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
Knock Yourself Out
The Fabulous Thunderbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't have to pay, you got it for free
24 hours ain't enough of you
When you thrill me girl like you do
Go on and knock yourself out
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
It;s a thunder love
It's a mighty love
It's a real, real, real, real mighty love
Go on and knock yourself out
Five long years I waited for this
Heaven on earth and all the bliss
Once upon a time when I was a wreck
I measured 12 on the misery index
Go on and knock yourself out
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
Girl with me
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Knock yourself out
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Knock yourself out
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Knock yourself out
You don't have to believe it may not come
All you got to do is ask for some
It's a real love
It's a mighty love
It's a real, real, real, real mighty love
Go on and knock yourself out
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
Girl with me
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Knock yourself out
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
Girl with me
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Baby now
The lyrics to "Knock Yourself Out" by The Fabulous Thunderbirds suggest a passionate love affair that is irresistible and all-consuming. The singer acknowledges how much he is enamored by this person, saying that 24 hours a day are not enough for them. He suggests that his love is so intense that whoever is interested in him should indulge themselves entirely, without holding back or hesitation. The chorus of the song, "go ahead and knock yourself out," implies that whoever wants to be with the singer should do so with abandon and without reserve. The bridge of the song provides an image of someone who has been through a lot and has found true happiness in a loving relationship: "Five long years I waited for this/ Heaven on earth and all the bliss/ Once upon a time when I was a wreck/ I measured 12 on the misery index." Overall, the song expresses the idea that sometimes love comes and takes over our whole lives, making us feel like we could do anything or give everything for the person we love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wanna pay attention to me
If you want to give me your undivided attention
You don't have to pay, you got it for free
You don't need to pay any money for my attention because it’s free
24 hours ain't enough of you
I can never get enough of you, even if we spent 24 hours together
When you thrill me girl like you do
When you excite me in the way that you do, girl
Go on and knock yourself out
Go ahead and give it your all
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
Keep going, don’t stop, let's keep having a good time together
It's a thunder love
It’s a passionate or intense kind of love, like thunder
It's a mighty love
It’s a powerful or strong love
It's a real, real, real, real mighty love
It’s a true, honest, and extremely powerful love
Five long years I waited for this
I have been waiting for this moment for five whole years
Heaven on earth and all the bliss
It’s like being in heaven and experiencing pure happiness
Once upon a time when I was a wreck
There was a time where I was in a bad place mentally
I measured 12 on the misery index
I was extremely unhappy, a 12 out of the maximum score on the misery index
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Sweet talk to me, baby, make me feel good
You don't have to believe it may not come
You just need to ask for what you want, even if you’re unsure if you’ll get it
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Have fun, go wild, give it your all
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Sweet talk to me again, baby
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Make me feel good again, baby
Go ahead and knock yourself out
Keep having fun and enjoying yourself
Don't stop knock yourself out girl with me
Keep going, don’t stop, we’re having a great time together
Baby bring me sugar, bring me sugar to me
Sweet talk to me one more time, baby
Contributed by Levi A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gloria Lindquist
LOVE the Fabulous Thunderbirds!!!
rodolfo Punsal
I love the tempo,the beat
AmericanIsraeliJew
These guys have such fantastic taste in women and the music is just as good. These are my favorite group of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Jacob Martin
This was probably their weakest album with Jimmie Vaughan (not that that means it's bad because the first several were just SO incredibly good) but this will always be one of their best songs.
The other members were great talents of course, but after Jimmie left they just weren't the thunderbirds anymore.
CarlLikes
Best song I ever heard from them.
Ray Segura
The fab t birds were fab, my favorite is when they were on santana,s Havana moon album carlos and Jimmy trading off on solos and the harmonica solo, hell the whole band kicked it with carlos santana great stuff on an overlooked classic album it even has Willie Nelson on a great song also booker t on vocals and organ
free_hugs_4011
Fabulous Thunderbirds :)
Black Prince
Great stuff!
Jimi Sooooooooooooooo Coooooooooooool.
Mike Dotson
😂
damefaso
What happened to this band? It had cool songs