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
That
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things gonna get tough again
You'd better save your money
Things gonna get tough again
When you ain't got money
Lord knows you ain't got no friends
Remember 29
Remember 29 and 30
That's when times were hard
You didn't have enough money
To buy a nickel's worth of love
Better take my advice
Remember when you get paid
Oh take my advice
Remember when you get paid
Well to save your money
Cos then you've got it made
The lyrics of Rufus Thomas's song, "That (Don't Help Me None)," speak to the importance of saving money during tough economic times. The opening lines warn: "You'd better save your money / Things gonna get tough again." This sentiment emphasizes that economic downturns are cyclical and that preparation is necessary to weather the challenging financial terrain. The following lines suggest that financial struggles can alienate individuals from their friends: "When you ain't got money / Lord knows you ain't got no friends." This point emphasizes that financial security is, therefore, essential for personal stability and relationships.
The song also references two difficult years, 1929 and 1930, which were marked by the Great Depression in the United States. The lyrics encourage the listener to remember the struggles of these times when considering the importance of saving money. The lines, "Remember 29 / That's when times were hard / Remember 29 and 30 / That's when times were hard" reflect the widespread struggles of this period. Finally, the song repeats the chorus's opening refrain to underscore the importance of saving money when times are easy, as "when you get paid / Well to save your money / Cos then you've got it made."
Line by Line Meaning
You'd better save your money
You should start saving your money
Things gonna get tough again
Difficulties will arise in the future
When you ain't got money
If you don't have money
Lord knows you ain't got no friends
It's difficult to find friends when you're broke
Remember 29
Remember the year 1929
That's when times were hard
That's when life was difficult
Remember 29 and 30
Remember the years 1929 and 1930
You didn't have enough money
You were short on cash
To buy a nickel's worth of love
To afford a very small token of affection
Better take my advice
You should heed my recommendation
Remember when you get paid
Remember to save when you receive your payment
Cos then you've got it made
You'll be in a good position
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOSEA, JOE, THOMAS, RUFUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Puffin Makaha
Rufus: " boy you know
Blues music?
"Not really sir"
Beale St off limit to military...
Cuddy's, muddy waters,
Rufus, " Ever smoked "muggles"
"No sirs"...
$5 matchbox, catfish,
Hominy grits ,
The Mississippi Blues
And kindness shown to a young military man
Bless you Rufus, you changed my life...
Muggles , ",walking the dog", Carla, and a sultry
Night on Beale St.
Rufus: " if your old enough to die for your
Country, you're old enough to smoke
Muggles." RUFUS THOMAS- BEALE ST
1965
Darrell Petersen
every so often I have to come back and enjoy this masterclass on showmanship. Rufus comes on and burns the place down.
Ever Ready
Me too! Poor quality!
Now to watch Breakdown!
Elsa B
Same here.
Hello Channel
Nothing else but talent, humor and control. Class.
RIP Rufus.
Ballz Swetski
Dude is like wine, only getting better with age... I am a metal head and have been for a long time so it is rare to hear this from me but WOW, what a rhythm section....
Paul Sidaway
I saw Rufus Thomas at Mud Island in Memphis in August 1987. It was part of the celebrations remembering Elvis on the 10th anniversary of his death. Rufus was brilliant and he tore the house down with this track. I was in Memphis on Boxing day 2014 and it was great to see the statue of him on Beale St. I thought of that wonderful day I enjoyed his great talent.
TooberTuba
Awesome performance. Great energy.
Goodwin Trent
As Buddy Guy would say - This is so funky , you can smell it! Good ol' Rufus, and Sandborn's band nails this one to the wall!
Royale Vimartin
super clássico,,Rufus canta de+
rockit flash
Living in Memphis, I saw Rufus live many times. He was always this good. The best showman that I’ve ever seen. His smile was infectious.