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
Ya Ya
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
You know that I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
You know how I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
The lyrics to Rufus Thomas’s song Ya Ya describe someone waiting for their lover to arrive, plaintively imploring them not to keep them waiting for too long. The repeated phrase “I’m sittin’ here, la, la” suggests boredom and a desire to occupy oneself while waiting. Meanwhile, the phrase “Ya Ya” is used as a nickname or term of endearment for the lover. The singer reveals that they love their lover and are anxious for them to arrive. The repetition of the phrase “uh huh, uh huh” can be interpreted as a nod of affirmation to oneself, reflecting the hope that the lover will soon appear.
The lyrics can be seen as a reflection of the anxiety and uncertainty of waiting for someone you care about, as well as the fear of being stood up or let down. Despite this, the singer remains hopeful and optimistic that their lover will arrive. The simplicity of the lyrics, combined with the upbeat rhythm and melody of the song, gives it a playful and catchy quality that has helped it to become a classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, well, I'm sittin' here, la, la
The singer is currently idle and unsure of what to do.
Waiting for my ya ya
The singer is waiting for someone in particular.
Uh huh, uh huh
The singer is affirming their statements with excitement.
It may sound funny
The artist acknowledges the potential humor in their situation.
But I don't believe she's comin'
The artist is doubtful that the person they are waiting for will actually show up.
Baby hurry don't make me worry
The singer is expressing concern and a sense of urgency for the other person to arrive.
You know that I love you
The singer reassures the other person of their affection for them.
Oh, how I love you
The artist emphasizes the depth of their love for the other person.
I'm sittin' here, la, la
The artist is still idle and waiting for the other person.
It may sound funny
The artist repeats their acknowledgement of the potential humor in their situation.
Baby hurry don't make me worry
The singer once again expresses concern for the other person to arrive.
Yeah, baby hurry don't make me worry
The artist repeats their urgent request for the other person to hurry.
You know how I love you
The singer reaffirms their love for the other person.
I'm sittin' here, la, la
The singer repeats their previous statement of being idle and waiting for the other person.
It may sound funny
The singer once again acknowledges the humor in their situation.
Baby hurry don't make me worry
The artist repeats their request for the other person to hurry.
Uh huh
The artist affirms their statement with excitement.
Uh huh, uh huh
The singer repeats their affirmation with even more excitement.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clarence L Lewis, Lee Dorsey, Morris Levy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind