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

Double Trouble
Rufus Thomas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes I've got double trouble
And I'm blue as I can be
Yes I've got double trouble
And I'm blue as I can be
I've got eyes for two women
And they got eyes for me

One is a -

The other a -
One is a -
The other a -
I had to volunteer for the army
So I could leave and cry

Well six weeks -
Well it ain't no -
I took -
They had me on the run
Everyday I went out -
With - packed
I hope -
When I get back

No more double trouble
No more trouble for me

Women are nothing but trouble
They'll fill your life with misery

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rufus Thomas's song "Double Trouble" depicts a situation where the singer finds himself in a complicated love triangle. The first line, "Yes, I've got double trouble, And I'm blue as I can be" establishes that he is facing difficulties and feeling down because he is involved with two women simultaneously.

The repetition of the phrase "I've got eyes for two women, And they got eyes for me" emphasizes the mutual attraction and interest between the singer and the two women in question. This creates a sense of conflict and tension as he finds himself torn between them.

The lines "One is a - The other a - One is a - The other a -" suggest that Thomas intentionally leaves the identities of the women blank. This could symbolize the anonymity and interchangeable nature of his romantic partners, highlighting his struggle to choose between them.

The reference to volunteering for the army and using it as an opportunity to escape and cry suggests that the singer is overwhelmed by the emotional burden of his double trouble situation. The line "Well, six weeks - Well it ain't no - I took -" implies that he enlisted in the army for a short period to distance himself from the complicated relationships and find solace in the military environment.

The lyrics continue with the singer feeling on the run and constantly carrying the burden of his dual romantic situation. The mention of a packed bag and hoping for something when he returns suggests that he is uncertain about the outcome and whether he will find resolution or further complications upon his return.

The final verse, "No more double trouble, No more trouble for me, Women are nothing but trouble, They'll fill your life with misery" implies that the singer reaches a point of disillusionment and frustration with his romantic entanglements. He sees women as sources of trouble and misery, perhaps indicating a desire to escape from the complexities of relationships altogether.

In summary, Rufus Thomas's song "Double Trouble" explores the emotional turmoil of being caught between two women. It delves into the singer's attempts to find a way out of this situation and his eventual disillusionment with romantic relationships. The lyrics evoke a sense of conflict, uncertainty, and the emotional toll that such double trouble can have on an individual.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes I've got double trouble
I am facing a complex and difficult situation involving two women

And I'm blue as I can be
I am feeling sad and depressed

I've got eyes for two women
I am attracted to and interested in two women

And they got eyes for me
Both of these women are also interested in me

One is a -
One of these women is someone specific

The other a -
The second woman is also someone specific

One is a -
Again, one of these women is someone specific

The other a -
Once more, the second woman is also someone specific

I had to volunteer for the army
I made the decision to join the army willingly

So I could leave and cry
My intention was to escape from my emotional turmoil and find solace

Well six weeks -
Within a period of six weeks