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
Land of 1000 Dances
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three!
You gotta know how to pony like Bony Maronie
Mashed Potato, do the Alligator
Put your hands on your hips, let your back-bone slip
Do the Watusi, like my little Lucy
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
You know I feel alright.
Feel pretty good y'all.
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
Dance with me honey, like Long Tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy, doin the Watusi
Gotta hold of your back, I like it like that
Do the Jerk, watch me work
Ah, do it!
The song "Land of 1,000 Dances" by Rufus Thomas is a fun, upbeat track that encourages everyone to get up and dance. The lyrics describe a variety of popular dances from the early 1960s, including the pony, mashed potato, alligator, Watusi, twist, and jerk. The song represents a time when dance was an important part of popular music and culture, and people would gather at parties and dance halls to show off their moves.
The lyrics also contain a call and response section, with the singer asking for someone to help him say "na na na na na." This is a common technique used in many R&B and soul songs of the era, and it encourages audience participation and engagement. The song ends with an exclamation to "do it!" which further emphasizes its exuberant, celebratory tone.
Overall, "Land of 1,000 Dances" is a song that celebrates the joy of dancing and the power of music to bring people together. Its catchy beat and playful lyrics have made it a beloved classic that continues to be played and enjoyed today.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three!
Let's get ready to dance!
You gotta know how to pony like Bony Maronie
To dance properly, you need to be able to do the pony like the famous dancer Bony Maronie.
Mashed Potato, do the Alligator
Other iconic dances that you should know include the Mashed Potato and the Alligator.
Put your hands on your hips, let your back-bone slip
To move to the beat, place your hands on your hips and sway your back to the rhythm.
Do the Watusi, like my little Lucy
Another famous dance move is the Watusi, which you can do like the artist's friend Lucy.
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
This catchy phrase is an invitation to keep dancing and having fun.
Need somebody to help me say it one time
The singer is asking for help to repeat the phrase and keep the energy going.
You know I feel alright.
Dancing and moving to the music makes the artist feel good and happy.
Dance with me honey, like Long Tall Sally
The artist is encouraging their partner to dance with them, and to do it like Long Tall Sally, a famous song by Little Richard.
Twistin' with Lucy, doin the Watusi
The artist is excited to dance with Lucy and do the Watusi together.
Gotta hold of your back, I like it like that
The singer enjoys holding onto their partner's back while they dance.
Do the Jerk, watch me work
The artist is showing off their dance moves, specifically the 'Jerk', and inviting others to watch.
Ah, do it!
The singer is urging everyone to keep dancing and enjoy the music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Kenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind