionate
When her daddy tried to kill him
Her father opposed their relationship
She said "Daddy oh don't you dare"
She stood up to her father to protect their love
"He gives me fever with his kisses"
His kisses make her feel feverish
"Fever when he holds me tight"
His tight embrace ignites passion in her
"Fever, I'm his missus"
She loves him and proudly calls herself his wife
"Daddy won't you treat him right?"
She implores her father to accept their love
Now you've listened to my story
You've heard my tale
Here's the point that I have made
This is the message I'm trying to relay
Chicks were born to give you fever
Women were born to ignite men with passion
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
Regardless of the measurement scale
We give you fever when we kiss you
Women create a passionate feeling when they kiss
Fever if you live and learn
As we mature, our feelings intensify
Fever till you sizzle
The passion becomes too much to bear
What a lovely way to burn [Repeat x 4]
The intensity of passion is a beautiful feeling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROSCO GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Thomao
Godfather of Ska with that rhythm. FBA!
@johnnyb8825
The piano, yes. The drums, no. The drum rhythm in ska comes from Nyabinghi.
@thehacker4089
@johnny b The Rhythm yes he is correct. I definitely hear that Rhythm alot in older Reggae.
@forthandbargy
Never heard of Rosco before. GREAT music. Thank you very much for putting this up. ..." You take my wife and stay out late....I'm gonna take my knife and operate..." Great lyics.
@MrJuniorsgv13
holy moly !!! whoaaaaaaa... yep i love it Roscoe Gordon!!!
@AndreGPilz
felt the very same
@mdhbigdog
Recorded at Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, Tennessee by Sam Phillips in 1951
@MrBonifant
Terrific....at 706 Union, August 1951 and forever
@rodentfather5101
came here from the Fallout New Vegas quest of the same name. thanks Boxcars, i want my five Med-X back >:(
@censusgary
It just doesn’t get better than this.