Their style has mixed Texas blues with the harmonica-laced swamp blues sounds of the likes of Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester, both of whom the T-Birds have covered. Their third album, 1981's 'Butt Rockin'', took the band closer to classic rhythm and blues while featuring added piano and brass section sounds played by additional musicians. The band broke into the mainstream in 1986 with their album 'Tuff Enuff'. The single of the same name was featured in the Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster film 'Tough Guys' alongside their follow-up single, which they titled "Wrap It Up". A lively, powerful tune, "Tuff Enuff" has been played frequently over the years on many rock n roll stations. The band's music was also played in John Cusack's 1987 movie 'Hot Pursuit'.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' next album, titled 'Hot Number', fell off the charts quickly and alienated many of the bands' long-time fans due to its slick, pop-oriented sound. The band then began a long series of line-up changes and obscure, yet somewhat improved, albums throughout the 90s. Drummer Mike Buck left the band in 1980, and guitarist Jimmie Vaughan left in 1990. More recently, the group has had line-up made up of original member Kim Wilson alongside guitarist/vocals Nick Curran, guitarist Kirk Flecther, Jimi Bott on drums, Ronnie James Weber on bass, and former Canned Heat member Gene Taylor on keyboards.
The official T-Birds website is at http://www.fabulousthunderbirds.com/
Alumni of the T-birds include:
Duke Robillard Fran Cristina Gene Taylor Jimi Bott Keith Ferguson Kid Bangham Kirk Fletcher Mike Buck Preston Hubbard Richard Innes Ronnie James Weber Steve Hodges Willie Campbell Kid Ramos Jimmie Vaughan Nick Curran Troy Gon
Can't Stop Rockin'
The Fabulous Thunderbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don′t even wanna try
Stuck like glue to that rock 'n' roll
Until the day I die
I can′t stop rockin′
I can't stop rockin′
I can't stop rockin′
Under a veil of darkness
Everybody runnin' wild
I′m just lookin′ to stumble upon
A sweet little angel child
Walk over to my favorite spot
And much to my surprise
Soon as I set foot through the door
I'm face to face with two big brown eyes
And we get to rockin′
Ain't no stoppin′
Keep on rockin'
I got to keep on rockin′ till the job is done
Well, when I turn old and grey
I won't need to take the welfare
Just walk me to the front porch, baby
And sit me in my rockin' chair
And I′ll get to rockin′
No, there ain't no stoppin′
I got to keep on rockin' and rollin′ to save my soul
I got the rocket
It's in my pocket
Gotta keep on rockin′, keep on rockin'
Till I'm outta control
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' song "Can't Stop Rockin'" is an upbeat rock and roll anthem that embraces the love and dedication that fans have for the genre. The opening lines "I can't stop rockin' to save my soul, I don't even wanna try" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is so enthralled by rock and roll that they cannot imagine ever stopping. The repeated chorus of "I can't stop rockin', I'm gonna keep on rockin' till I'm outta control" drives home this point, emphasizing the singer's unwavering commitment to the music.
The second verse describes the excitement and wildness of rock and roll culture. Under a veil of darkness, everyone is running wild, but the singer is simply searching for a sweet little angel child to share the experience with. He finds such a person ("two big brown eyes") in his favorite spot and they begin rocking together, unable to be stopped. The final verse shows the singer looking to the future, unafraid of growing old as long as he can keep rocking. Even in his old age, he plans to never stop, stating "I got the rocket, it's in my pocket, gotta keep on rockin' till I'm outta control."
Overall, "Can't Stop Rockin'" celebrates the power and allure of rock and roll. The singer views the music as a way of life, and their dedication to it is unwavering. The song's infectious energy and driving beat further emphasize the message that once you start rockin', it's hard to ever stop.
Line by Line Meaning
I can′t stop rockin' to save my soul
I am so passionate about rock and roll that I cannot resist its lure even if my life depended on it
I don′t even wanna try
I do not have any inclination to stop listening to rock and roll
Stuck like glue to that rock 'n' roll
I am so attached to rock and roll like glue that I cannot get away from it
Until the day I die
I plan on listening to rock and roll forever, without any end in sight
Under a veil of darkness
In the cover of darkness
Everybody runnin' wild
Everyone is letting loose and going crazy
I′m just lookin′ to stumble upon
All I am trying to do is unexpectedly find
A sweet little angel child
An innocent and pure person
Walk over to my favorite spot
Go to my preferred location
And much to my surprise
I am astonished to see
Soon as I set foot through the door
Right after entering the room
I'm face to face with two big brown eyes
I find myself looking directly at someone's eyes
And we get to rockin′
We start dancing to rock and roll with enthusiasm
Ain't no stoppin′
We are unstoppable and will not pause our activities
Keep on rockin'
Continue to dance to rock and roll
I got to keep on rockin′ till the job is done
I need to continue to listen to rock and roll until my objective is fulfilled
Well, when I turn old and grey
When I become old and have grey hair
I won't need to take the welfare
I will not require financial assistance in my old age
Just walk me to the front porch, baby
Simply escort me to the veranda, darling
And sit me in my rockin' chair
Allow me to sit and relax in my rocking chair
No, there ain't no stoppin′
Nothing can prevent me from listening to rock and roll
I got to keep on rockin' and rollin′ to save my soul
I must continue to enjoy rock and roll to preserve my happiness and well-being
I got the rocket
I possess the ability to engage with rock and roll like a rocket, with extreme speed and force
It's in my pocket
I have easy access to my love of rock and roll, like I would a small item in my pocket
Gotta keep on rockin′, keep on rockin'
Need to persistently dance and love rock and roll
Till I'm outta control
Until I completely lose myself in the beauty of rock and roll
Writer(s): Kim Wilson
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mwclark7
This can rock on for ages, wouldn't hurt my feelin's at all. Great stuff!!!
Michael Reid
beautiful example of first position harp playing love Kim man!
Róbert Svoboda
This is some of the most precise first position playing I've ever heard.Kim Wilson is just great!
Alejandro Sosa
Wow. Just wow. This is insanely good. Probably my favorite line-up, with Duke and Doug on guitar - they complimented each other perfectly. Thanks for posting this!
Shannon Barlow
So I can't start the day without this mesmerizing music...thanks Thunderbirds...
koolharp
hey thanks Kurtis .... I thought it was played on a D harp .... and I almost got all the notes out of it .... even the low end .... but thought maybe he played cross harp on a LOW D .... now I'll have to try it on the A harp in 1st pos
Pamela Hayes
What a great band,one of the best Kim has ever put together.
magan
It's tough to get 2 guitars to play this well together.
Sherri Owens
I’m telling you these guys know how to keep the party going.,my kind of band
Bobby Knight
Damn, I was expecting this to be a ZZ-Top cover of their song.