Rufus Thomas (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was a rhythm and blues an… Read Full Bio ↴Rufus Thomas (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was a rhythm and blues and soul singer from Memphis, Tennessee, United States, who recorded on Sun Records in the 1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the father of soul singer Carla Thomas (best known for the classic song "B-A-B-Y") and keyboard player Marvell Thomas. A third daughter, Vaneese, a former French teacher, for years had a recording studio in upstate New York where she sang for television commercials.

The above biography taken from: Wikipedia - Rufus Thomas

The Crown Prince of Dance; an early rock & roll DJ, Memphis soul icon and creator of the Funky Chicken.

Artist Biography (below) by Richie Unterberger

Few of rock & roll's founding figures are as likable as Rufus Thomas. From the 1940s onward, he has personified Memphis music; his small but witty cameo role in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, a film which satirizes and enshrines the city's role in popular culture, was entirely appropriate. As a recording artist, he wasn't a major innovator, but he could always be depended upon for some good, silly, and/or outrageous fun with his soul dance tunes. He was one of the few rock or soul stars to reach his commercial and artistic peak in middle age, and was a crucial mentor to many important Memphis blues, rock, and soul musicians.

Thomas was already a professional entertainer in the mid-'30s, when he was a comedian with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. He recorded music as early as 1941, but really made his mark on the Memphis music scene as a deejay on WDIA, one of the few black-owned stations of the era. He also ran talent shows on Memphis' famous Beale Street that helped showcase the emerging skills of such influential figures as B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Ike Turner, and Roscoe Gordon.

Thomas had his first success as a recording artist in 1953 with "Bear Cat," a funny answer record to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog." It made number three on the R&B charts, giving Sun Records its first national hit, though some of the sweetness went out of the triumph after Sun owner Sam Phillips lost a lawsuit for plagiarizing the original Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller tune. Thomas, strangely, would make only one other record for Sun, and recorded only sporadically throughout the rest of the 1950s.

Thomas and his daughter Carla would become the first stars for the Stax label, for whom they recorded a duet in 1959, "'Cause I Love You" (when the company was still known as Satellite). In the '60s, Carla would become one of Stax's biggest stars. On his own, Rufus wasn't as successful as his daughter, but issued a steady stream of decent dance/novelty singles.

These were not deep or emotional statements, or meant to be. Vaguely prefiguring elements of funk, the accent was on the stripped-down groove and Rufus' good-time vocals, which didn't take himself or anything seriously. The biggest by far was "Walking the Dog," which made the Top Ten in 1963, and was covered by the Rolling Stones on their first album.

Thomas hit his commercial peak in the early '70s, when "Do the Funky Chicken," "(Do The) Push and Pull," and "The Breakdown" all made the R&B Top Five. As the song titles themselves make clear, funk was now driving his sound rather than blues or soul. Thomas drew upon his vaudeville background to put them over on-stage with fancy footwork that displayed remarkable agility for a man well into his 50s. The collapse of the Stax label in the mid-'70s meant the end of his career, basically, as it did for many other artists with the company. In 2001, Rufus Thomas was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Later that year, on December 15, he died at St. Francis hospital in Memphis, TN.

The above biography taken from: All Music Biography - Rufus Thomas by Richie Unterberger

Decorate the Counter
Rufus Thomas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now here's what you do
When you step into this place
Spread the news around
Decorate the counter
Put that money down
So dig down in your pocket
Pull the green stuff out
Decorate the counter

Turn yourself about
A little bit of green stuff
Decorate the counter
Turn yourself around
Decorate the counter
Don't head for the door
Slap it on the counter
Poor your stuff down on the floor

Decorate the counter
Slap it on down there
Spend a little moolah
Drop a little cash
Dig down in your pocket
Pull the green stuff out
Let's get this joint jumping
So spread that stuff about
Decorate the counter
Don't head for the door
Slap it on the counter
Poor your stuff down on the floor

Decorate the counter man
Cos saturday's here

Overall Meaning

Rufus Thomas's song "Decorate the Counter" is a catchy and energetic tune that encourages listeners to spend their money and decorate the counter at their local hangout spot. The lyrics, while simple, convey a message of community and celebration. The opening lines of "Now here's what you do / When you step into this place / Spread the news around" suggest that this is a place where people gather and share information. The next lines, "Decorate the counter / Put that money down," encourage listeners to participate in this sense of community by contributing money to the establishment's counter.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Decorate the counter" several times, emphasizing the importance of this action. The lines "Slap it on the counter / Pour your stuff down on the floor" suggest that this is a place where people enjoy their drinks and let loose. The repeated phrases "Dig down in your pocket / Pull the green stuff out" encourage listeners to spend their money and contribute to the lively atmosphere of the establishment. The song ends with the line "Decorate the counter man / Cos Saturday's here," indicating that this is a weekend destination where people come to have a good time.

Overall, "Decorate the Counter" is a fun and upbeat tune that celebrates community, spending money, and having a good time with friends. Its catchy lyrics and infectious melody make it a classic party anthem that continues to be popular today.

Line by Line Meaning

Now here's what you do
I am about to give you instructions on what to do next.

When you step into this place
As soon as you enter this place.

Spread the news around
Let everyone know about what you're about to do.

Decorate the counter
Put your money on the counter to make it lively.

Put that money down
Place your money on the counter to make it lively.

So dig down in your pocket
Reach into your pocket to take out some money.

Pull the green stuff out
Take out some cash from your pocket.

Turn yourself about
Move around to create a party atmosphere.

A little bit of green stuff
A small amount of money.

Don't head for the door
Don't leave yet, the party is just getting started.

Slap it on the counter
Place your money on the counter to create a lively atmosphere.