Shake Your Tailfeather
The Blues Brothers Lyrics

Well I heard about the fellow you've been dancing with
The singer has heard about the person the addressee has been dancing with.

All over the neighbourhood
The addressee has been dancing with someone in many places around the neighborhood.

So why didn't you ask me baby
The singer is wondering why the addressee didn't ask them to dance.

Or didn't you think I could?
The artist is questioning whether the addressee didn't ask them to dance because they didn't think the artist would be a good dancer.

Well I know that the boogaloo is out of sight
The artist is aware that the dance move called the boogaloo is not as popular or common anymore.

But the shingaling's the thing tonight
The singer believes that the dance move called the shingaling is the popular dance move to do tonight.

But if that was you and me a now baby
The singer is imagining that they were dancing with the addressee at this moment.

I would have shown you how to do it right
The artist thinks that they would be able to teach the addressee how to dance the right way.

Do it right (U-huh)
The artist is affirming that the correct way to dance is important.

Do it right (Do it right)
The artist is repeating that it is important to dance correctly.

Dot it right
The singer appears to have made an error in the lyrics, it is likely meant to be 'Do it right.'

Twistin', shake it shake it shake it shake it baby
The artist is encouraging the addressee to dance the Twist and shake their body.

Hey we gonna loop de loop
The singer is expressing excitement about dancing the loop de loop move.

Shake it out baby
The singer is encouraging the addressee to keep dancing and shaking their body.

Hey we gonna loop de la
The singer is again expressing excitement about dancing, this time using the phrase 'loop de la'.

Bend over let me see ya shake your tailfeather
The artist is asking the addressee to bend over and show off their dancing skills.

Come on let me see ya shake your tailfeather
The artist is encouraging the addressee to keep dancing and showing off their skills.

Aaah
The singer seems to be expressing excitement or enthusiasm.

Come on, come on baby
The singer is urging the addressee to keep dancing and encouraging them.

Come on, yeah, come on babe, alright
The artist continues to urge the addressee to keep dancing and expressing enthusiasm.

Do the twist
The artist is suggesting that the addressee dance the Twist.

Do the fly
The artist is suggesting that the addressee dance the Fly.

Do the swim
The singer is suggesting that the addressee dance the Swim.

And do the bird
The artist is suggesting that the addressee dance the Bird.

Well do the duck
The singer is suggesting that the addressee dance the Duck.

Aaah, and do the monkey
The singer is suggesting that the addressee dance the Monkey.

Hey hey, watusi
The singer is suggesting that the addressee dance the Watusi.

And a what about the food
The artist seems to have made an error in the lyrics, it is not clear what this phrase means in this context.

Do the mashed potato
The artist is suggesting that the addressee dance the Mashed Potato.

What about the boogaloo
The singer is asking a rhetorical question about whether the addressee should dance the Boogaloo.

Oh, the bony marony
The singer is suggesting that the addressee dance the Bony Marony.

Come on let's do the twist
The artist is encouraging the addressee to dance the Twist with them.