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
World Is Round
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
I know the world is round
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
And you'll never, never know
Just what man there is to blame, yeah, yeah
I want to tell you something
Cause there's the teacher
The preacher, gamblin' man
Dark side will make it
On a easy plan
Lawyer, doctor
Even town breaker
I'm tryin' to keep up
With the undertaker
Chauffeur's runnin' around
With them still knockin' for girls
Drummer in the band
Been this way to the world
We just end up pooping
Jumpin' up and down
Sisters in the corner
I'm Alabama bound
The world is round, round, round, round
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
And you never, never know
Just what man there is to blame, no, no
I know, you know, they know
That the world is round
I know you know, everybody know
That the world is round
The world is round, oh, yeah
The world is round
Rufus Thomas's song "The World Is Round" opens with the simple yet profound statement that the world is round. He then immediately follows it by saying "but it's crooked just the same," signifying that while the world itself may be perfect, human nature can make it seem imperfect. Throughout the song, Thomas reflects on different societal roles, including teachers, preachers, gamblers, lawyers, doctors, and even undertakers, and how the dark side of human nature can influence all of them. He speaks of people endlessly searching for new and exciting experiences, fueled by a constant need for pleasure, which leaves them ultimately unfulfilled. He notes with sadness how people often simply end up jumping up and down, pooping, or being driven into a corner. The chorus repeats the simple idea that the world is round, but with added emphasis and the implicit message that it's up to us to make it a better place.
Overall, "The World Is Round" is a commentary on the enduring human struggle for purpose and happiness in a complex and morally ambiguous world. Thomas recognizes the beauty and majesty of nature, yet is acutely aware that people can often spoil it. He is critical of societal expectations and social norms that contribute to the problem, calling attention to the futility of seeking pleasure and the emptiness of a life driven by hedonistic pursuits. Ultimately, he suggests that the world can be perfect if we participate in making it that way.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is round
The shape of the world is circular
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
Despite being circular, there are many faults present
I know the world is round
I am aware that the world is circular
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
Regardless of the shape, the world is imperfect
And you'll never, never know
It is impossible to understand
Just what man there is to blame, yeah, yeah
Without a clear indication, it is unclear who holds responsibility
Cause there's the teacher
The first suspect is the teacher
The preacher, gamblin' man
Next in line is the preacher or the gambler
Dark side will make it
People with bad intentions and motives would succeed
On an easy plan
By following an uncomplicated scheme
Lawyer, doctor
Even lawyers or doctors might have done the wrong thing
Even town breaker
Also, individuals who break the law
I'm tryin' to keep up
I am working hard
With the undertaker
To manage the burial of a dead person
Chauffeur's runnin' around
The chauffeur is busy running errands
With them still knockin' for girls
While others are still pursuing women
Drummer in the band
A musician in the music group
Been this way to the world
Has experienced and been affected by such behavior around the world
We just end up pooping
We eventually run out of energy
Jumpin' up and down
Bouncing and making unnecessary movements
Sisters in the corner
Women observing from a distance
I'm Alabama bound
I am travelling to Alabama
The world is round, round, round, round
The world is circular in shape
But it's crooked just the same, yeah, yeah
Despite being circular in shape, there are still many faults present
And you never, never know
It is impossible to understand
Just what man there is to blame, no, no
Without an obvious answer, it is unclear who is at fault
I know, you know, they know
It is generally understood
That the world is round
That the shape of the world is circular
I know you know, everybody know
It is commonly known by everyone
That the world is round
That the shape of the world is circular
The world is round, oh, yeah
The shape of the world is circular
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUFUS THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
maazvdo
GreaT !!! Rufus Thomas - The World Is Round
Thanks for posting,
PigVomitVinyl
Slappcard com
The Industry is so crooked!!! My Grandad R.I.P Wrote this song (Jack Carradine) ...All they gave him was a PENNY IN PUBLISHING took his name from the credits too wow !!! LOL Real Talk...Rip Daddy...Yah Got US!