<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.
The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.
The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.
Dipsy Doodle
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Dipsy Doodle will get in your hair
And if it gets you, it couldn't be worse
The things you say will come out in reverse
Like "You love I and me love you"
That's the way the Dipsy Doodle works
The Dipsy Doodle's easy to find
You never know it, until it's too late
And then you're in such a terrible state
Like "The moon jumped over the cow, hey diddle"
That's the way the Dipsy Doodle works
Whenever you think you're crazy
You're just a victim of the Dipsy Doodle
Ah, but it's not your mind that's hazy
It's your tongue that's at fault, not your noodle
You better listen and try to be good
And try to do all the things that you should
The Dipsy Doodle will get you some day
You'll think you're crazy, the things that you'll say
Like "Rhythm got I and hot am I"
That's the way the Dipsy Doodle works
If it gets you, you'll be singin' it
And we'll bet you, you'll be swingin' it
The Dipsy Doodle's the thing to beware
The Dipsy Doodle will get in your hair
And if it gets you, it couldn't be worse
Ev'rything you say will come out in reverse
"You love I and me love you"
That is just the way the Dipsy Doodle works
Whenever you think you're crazy
You're the victim of the Dipsy Doodle
But it's not your mind that's hazy
It's your tongue that's at fault, not your noodle
You better listen and try to be good
And try to do all the things that you should
The dipsy doodle will get you some day
And you'll think you're crazy, the things you'll say
"Violets are red, roses are blue"
Roses, roses, roses, all around you
You'll never know it until too late
And then you're in such a terrible state
If you wanna do the Doodle, do the Dipsy Doodle
Doo, doo, doo, do the Dipsy Doodle
Doo, doo, doo, do the Dipsy Doodle
Doo, doo, doo, do the Dipsy Doodle
Do the Dipsy Doodle now
The Golden Gate Quartet's song "Dipsy Doodle" is a playful warning about a fun and addictive dance called the Dipsy Doodle. The lyrics suggest that once the Dipsy Doodle gets you, you will start to say things in reverse or jumbled up, like "You love I and me love you." The song encourages listeners to be cautious because the Dipsy Doodle is always in the back of your mind, and once you start singing it, you won't be able to stop.
The lyrics also acknowledge that sometimes people think they're crazy after indulging in the Dipsy Doodle, but it's not their mind that's hazy, it's their tongue that's at fault, not their noodle. The song suggests that the key to avoiding the Dipsy Doodle is to try to do all the things you should, listen, and be good.
The song is a lighthearted tribute to the big band era, where everyone wanted to do the latest dance craze. The Dipsy Doodle was a popular dance during that time, and this song was one way of promoting it.
Line by Line Meaning
The Dipsy Doodle's the thing to beware
Be cautious of the Dipsy Doodle
The Dipsy Doodle will get in your hair
It will consume and overwhelm you
And if it gets you, it couldn't be worse
If you succumb, it will be disastrous
The things you say will come out in reverse
Your words will be jumbled and nonsensical
Like "You love I and me love you"
An example of how the Dipsy Doodle affects speech
That's the way the Dipsy Doodle works
This is how the phenomenon operates
The Dipsy Doodle's easy to find
It's always present in the back of your mind
You know it's always in back of your mind
You're aware of its presence, but it's the subconscious mind
You never know it, until it's too late
You only realize it when it has taken over you
And then you're in such a terrible state
You'll be in a sorry condition
Like "The moon jumped over the cow, hey diddle"
An example of how the Dipsy Doodle affects speech
Whenever you think you're crazy
You attribute your state of confusion to insanity
You're just a victim of the Dipsy Doodle
It is the cause, not your mind
Ah, but it's not your mind that's hazy
Your mind is fine, but it's your tongue that's at fault
It's your tongue that's at fault, not your noodle
The disorder originates from the tongue
You better listen and try to be good
Be cautious and act sensibly
And try to do all the things that you should
Fulfill your obligations
The Dipsy Doodle will get you some day
It will affect you at some point
You'll think you're crazy, the things that you'll say
You'll believe that you're insane because of what you articulate
Like "Rhythm got I and hot am I"
An example of how the Dipsy Doodle affects speech
If it gets you, you'll be singin' it
The effect persists and you'll sing about it
And we'll bet you, you'll be swingin' it
The rhythm of the song will get you moving
Whenever you think you're crazy
You attribute your state of confusion to insanity
You're the victim of the Dipsy Doodle
It is the cause, not your mind
But it's not your mind that's hazy
Your mind is fine, but it's your tongue that's at fault
It's your tongue that's at fault, not your noodle
The disorder originates from the tongue
You better listen and try to be good
Be cautious and act sensibly
And try to do all the things that you should
Fulfill your obligations
The dipsy doodle will get you some day
It will affect you at some point
And you'll think you're crazy, the things you'll say
You'll believe that you're insane because of what you articulate
"Violets are red, roses are blue"
An example of how the Dipsy Doodle affects speech
Roses, roses, roses, all around you
This is part of the Dipsy Doodle's effect
You'll never know it until too late
You won't identify the Dipsy Doodle in time
And then you're in such a terrible state
You'll be in a sorry condition
If you wanna do the Doodle, do the Dipsy Doodle
If you want to experience the Dipsy Doodle, go ahead
Doo, doo, doo, do the Dipsy Doodle
Medley of sounds used to describe it
Do the Dipsy Doodle now
It's time to experience it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Larry Clinton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind