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
Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just want to tell you 'bout-a ooh pooh pah doo
Well you know it's just the most, yes ooh pooh pah do-oo
Ah tell me baby it's the most
'cause I won't stop tryin' 'til I create a disturbance in your mind
Well, well, well, well, I'm gon' create a disturbance in your mind (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I'm gon' create a disturbance (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
Ah baby don't you know it's in your mind (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
It goes yoh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Hear me, hear me, hear me, hear me, hear me, hear me
There's a little blue bell that's a ringin' in your ear (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
Well there's a little blue bell (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
Baby don't you know it's' in your ear (ooh pooh, ooh poh pah do)
It goes ding-ding-ding, ding-ding-ding-ding ding-ding-ding-ding
Well, well, well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
Ah-yes-ah, ooh pooh pah do-oo (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
Ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ahh-ahh), well-ah, ooh pooh pah do, just a one more time
Well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
Ah-yeah ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
Just sing this song now, join me , yo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, sing the song now, sing that song
Ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
Well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh poo
The song "Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo" by Rufus Thomas is an upbeat and high-energy song that serves as a rallying call for listeners to let loose and have fun. The lyrics are a combination of nonsense words and phrases intended to be catchy and memorable, with the repeated refrain of "ooh pooh pah do" serving as the central theme of the song.
The singer wants to create a disturbance in the listener's mind by getting them to let go and have a good time. The little blue bell serves as a metaphor for the rhythm and melody that are ringing in the listener's ears and urging them to dance and join in the song. The repetition of the phrase "well well well" throughout the song serves as a call and response, leading the listener to join in on the fun and sing along.
Line by Line Meaning
Yoh-oh-oh (yoh-oh-oh) yoh-oh-oh (yoh-oh-oh), oh yeah-eah-eah-eah-eah (oh yeah-eah-eah-eah-eah)
I am expressing excitement and anticipation about sharing information with you
I just want to tell you 'bout-a ooh pooh pah do
I am about to explain and introduce to you something called 'ooh pooh pah do'
Well you know it's just the most, yes ooh pooh pah do-oo
I am being emphatically clear about how amazing 'ooh pooh pah do' is
Ah tell me baby it's the most
I am asking for confirmation that you agree that 'ooh pooh pah do' is the best
'cause I won't stop tryin' 'til I create a disturbance in your mind
I am determined to make sure that 'ooh pooh pah do' stays on your mind and has an impact on you
Well, well, well, well, I'm gon' create a disturbance in your mind (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am stating my intention to impress and have an effect on your thoughts with 'ooh pooh pah do'
I'm gon' create a disturbance (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am repeating my intention to cause a noteworthy change in your thinking with 'ooh pooh pah do'
Oh yeah-eah-eah, ah baby, ah baby (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am expressing enthusiasm and encouragement for you to experience 'ooh pooh pah do'
Ah baby don't you know it's in your mind (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am pointing out that 'ooh pooh pah do' has already made an impression on you and will continue to do so
It goes yoh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I am demonstrating the catchy and memorable nature of 'ooh pooh pah do'
There's a little blue bell that's a ringin' in your ear (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am using a metaphor to describe how 'ooh pooh pah do' will stick with you and continue to resonate
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am emphasizing the repeated and memorable nature of 'ooh pooh pah do'
Well there's a little blue bell (ooh pooh, ooh pooh pah do)
I am reinforcing the idea that 'ooh pooh pah do' will stay with you and have an impact
Baby don't you know it's' in your ear (ooh pooh, ooh poh pah do)
I am reminding you again that 'ooh pooh pah do' has already made an impression on you and will continue to do so
It goes ding-ding-ding, ding-ding-ding-ding ding-ding-ding-ding
I am once again demonstrating the catchy and memorable nature of 'ooh pooh pah do'
Just sing this song now, join me , yo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, sing the song now, sing that song
I am inviting you to join me in celebrating and experiencing 'ooh pooh pah do'
Well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
I am repeating the name of 'ooh pooh pah do' to reinforce its importance
Ah-yeah ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
I am building excitement and enthusiasm for 'ooh pooh pah do'
Just sing this song now, join me , yo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, sing the song now, sing that song
I am once again inviting you to celebrate and experience 'ooh pooh pah do'
Well, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do), ah-well-ah, ooh pooh pah do (ooh pooh pah do)
I am ending with a final reminder of the impact and power of 'ooh pooh pah do'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSIE HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind