Twist and Shout
Salt 'N' Pepa Lyrics


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Yo Salt your mic



Yo Pepa your mic


Yo Spin you hype



We're def you're right



The bass shakin' dancin' all night



Booties shakin' from left to right



Salt and Pepa rockin' the mic



So that you might







Shake it up baby now (Shake it up baby)



You gotta twist and shout (Twist and shout)



c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon baby now (Come on baby)



Go ahead and work it on out (Work it on out)



Oooo, work it on out now, baby (Work it on out now)



You know you look so good (Look so good)



You really got me going now, boy (Got me going)



Just like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)







Oooo, hey baby, listen, I think they're playin' our song



What up? You gonna get up? Well shut up and come on



I want to feel your body close to me, lovin' and holdin' me



Tight like a vice grip squeezin' all over me



Yeah, that's the way, hey, don't get carried away



The other boy, do what the record say







And shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



You make me twist and shout (Twist and shout)



c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby, now (Come on, baby)



Work it, work it on out (Work it on out)



Work that bootie on out now, baby, ha (Work it on out now)



You know you look so good (Look so good)



You really got me going now (Got me going)



Just like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)







Yeah, gimme gimme gimme all you got boyfriend, you should be enjoyin'



A sexy girl might ease that antedote to poison



Boys in the jam ask me to dance, but I say no chance



I want a man who's advanced in the art of dance



So when we get on a floor, he can take me on a tour



And we can do it till the fluid or sweat starts to pour



Down like the rain and the thunderstorm hard and strong



Boy, come on, don't wait too long







You better shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Twist and shout (Twist and shout)



c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby, now (Come on, baby)



Go ahead, and work it on out (Work it on out)



Yeah, work it on out now, boyfriend (Work it on out now)



You know you look so good (Look so good)



You really got me going now with that stuff (Got me going)



Like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)







Oooo, (Ah) get higher, baby



(Ah) Higher, baby



(Ah) Oooo, get higher, baby



(Ow) Yeah, now break it down







One good twist deserves a better one, a deffer one



We're Salt and Pepa, together we'll have lots of fun



Do it again, babe, for the hit parade



'cause Spinderella does a hell of a job keepin' the record playin'



Shout like ya just sold your soul to rock 'n roll



You lost control, go hit the floor







And shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Come on, twist and shout (Twist and shout)



Go 'head, go 'head, go 'head, go 'head, baby, now (Come on, baby)



Go ahead, and work it on out (Work it on out)



Oooo, work it on out now, baby (Work it on out now)



You know you look so good (Look so good)



You really got me going now, boy (Got me going)



Just like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)







Shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Come on, shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Sh-sh-sh-sh-shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Shake, shake, shake, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)



Why don't you shake it up, baby, now? (Shake it up, baby)



Shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)







(Ad lib / fade)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Twist and Shout" by Salt 'N' Pepa are an energetic and playful invitation to dance and let loose. The song expresses the joy and excitement of being on the dance floor, with Salt, Pepa, and Spin hyping up the crowd. The lyrics encourage the listeners to shake their bodies, twist, and shout, creating a lively and infectious atmosphere.


Salt 'N' Pepa emphasize the physicality of dancing, mentioning booties shaking from left to right and wanting to feel bodies close together. The lyrics also speak to the anticipation and attraction between two people, with references to looking good and getting each other going. It's a celebration of the power of music and dance to create a connection and shared experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo Salt your mic
Hey Salt, it's your turn to use the microphone


Yo Pepa your mic
Hey Pepa, it's your turn to use the microphone


Yo Spin you hype
Hey Spin, you're energetic and enthusiastic


We're def you're right
We're confident and skilled, and you agree


The bass shakin' dancin' all night
The bass is causing vibrations, making us dance all night


Booties shakin' from left to right
Our butts are moving vigorously from side to side


Salt and Pepa rockin' the mic
Salt and Pepa are delivering a great performance on the microphone


So that you might
In order for you to enjoy and have a good time


Shake it up baby now (Shake it up baby)
Move your body energetically and enthusiastically


You gotta twist and shout (Twist and shout)
You need to dance and express yourself with excitement


c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon baby now (Come on baby)
Come on, don't hesitate, let's do it now


Go ahead and work it on out (Work it on out)
Put effort into your dancing and let it out


Oooo, work it on out now baby (Work it on out now)
Keep dancing fervently and passionately


You know you look so good (Look so good)
You look incredibly attractive


You really got me going now boy (Got me going)
You're exciting and stimulating me


Just like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)
Just as I expected, you're impressing me


Oooo, hey baby, listen, I think they're playin' our song
Hey baby, pay attention, I think they're playing the song that has special meaning to us


What up? You gonna get up? Well shut up and come on
What's going on? Are you going to join us? Well, stop talking and come along


I want to feel your body close to me, lovin' and holdin' me
I desire to have physical intimacy with you, feeling your love and embrace


Tight like a vice grip squeezin' all over me
Holding me tightly and strongly like a vice grip


Yeah, that's the way, hey, don't get carried away
Yes, that's the right approach, don't get too carried away


The other boy, do what the record say
The other guy, follow the rhythm and instructions of the record


You make me twist and shout (Twist and shout)
You're making me dance and scream with excitement


Work it, work it on out (Work it on out)
Put effort into your dancing and unleash it


Work that bootie on out now, baby, ha (Work it on out now)
Dance with your buttocks emphasized and highlighted, baby, ha


Yeah, gimme gimme gimme all you got boyfriend, you should be enjoyin'
Yeah, give me everything you have, boyfriend, you should be enjoying yourself


A sexy girl might ease that antedote to poison
A seductive girl could relieve you from your troubles


Boys in the jam ask me to dance, but I say no chance
Guys at the gathering ask me to dance, but I refuse without a doubt


I want a man who's advanced in the art of dance
I desire a man who is skilled and knowledgeable in dancing


So when we get on a floor, he can take me on a tour
So when we're on the dance floor, he can lead me through various dance moves


And we can do it till the fluid or sweat starts to pour
And we can keep dancing until the perspiration starts flowing


Down like the rain and the thunderstorm hard and strong
Flowing down like heavy rain and strong thunderstorm


Boy, come on, don't wait too long
Boy, come on, don't hesitate for too long


Twist and shout (Twist and shout)
Dance passionately and scream with excitement


Yeah, work it on out now, boyfriend (Work it on out now)
Yeah, keep dancing energetically now, boyfriend


Like I knew you would (Like I knew you would)
Just as I expected, you're dancing impressively


Oooo, (Ah) get higher, baby
Oooo, (Ah) rise to new levels of energy, baby


(Ah) Higher, baby
Higher, baby


(Ah) Oooo, get higher, baby
(Ah) Oooo, increase your energy and excitement, baby


(Ow) Yeah, now break it down
(Ow) Yeah, now break it down


One good twist deserves a better one, a deffer one
After a good dance move, it's fitting to perform an even better and more impressive one


We're Salt and Pepa, together we'll have lots of fun
We're Salt and Pepa, and when we perform together, we'll have a great time


Do it again, babe, for the hit parade
Let's repeat the performance, babe, for the popular record chart


'cause Spinderella does a hell of a job keepin' the record playin'
Because Spinderella does an excellent job of keeping the record playing smoothly


Shout like ya just sold your soul to rock 'n roll
Scream as if you just dedicated your entire being to rock 'n roll


You lost control, go hit the floor
You've lost control, now go and dance fervently on the floor


Shake, shake, shake, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)
Move your body vigorously, baby, now


Why don't you shake it up, baby, now? (Shake it up, baby)
Why don't you start dancing energetically now, baby?


Shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)
Vigorously shake your body, baby, now


(Ad lib / fade)
(Ad lib / fade)




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Russell, Phil Medley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@KinToNatTuner

They look like they had a lot of fun making this video!

@briandanielgoth1718

they always have fun.

@lizcarroll1335

It's in the lyrics "We're Salt N Pepa, together we have lots of fun"

@SocialCabinRBLX

Only 3.4 million views?! It's so sad that a lot of people don't know about this song, I mean sh*t; I was born in 2003 and not only do I know but also listen to this legendary classic to this day...

@waynenunn6387

Best female rap group in history

@slobomotion

I like them best for that, too.

@Kev80ification

Fact! !!!!!

@user-pt2mz1vr9s

No! Bangles first!

@kristyrobinson1979

Жека Жека bangles aren’t a rap group?

@joesickler5888

Name 3 other female rap groups?

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