Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
Riot in Cell Block No. 9
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was servin' time for armed robbery
Four o'clock in the mornin', I was layin' back in my cell
I heard the whistle blow then I heard somebody yell
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
The riot started down in cell block number 4
Spread like wild fire across the prison floor
Scar-face Jones said, "It's too late to quit"
Pass the dynamite 'cause the fuse is lit
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
Down in cell block number 9
Y'all gotta stop that stuff goin' on over there
If ya don't stop that riot, y'all gonna get the chair
I said, "Hey now boys, get ready to run
Here come the warden with an automatic gun"
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
Down in cell block number 9
In the forty-seventh hour the tear gas
It got our men
We are all back in our cells
But every now and then
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
There's a riot goin' on
Down in cell block number 9
The Coasters' song "Riot in Cell Block No. 9" is a gritty bluesy track that tells the story of a prison riot that broke out in cell block number 4 at four o'clock in the morning. The song was released in 1954, and like a lot of blues and R&B songs of the time, it was inspired by real-life events. It's a first-person account of a prisoner who hears the sound of the riot from his cell and describes the chaos that ensues.
The song tells a vivid story of the riot that spread "like wild fire" across the prison floor as the prisoners plotted their escape. The lyrics also introduce us to Scar-face Jones, who takes a somewhat ominous role in the story when he insists, "It's too late to quit. Pass the dynamite 'cause the fuse is lit." In the midst of the chaos, the warden arrives with an automatic gun, and the song ends with the tear gas putting a stop to the riot.
Overall, the song is a powerful depiction of the desperation and danger that can drive people to riot. It's a reminder of the harsh realities of life in prison and the volatile dynamics that can emerge between inmates.
Line by Line Meaning
July the second, it was nineteen sixty-three
The song is set in 1963 on July 2nd.
I was servin' time for armed robbery
The singer is in prison for committing armed robbery.
Four o'clock in the mornin', I was layin' back in my cell
At 4am, the singer was resting in their cell.
I heard the whistle blow then I heard somebody yell
They heard a whistle and somebody yelling.
There's a riot goin' on
There is a riot happening in the prison.
Down in cell block number 9
The riot is happening in cell block number 9.
The riot started down in cell block number 4
The riot began in cell block number 4.
Spread like wild fire across the prison floor
The riot quickly spread to other parts of the prison.
Scar-face Jones said, "It's too late to quit"
Scar-face Jones acknowledged that they cannot stop the riot.
Pass the dynamite 'cause the fuse is lit
They are using dynamite to cause further destruction.
Y'all gotta stop that stuff goin' on over there
Someone is urging others to stop the riot.
If ya don't stop that riot, y'all gonna get the chair
If they don't stop the riot, they will be sentenced to death.
I said, "Hey now boys, get ready to run
The singer warns others to get ready to escape.
Here come the warden with an automatic gun"
The warden is coming with a weapon to stop the riot.
In the forty-seventh hour the tear gas
After 47 hours, tear gas was used to subdue the rioters.
It got our men
The tear gas affected the prisoners involved in the riot.
We are all back in our cells
The prisoners are all back in their respective cells after the riot.
But every now and then
Even though the riot is over, there is still tension in the prison.
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.