The Dandy Warhols are strongly influenced by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Velvet Underground, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, The Shadows and The Rolling Stones. They also include implicit musical references to My Bloody Valentine in some songs. Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor describes the band's beginning as a group of friends who "needed music to drink to".
Twist
The Dandy Warhols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you see my rooster will you ask him to stay
Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day
Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day
woohoo hoo
Well now if you see my sister, drive her away
Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day
Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day
woohoo hoo
Whoa ya now if if if if....
if you see my sister will you ask her to stay?
Now if you see my my my....
if you see my sister ask her if you .....
dosey do, dum dum ditty do
dosey do, dum dum ditty do
dum dum day
oh oh oh
The lyrics to The Dandy Warhol's song "Twist" have an abstract and ambiguous meaning. It's hard to decipher the overall message of the song, and the lyrics could mean different things to different people. The opening lines of the song - "If you see my rooster will you ask him to stay"- seems to be about someone longing for their pet rooster. However, in the following lines, the tone of the lyrics changes. "Well now if you see my sister, drive her away/ If you see my sister won't you drive her away" - expresses the singer's desire to get rid of his sister. It's unclear why he wants her to leave, but it may suggest an unresolved sibling rivalry or jealousy.
Later in the song, the song writer seems to be unsure of what he wants. The lines, "if you see my sister will you ask her to stay?" and "if you see my sister ask her if you... dosey do, dum dum ditty do dosey do, dum dum ditty do dum dum day" are ambiguous and seem to express conflicting emotions. Some listeners interpret the song to be about the singer's internal struggle between love and hate for his sister.
This song is known for its catchy and upbeat melody, despite the dark subject matter of the lyrics. It's been featured in popular films such as Marie Antoinette (2006), RocknRolla (2008), and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010).
Line by Line Meaning
If you see my rooster will you ask him to stay
The singer is requesting the listener to notify him of the whereabouts of his pet rooster and ensure that the rooster remains where it is.
Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day
This phrase is used as a meaningless filler, and might also be used to fill space in a melody.
Well now if you see my sister, drive her away
The singer doesn't want to see his sister around and is asking the listener to keep her away if they happen to come across her.
Whoa ya now if if if if.... if you see my sister will you ask her to stay?
The artist is contradicting his previous statement and now wants his sister to stay if the listener happens to come across her. The repetition of 'if' suggests uncertainty.
Now if you see my my my.... if you see my sister ask her if you .....
The artist is stumbling over their words and indicating uncertainty about what they want to say. They want the listener to ask the sister something, but aren't clear on what exactly that might be.
dosey do, dum dum ditty do
This phrase is used as filler in a playful, sing-song manner.
dum dum day
This phrase is used as a meaningless filler, similar to 'Dum ditty dum dum ditty dum day'.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TwoPointsUp
Best of the Beast of the Best :}
GayleMI
Some Rudy Martinez organ chords in there.
EverydaySkinnyGuy
dum ditty dum dum dum dum