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
Walkin' the Dog
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silver buttons all down her back
High, low, tipsy toe,
She broke a needle and she can't sew
Walkin' the dog,
Just walkin' the dog
If you don't know how to do it,
I'll show you how to walk te dog
Asked a fellow for fifteen cents,
See the fellow he jumped the fence
Jumped so high he touched the sky,
Never got back till the fourth of July
Walkin' the dog,
Just walkin' the dog
If you don't know how to do it,
I'll show you how to walk the dog
Rufus Thomas's song "Walkin' the Dog" is a fun, catchy tune about a girl walking her dog in the city. The first verse describes the girl, who is dressed in black with silver buttons, and how she broke her needle while she was sewing. It then talks about how she's walking her dog and offers to teach others how to walk their dogs.
The second verse tells a story about a man who asked for fifteen cents, and when he got it, he jumped over the fence and never returned until the Fourth of July. This verse relates to the chorus where Rufus Thomas encourages people to walk their dogs, even if they don't know how to do it.
In the song, "walkin' the dog" is not just about taking your furry friend for a walk. It is used as a metaphor for getting things done and making things happen. Rufus Thomas encourages people to keep moving forward, even if they don't know how to do something.
Overall, "Walkin' the Dog" is a fun and upbeat song with a message about perseverance and taking action, even if you don't know exactly what you're doing.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby's back, dressed in black, Silver buttons all down her back
A woman dressed in black with silver buttons down her back is present.
High, low, tipsy toe, She broke a needle and she can't sew
She is walking around in different ways, but unfortunately she broke her sewing needle and cannot sew anymore.
Walkin' the dog, Just walkin' the dog
The woman is walking the dog.
If you don't know how to do it, I'll show you how to walk the dog
If someone does not know how to walk a dog, the artist will show them how to do it.
Asked a fellow for fifteen cents, See the fellow he jumped the fence
The artist asked someone for money, and that person jumped a fence to avoid giving them any.
Jumped so high he touched the sky, Never got back till the fourth of July
That person jumped so high, they looked like they touched the sky, but did not return until the Fourth of July.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: RUFUS THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@siboneypeltier2307
Walking the Dog ~ Rufus Thomas
Miss Mary Mack
All dressed in black
Silver buttons all down her back
High ho tipsy toe
She broke the needle now she can't sew
Walking the dog
Just a-walking the dog
Well if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog.
Mary Mary quite contrary
How does your garden grow
Silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
Walking the dog
Just a-walking the dog
Well if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog.
(Sax Solo)
Hey diddle diddle
The cats got the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
He jumped so high touched the sky
Didn't come back till the fourth of July.
Walking the dog
Just a-walking the dog
Well if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog.
Written by: Rufus Thomas
Album: Rufus Live!
Released: 1998
Lyrics provided by Musixmatch
@carrienixon6663
It’s 2022. Still listening to the STAX label records. who’s still walking the dog?
@jorgealvidrez9641
I am😊
@kathleanconneely5173
Me too!!!
@dallasheltzell
Walking the dog in deep Colorado snow on Jan. 2, 2023, but keeping warm with Carla's dad Rufus!
@KaroshiSalad2000s
We All Do.
@darrenattebery7776
@@jorgealvidrez9641 si
@ed9763
All these 60s records should be re introduced to the public. They can never be too old
@KaroshiSalad2000s
Let It Between Us, They Won't Appreciate Classics Like This, I Mean Look What They Tried To Do With Elvis Mansion.
@MrHughBetcha
I see that someone had my reply ahead of me. Sad but true. Few people today would appreciate the raw, primitive sound of these oldies. As part of the 70 plus crowd, I intend to ride the Harley and jam on oldies as I fade into history.
@crweber3408
Aerosmith did that a while back.