Land of 1000 Dances
Rufus Thomas Lyrics


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One, two, three!
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
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na na na, na na na, na na na na.
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!

Overall Meaning

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
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