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
The Memphis Train
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Train number one is gone
Train number two is gone
Train number three is been gone
Now how long must I wait for you
Uh, all right
Time I laid my handkerchief on the floor
I'm getting ready to crawl, yeah
I'm getting down on my knees
I'm getting ready to crawl, yeah
I said, ooh, wee, the Memphis train
Hey, now, now, now, now
Ooh, wee, the Memphis train
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Train number one is gone
Train number two is gone
Train number three is been gone
Now how long must I wait for you, all right
Uh, oh, shucks, uh
Ooh, wee, the Memphis train
Hey, now, now, now, now
Ooh, wee, it's a Memphis train
Yeah, oh, got me going now
Oh, it's coming
It's coming down the track
It ain't, uh, it ain't, uh
It ain't coming back, no, it ain't
It's going
Going down the track
Yeah, it's moving on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
It's got me moving
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
It's got me moving
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Got me coming
Got me working
Got me moving now
Got me cooking now
Got me grooving, oww, yeah
Got me moving, uh
Keep on down the track
"The Memphis Train" is a classic R&B song performed by Rufus Thomas in 1968. The song tells the story of a man waiting for his lover to arrive on the Memphis train. The train is a symbol of hope for this man, as it represents his dreams coming true. The excitement and anticipation of the arrival of the train are palpable in the music and the lyrics. The song was a hit in 1968, reaching number five on the R&B chart.
The lyrics of the song are simple but effective in conveying the message of the song. The opening lines "Train number one is gone, Train number two is gone, Train number three has been gone, now how long must I wait for you" create a sense of urgency and impatience. The repetition of this line throughout the song emphasizes the man's anxiety and desire for his lover's arrival. As the song progresses, the rhythm becomes more intense, and the lyrics become more suggestive, with lines like "I'm getting ready to crawl, yeah."
The chorus "Ooh Wee, the Memphis train" is a catchy and memorable hook. It is repeated several times throughout the song and is the most recognizable part of the track. The use of the train as a symbol of hope and possibility is a common theme in blues and R&B music, and this song is a classic example of this.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo, woo, woo
Expressing excitement or intensity
Train number one is gone
The first opportunity has passed
Train number two is gone
The second opportunity has passed
Train number three is been gone
The third opportunity has passed
Now how long must I wait for you
Asking how much longer until another opportunity arises
Time I laid my handkerchief on the floor
Indicating readiness to take action
I'm getting ready to crawl, yeah
Preparing to work hard and persevere
I'm getting down on my knees
Showing humility and dedication
I said, ooh, wee, the Memphis train
Expressing joy and excitement about the upcoming opportunity
Hey, now, now, now, now
Encouraging others to join in and get on board
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Further expressing excitement
Oh, it's coming
Referring to the opportunity
It's coming down the track
The opportunity is getting closer
It ain't, uh, it ain't, uh
Confirming that the opportunity is on its way
It ain't coming back, no, it ain't
Emphasizing that the opportunity is a one-time occurrence
It's going
Referring to the opportunity leaving
Going down the track
Further emphasizing the departure of the opportunity
Yeah, it's moving on
Confirming the departure of the opportunity
It's got me moving
Expressing how the opportunity motivates and excites the singer
Got me coming
Further expressing the excitement and enthusiasm
Got me working
Indicating readiness to work hard to take advantage of the opportunity
Got me cooking now
Indicating the artist is energized and actively pursuing the opportunity
Got me grooving, oww, yeah
Expressing joy and excitement through dancing and movement
Got me moving, uh
Reiterating excitement and motivation
Keep on down the track
Encouraging listeners to persevere and follow the opportunity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MACK RICE, RUFUS THOMAS, WILLIE III SPARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mary Ann Campbell
I love that Memphis Train, Go on Rufus!!!
Diego I. Rodriguez
Aguante el 60s soul groovin, forever...! ❤
emudragon全盛期 / emudragon サブ
アメリカじゃ一般市民
日本じゃ英雄
おおお おおお
伝説
空気の読めない田中みな実
知らざあ言って聞かせやしょう
emudragon全盛期 / emudragon サブ
応援マンみきや 知らざあのシーン無くないっすか
Hanmos
@emudragon全盛期 / emudragon サブ think made a boo booみたいな名前の奴が元ネタだよ
チンタオの環境保全チャンネル
いかす