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.
No More Doggin'
Rosco Gordon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey, no more doggin', foolin' 'round with you
I'm gonna let'cha out baby, and that's what I've got to do
Well, told you all the straights and I made you fine
You spend my money on whiskey, beer and wine
No more doggin', foolin' 'round with you,
I'm gonna let'cha out baby, and that's what I've got to do
Well, ya told me that'cha love me and you told me a lie
No more doggin', foolin' 'round with you
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got, oh yes
Well, ya know I love ya baby and I can't help myself
Yes, I'll love you until the day I die
No more doggin', foolin' 'round with you
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got to do
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got to do
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got to do
The lyrics of Rosco Gordon's "No More Doggin'" are a declaration of the singer's decision to end a dysfunctional relationship. The insistent repetition of the phrase "Honey, no more doggin', foolin' 'round with you" is a clear indication of the singer's determination to break free from a partner who has been unfaithful and untrustworthy. The lyric "You spend my money on whiskey, beer and wine" further reveals the reasons for the singer's disillusionment with the relationship.
Despite these harsh words, the singer's feeling for the subject of the song are complex. The lines "Well, ya know I love ya baby and I can't help myself / Yes, I'll love you until the day I die" suggest a deep emotional attachment, even as the singer recognizes the need to end the relationship. This tension between love and frustration is part of what makes "No More Doggin'" such a powerful expression of heartbreak and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, no more doggin', foolin' 'round with you
I can't continue to tolerate your unfaithful behavior any longer.
I'm gonna let'cha out baby, and that's what I've got to do
I'm breaking up with you.
Well, told you all the straights and I made you fine
I gave you good advice and made you into a better person.
You spend my money on whiskey, beer and wine
You've been wasting my money on alcohol.
Well, ya told me that'cha love me and you told me a lie
You lied to me when you said you loved me.
Yes, I'll love you until the day I die
Despite your actions, I still have feelings for you.
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got, oh yes
Breaking up with you is the right thing to do.
Well, ya know I love ya baby and I can't help myself
I can't control my feelings for you.
No more doggin', foolin' 'round with you
I'm done with your unfaithful behavior.
I gotta let'cha out, baby, and that's what I've got to do
Breaking up with you is necessary.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jules Bihari, Rosco Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nico_Tena
Roscoe Gordon was referred to by Jamaicans as a big influence on the development of Ska music.
@vandannadale2689
Particularly this VERY song! (Why I’m here👍)
@SetTruthFree
@@vandannadale2689Same Here, Found The "Ska" Song - Decolonize Yr Mind - By JER, And Had 2 Look Up The History Of Ska Music...
@johnnyb8825
@@vandannadale2689 In Rosco Gordon's music the offbeat is just an accompaniment to the main beat. In ska it is the main beat.
@manny755
My mom had this record. I think it came out in `59,but not sure.I can still picture it in my mind,playing on her Zenith Cobra-matic Hi-Fi,the coolest record player ever! He did record this song (with horns) several years earlier on RPM records.Don`t know why he recorded this version without the horns.I also liked the flip side, A Fool In Love".Hope this helps.
@mayena
Original release was in 1952.
@edakerman7231
Great beat, found myself bouncing
@deborahdunn9708
Just turned onto Roscoe at 70yrs old. What a beautiful find!
@barbaragainer3082
My mom and dad had this on a 45 rpm in the late 50's early 60's. They used to play this record on KDIA 1310 AM. The Boss of the Bay.
@bluesugar58
Ike Turner discovered Rosco Gordon for Modern Records. Ike is also backing him on piano on this record.