Shake
Small Faces Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Listen while I'm talking to you
I tell you what we're going to do
There's a new thing goin' around
And I'll tell you what it's puttin' down
Move your body all around

And do, shake
Early in the morning

Shake
I said, later in the evening
Shake
I'm long gone baby, now
Shake

Shakin' like a bowl of soup
Legs go loop the loop
Put you hand upon your hip, now
Come on, and let your back bone slip, yeah
Move your body like your hip

Now, do, shake
Early in the morning
Shake
I said, later in the evening
Shake
That's the way you do it, now
Shake, come on

Ding a ling a ling
Oh baby, shakin' is the latest thing
You wanna really roll
You got to do this thing with soul

If you wanna really roll
You gotta do this thing with soul
Shake it, shake with all your mind, yeah
If you do it, do it right, now
Make you body loose

And do, shake
Early in the morning
Shake
I said, later in the evening
Shake
I'm long gone baby now
Shake

If you wanna really roll
You gotta do this thing with soul
Shake it, shake with all your mind
If you do it, do it right, now
Make you body loose

And do, shake
Early in the morning
Shake
I said, later in the evening
Shake
I'm long gone baby, now
Shake, oh yeah

All right
Early in the morning
Later on the evening

I says, come on children
You gotta get on the sea with me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Small Faces's song, Shake, are all about dancing and letting loose. The song encourages listeners to move their bodies and "shake" to the beat. The lyrics suggest that this style of dance is a new trend that is catching on, and the song is inviting people to join in on the fun. The verses also provide instructions for how to perform the dance, with particular attention paid to shaking one's hips and letting their backbone "slip."

The chorus repeats the phrase "shake" several times, emphasizing the central theme of the song. The lyrics also suggest that shaking is the latest "thing," with "ding a ling a ling" sound effects driving home the idea that this style of dance is both new and exciting.

Overall, the lyrics are light and fun, intended to get listeners up and moving. The song is an upbeat, energetic tune that captures the essence of carefree youth and invites people to let loose and dance their worries away.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen while I'm talking to you
Pay attention to what I'm saying

I tell you what we're going to do
I'll inform you of our plan

There's a new thing goin' around
This is a new trend or fad

And I'll tell you what it's puttin' down
I'll explain what it's about

Move your body all around
Dance and move your body

Shakin' like a bowl of soup
Shake so much that it's like a bowl of soup

Legs go loop the loop
Your legs will move and twist around

Put you hand upon your hip, now
Place your hand on your hip

Come on, and let your back bone slip, yeah
Relax and let your spine move

Move your body like your hip
Dance and move your body with rhythm

Ding a ling a ling
Onomatopoeia to describe a sound or ringing

Oh baby, shakin' is the latest thing
Shaking is the new and popular trend

You wanna really roll
You want to dance and have fun

You got to do this thing with soul
Do it passionately and wholeheartedly

If you wanna really roll
If you really want to have fun

Shake it, shake with all your mind, yeah
Shake your body with your full attention

If you do it, do it right, now
If you're going to dance, do it properly

Make you body loose
Relax and let your body move easily

I'm long gone baby now
I'm leaving or moving on now

I says, come on children
I say, let's go

You gotta get on the sea with me
You need to come with me and join in the fun

All right
Okay, let's do this

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

By late 1967 Read Full BioSmall Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.

The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.

The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.

There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.

The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php

Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php

In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php