The Bobs have broken with a cappella tradition several times by including instruments. The majority of the 1995 album Plugged is backed by toy drums. Plugged also made heavy use of studio equipment to make the voices sound more like guitars and bass guitars. Coaster includes a rock rhythm section on one song. But this original "band without instruments" usually uses just their mouths, hands, feet and "other body parts" to fill a room with a sound as big as an orchestra.
Members of the group are always credited with "Bob" as their middle name. The name is often described as an acronym for "Best of Breed," an award given out at dog shows.
The group has garnered a healthy cult following in the U.S. and Europe in the 24 years they've been touring and recording, and has won numerous songwriting and vocal performance honors.
Helter Skelter
The Bobs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.
Do, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me, tell me, tell me, come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter.
Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
Look out
Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter.
Look out 'cause here she comes.
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.
Well do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
Look out
Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter.
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast.
Yes she is.
Yes she is
(I've got blisters on my fingers)
The Bobs's song "Helter Skelter" is a fast-paced, high-energy, and somewhat chaotic tune. The lyrics depict a person going down a slide, reaching the bottom, and then going back up to the top to do it all over again. This cycle repeats until they see “you” again. Who “you” is remains unclear, but the desire to return to them implies a longing for a connection that is being sought through this action.
The chorus of “Helter Skelter” suggests that the person singing, who may or may not be the same person from the verse, is coming down fast and rapidly approaching. They ask if the listener wants them to love them, but also claim to be miles above them. The lines “you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer” seems to suggest that the object of the singer's affection may be physically desirable, but lacking in other qualities.
The refrain of “Helter Skelter” is repeated over and over, almost as if the singer is losing control and spiraling out of control. The final line of the song, “I’ve got blisters on my fingers,” reinforces the sense that the singer is pushing themselves to the limit physically and emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Despite reaching the bottom, I climb up again for another round.
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
As I slide down, I turn and enjoy the ride in anticipation of what's next.
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.
I continue sliding until I reach the bottom to meet you again.
Do, don't you want me to love you
I'm asking if you reciprocate my love or not.
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Although I'm descending quickly, I still feel superior to you.
Tell me, tell me, tell me, come on tell me the answer
I implore you to reveal your feelings by answering my question directly.
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.
You might love me back but you don't move quite like a dancer does.
Helter skelter, helter skelter
A chaotic situation with things moving unpredictably.
Will you, won't you want me to make you
I wonder if you'd like me to take control, to make decisions for us.
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
I'm descending quickly, but I don't want to hurt or damage you.
Look out
This is an alarm that something unexpected and dangerous is about to happen.
Look out 'cause here she comes.
Be aware and prepared because she is charging towards us.
Well do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm asking again if you want me to love you, and trying to get a clear answer.
Look out helter skelter
Another warning of chaos and disorder ahead.
She's coming down fast.
She's descending rapidly towards us.
Yes she is.
This is a confirmation of what was just said, emphasizing the imminent danger.
(I've got blisters on my fingers)
This line is a nod to the Beatles' original recording of Helter Skelter and highlights the intense, frenzied energy of the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind