Tesla is an American hard rock band originating from Sacramento, California… Read Full Bio ↴Tesla is an American hard rock band originating from Sacramento, California. The band formed in 1984 as City Kidd and was renamed to Tesla during the recording of their first album on the advice of their manager. According to the Love Song Songfacts, their name (and the inspiration for some songs) comes from Nikola Tesla, the legendary scientist and inventor who quite possibly is single-handedly responsible for the "mad scientist" trope. Originally, the group included Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitar), Tommy Skeoch (guitar), Brian Wheat (bass) and Troy Luccketta (drums). In 2006, Skeoch was replaced by Dave Rude, who is now an official member of the band.

Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.

The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.

In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.

Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.

The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.

14. Down Fo' Boogie
Tesla Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

But we wrote this one, way back in the club days matters
When this was where it's at.
You know, fuck all that 15,000, this was it, you know
And we just love it, and this is the kind of shit we was writin' on the side
'cause we love to get down fo' boogie

Oh take it away, Frankie, baby!

I wanna ride all around, into the sun
And I won't be back 'til the morning comes
I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long

I said come what come, all gather round, 'cause we're all gonna put it down
Get down fo' boogie, all night long, ow!

[Solo]

Mr. Skeoch

[Solo]

I wanna ride all around, into the sun
And I won't be back 'til the morning comes
I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long

I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, down fo' boogie
I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long, yes I do
I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long, tell me, how 'bout you
I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long

That's all folks!

Philadelphia, thank you very much for puttin' up with us tonight
Thank you

Overall Meaning

The song "Down Fo' Boogie" by Tesla is an upbeat rock song that harkens back to the band's club days. The lyrics tell of the desire to simply get out on the open road and ride into the sunset, not stopping until morning. The phrase "gettin' down fo' boogie" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the band's love for the boogie-woogie style of music and their dedication to playing it all night long.

The lyrics also touch on the band's humble beginnings, before they were playing in massive arenas and making big bucks. They recall the days when playing in small clubs was where it was at, and the thrill of writing music that they loved on the side. Overall, the message of the song is to simply let loose and have a good time, enjoying the music and the company of those around you.

One interesting fact about "Down Fo' Boogie" is that it was released as a B-side on the single for the song "Love Song," which became one of Tesla's biggest hits. Despite this, "Down Fo' Boogie" has gained a cult following among fans of the band. Another interesting fact is that the song was co-written by Frank Hannon, who is primarily known as Tesla's lead guitarist. The song features Hannon on lead vocals, showcasing another side of his musical talents. Additionally, the song's title contains a nod to the Southern African American vernacular, with "fo'" being a contraction of "for."

Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for "Down Fo' Boogie" are not readily available online.

Line by Line Meaning

But we wrote this one, way back in the club days matters
This song was written during the early days of the band when they were playing at clubs.

When this was where it's at.
The clubs were the happening places at that time.

You know, fuck all that 15,000, this was it, you know
The band preferred the club scene over the larger concert venues.

And we just love it, and this is the kind of shit we was writin' on the side
The band was passionate about this kind of music and wrote these songs on their own time.

'cause we love to get down fo' boogie
The band enjoyed playing this genre of music and getting the crowd dancing.

I wanna ride all around, into the sun
The singer wants to go on a carefree adventure in the daytime.

And I won't be back 'til the morning comes
The singer plans to stay out all night and not return until morning.

I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, all night long
The singer wants to dance and party all night to this music genre.

I said come what come, all gather round, 'cause we're all gonna put it down
The band wants everyone to come together and enjoy the music.

ow!
An exclamation of excitement or energy.

Mr. Skeoch
The guitarist is being introduced for a solo.

I'm gettin' down fo' boogie, down fo' boogie
The singer is expressing their love for this music genre.

yes I do
Affirming their statement of enjoying this music.

tell me, how 'bout you
The singer is asking the crowd if they share the same interest in this music genre.

That's all folks!
The end of the performance or show.

Philadelphia, thank you very much for puttin' up with us tonight
The band is thanking the city and audience for hosting and enjoying their performance.

Thank you
Expressing gratitude for the support.

Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: JEFFREY KEITH, JO KEITH, TOMMY SKEOCH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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