Sander L Nelson was born on 1 December 1938 in Santa Monica, California. He attended high school with Jan Berry, Dean Torrence (who together became Jan and Dean), and Kim Fowley. After gaining respect as a session drummer, he played on such well-known songs as "To Know Him Is To Love Him" (Phil Spector's Teddy Bears, 1958), "Alley-Oop" (The Hollywood Argyles, 1960), "A Thousand Stars" (Kathy Young and the Innocents, 1960) and more.
Nelson continued to record into the early 1970s.
Tossin' And Turnin'
Sandy Nelson Lyrics
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I couldn't sleep a wink last night just a-thinking of you
Baby things weren't right I kept on tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin' tossin' and turnin' all night
I threw the blankets on the floor, turned my pillow upside down
Then I thought of you some more
And I kept on tossin' and turnin' turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin' all night
Pulled down the shade went to the kitchen for a bite
Pulled up the shade, turned off the light
I jumped back into bed it was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was striking four, couldn't get you off my mind
Heard the milkman at the door but I was tossin' and turnin'
These lyrics depict the struggles of not being able to fall asleep due to someone being on your mind. The repetition of "tossin' and turnin'" emphasizes the restless and tortured nature of the person's actions. The lyrics suggest that this person has tried everything to fall asleep - throwing the blankets on the floor and turning the pillow upside down - but nothing seems to work. Even when they get up to go to the kitchen or adjust the shades, their thoughts still circle around the person they're longing for.
This song taps into a universal human experience - the frustration of not being able to sleep, especially when consumed by thoughts of love or life. The repetition of the phrase "tossin' and turnin'" throughout the song creates an infectious and memorable rhythm that is perfect for a dance floor. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody have made it a beloved classic since its release in 1961.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, can't you see what you're doing to me?
My dear, can't you realize the impact your actions are having on me?
I couldn't sleep a wink last night just a-thinking of you
Last night, I couldn't get any sleep because I couldn't stop thinking of you.
Baby things weren't right I kept on tossin' and turnin'
Dear, things felt off, causing me to keep tossing and turning.
Turnin' and tossin' tossin' and turnin' all night
I was flipping and flopping all night, unable to get any rest.
I threw the blankets on the floor, turned my pillow upside down
I threw the covers off of me and flipped my pillow over, hoping it would help me sleep.
Then I thought of you some more
But then thoughts of you continued to occupy my mind.
And I kept on tossin' and turnin' turnin' and tossin'
And as a result, I continued to toss and turn throughout the night.
Tossin' and turnin' all night
All night long, I was unable to lie still and get any sleep.
Jumped out of bed, turned on the light
Eventually, I got out of bed and turned on the light.
Pulled down the shade went to the kitchen for a bite
I closed the curtains and went to the kitchen to grab a snack.
Pulled up the shade, turned off the light
Afterwards, I opened the curtains and turned off the light.
I jumped back into bed it was the middle of the night
I jumped back into bed, even though it was still the middle of the night.
The clock downstairs was striking four, couldn't get you off my mind
The clock was striking four o'clock, but I still couldn't stop thinking about you.
Heard the milkman at the door but I was tossin' and turnin'
I could hear the milkman at the door, but I was still tossing and turning in bed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dwayne P. Wiggins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind