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
Do the Push and Pull Part II
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Came here to take care of business
Ain't gonna mess around
I got a brand new dance, that ain't no bull
Everybody's doing it talking 'bout push and pull
I said, push, pull, push, pull
Get on up, get on down
Take it round and round
I said, push, pull, push, pull
Little bit more
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Lookie here
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Get out on the floor, you're gonna get left
Get on your own, pretty baby, now go for yourself
It's easier taking candy from a baby, don't hand me no bull
Now you got it, baby you got that push and pull
I said, push, pull
Push, pull
Listen get on up, get on down
Get on up
Take it round and round
I said, push, pull, push, pull
Listen
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Double upon
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Push it, pull it
Ah
Oh, Mister Clean and James Brown
Everybody been messing around
I'm doing a hundred and laying on full
I got this thing talking 'bout push and pull
I said, push, pull
Push, pull, oh, ho
Push and pull, oh, ho
The lyrics to Rufus Thomas's song Push & Pull Pt 1 are about a new dance craze that has taken over the town. As the singer Rufus Thomas says, he’s come to take care of business, and he’s not going to mess around. He’s got a brand new dance that everyone’s talking about, and it’s all about push and pull. Throughout the song, Rufus calls on everyone to get on the dance floor and follow his lead, saying "get on up, get on down" and "take it round and round."
The song is energetic and upbeat, with a funky bassline and catchy lyrics that urge listeners to get up and dance. The chorus of "push, pull" is repetitive, but it works to create a driving rhythm that keeps the song moving forward. The lyrics suggest that the dance is easy to learn and that everyone should get involved. By the end of the song, you can feel the excitement building in the crowd, and the call and response between the singer and the audience is thrilling.
Overall, Push & Pull Pt 1 is a classic funk tune that celebrates the joy of dance and encourages everyone to join in. The lyrics are simple but effective, and the catchy beat ensures that the song will be remembered for generations to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, everybody, Mister Rufus in town
Rufus Thomas announces his arrival and presence among the people
Came here to take care of business
Rufus Thomas means business and didn't come to play around
Ain't gonna mess around
Rufus Thomas emphasizes that he won't tolerate any messing around
I got a brand new dance, that ain't no bull
Rufus Thomas introduces his newly created dance, which is genuine and not fake
Everybody's doing it talking 'bout push and pull
Rufus Thomas spreads the word that everyone is doing his new dance move called push and pull
Get on up, get on down
Rufus Thomas instructs listeners/dancers to move up and down
Take it round and round
Rufus Thomas tells dancers to move in circular motions while doing his dance
Little bit more
Rufus Thomas encourages dancers to do the dance move with additional effort
Lookie here
Rufus Thomas uses a folksy expression to draw attention and emphasis
Get out on the floor, you're gonna get left
Rufus Thomas urges people to dance or they will be left out
Get on your own, pretty baby, now go for yourself
Rufus Thomas advises women to dance on their own and enjoy themselves
It's easier taking candy from a baby, don't hand me no bull
Rufus Thomas emphasizes the simplicity of his dance move and warns against false pretenses
Now you got it, baby you got that push and pull
Rufus Thomas confirms that listeners/dancers have learned his dance move
Listen get on up, get on down
Rufus Thomas reiterates the need to move up and down while doing his dance move
Double upon
Rufus Thomas encourages dancers to double the effort put into his dance move
Oh, Mister Clean and James Brown
Rufus Thomas name-drops fellow musicians and alludes to them as being impressed with his new dance move
Everybody been messing around
Rufus Thomas highlights the lack of impressive or new dance moves from other musicians
I'm doing a hundred and laying on full
Rufus Thomas boasts about his energy and effort put into his dance move
Push and pull, oh, ho
Rufus Thomas repeats the name of his dance move to reinforce it in listeners' minds
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUFUS THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notmebutyou8350
It's 2022, and this song is STILL badass!!!
Going straight to my workout playlist!!!
@rickydfcc77
That guitar lick is hypnotic
@Egghe66
Now THAT is a groovy bass line!!!!
@montelking4503
Aye my mom would play the hell out of this song!! Had us jamming all night lmao. Good times!!
@angelafisher299
I love your mother!!!!
@angelafisher299
I love your mother!!!!!
@joylannetter2451
Okay!!💃💃💣
@montelluke8498
Whew ! This is " NASTY" funk sho nuff,MR RUFUS at his peak putting it down, those horns are hittin on all cylinders, along with that guitar line, stupendous track!
@toniprice9972
This MASTERPIECE... Here?!!! Makes me wanna dance all night ...just getting downright RAUNCHY with it!
@johnfulton4061
Whenever I hear this record my booty starts SHAKIN its out of control