The Big Beat
Sam Lyrics


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The big beat keeps you rockin' in your seat
The big beat keeps you rockin' in your sleep
Clap your hands and stomp your feet
You've got to move when you hear that beat
The big beat keeps you rockin' in your seat

Old Grandpa just made eighty years old
Man, he's crazy about that rock and roll
The big beat gets in your soul
Makes you jump, it makes you roll
Old Grandpa just made eighty years old

Peg Leg Joe threw his crutch away
The big beat makes you act this way
Come on gang, let's swing and sway




The big beat makes you act this way
Peg Leg Joe threw his crutch away

Overall Meaning

"The Big Beat" by Sam Cooke is a fun and upbeat song that captures the spirit of rock and roll music. The lyrics center around the power of the beat, with the refrain repeating the line "The big beat keeps you rockin' in your seat". The verses then go on to provide examples of how the beat can inspire people, from Old Grandpa who at eighty years old is still crazy about rock and roll, to Peg Leg Joe who throws his crutch away and dances to the beat. The song encourages listeners to clap their hands and stomp their feet, and overall creates a sense of excitement and energy.


The lyrics are a celebration of the influence of rock and roll music, which was a powerful force in American culture in the 1950s and 1960s. The "big beat" refers to the driving rhythm of the music, which was characterized by heavy use of the bass and drums. This rhythm was often controversial, as many people saw it as too loud and unruly. However, the lyrics of "The Big Beat" suggest that the beat is something to be embraced and enjoyed, as it has the power to move people and inspire them to dance.


Overall, "The Big Beat" is a fun and lighthearted song that captures the appeal of rock and roll music. The lyrics celebrate the power of the beat and encourage listeners to let loose and dance along.


Line by Line Meaning

The big beat keeps you rockin' in your seat
The strong and rhythmic beat of the music ensures that you are constantly enjoying yourself when sitting and listening to it.


The big beat keeps you rockin' in your sleep
The powerful beat of the music is so captivating that you continue to bop and move even when you're sleeping.


Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Express your enthusiasm for the music by clapping and stomping your feet to the rhythmic beat.


You've got to move when you hear that beat
When you hear that powerful beat of the music you can't just sit still, you have to move to it and dance along.


Old Grandpa just made eighty years old
An elderly man just hit eighty years old.


Man, he's crazy about that rock and roll
Despite his age, he really enjoys rock and roll music and is passionate about it.


The big beat gets in your soul
The powerful and captivating beat of the music gets inside of you and becomes a significant part of who you are.


Makes you jump, it makes you roll
The music is so compelling that it makes you jump and move around to its rhythm.


Peg Leg Joe threw his crutch away
A man named Peg Leg Joe was able to throw away his crutch due to how inspired and invigorated he felt by the music.


The big beat makes you act this way
The strength of the beat of the music naturally influences your behaviour and makes you become more lively and animated.


Come on gang, let's swing and sway
Let's have some fun as a group and move to the rhythm of the music together.


The big beat makes you act this way
Once again, the impressive and powerful beat of the music has the ability to directly affect the way we behave and interact with it.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVE BARTHOLOMEW, ANTOINE DOMINO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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