Stop Stop Stop
The Hollies Lyrics


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See the girl with cymbals on her fingers entering through the door
Rubies glistening from her navel, shimmering around the floor
Bells on feet go ting-a-ling-a-ling, going through my head
Sweat is falling just like a tear drop running from her head
Now she's dancing, going through the movements, swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory, thoughts of long ago
Blood is rushing, temperature is rising, sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me, I can't look away now

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave

Now she's moving all around the table's luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me hidden by the light
Closer, closer, she is getting nearer soon she'll be in reach
As I enter into her spotlight, she stands lost for speech

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave

Now I hold her, people are staring, don't know what to think
And we struggle, knocking over tables, spilling all the drinks
Can't they understand that I want her? Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar throws me in the street





Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave

Overall Meaning

The Hollies's song "Stop Stop Stop" is a story of a man who is captivated by a belly dancer in a nightclub. The lyrics describe the belly dancer's entrance into the room, with cymbals on her fingers and rubies that glisten from her navel, as she begins to dance, swaying and moving to and fro. The man is transfixed by her movements, feeling his body's temperature rising and his heart racing as he watches, but eventually, feeling overwhelmed by her dance, he pleads for her to stop so he can catch his breath.


As the song progresses, the man becomes bolder, making his way closer to the dancer while hidden in the shadows. He eventually steps into the spotlight as the dancer's movements draw her closer to him. The song climaxes as the man and the dancer struggle, knocking over tables and drawing unwanted attention, as the man declares that he wants the dancer. His declaration falls on deaf ears, as he is forcefully thrown out of the nightclub, left to lament the loss of the woman who captivated his heart.


The lyrics of "Stop Stop Stop" primarily focus on the dancer's movements and the effect they have on the man watching her. However, they also touch on themes of regret and the danger of acting on impulse. Overall, the song is a commentary on the pull of temptation and its potentially devastating consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

See the girl with cymbals on her fingers entering through the door
A girl enters the room wearing cymbals on her fingers and draws attention towards herself.


Rubies glistening from her navel, shimmering around the floor
The girl has a navel piercing with rubies and the shine of it is highlighted as she dances around.


Bells on feet go ting-a-ling-a-ling, going through my head
The sound of bells on her feet create a mesmerizing effect on the singer.


Sweat is falling just like a tear drop running from her head
The girl is sweating, looking exhausted, giving the impression that she is crying.


Now she's dancing, going through the movements, swaying to and fro
The girl is dancing, moving her body and swaying in different directions.


Body moving, bringing back a memory, thoughts of long ago
Watching the girl dance reminds the singer of a similar experience from his past.


Blood is rushing, temperature is rising, sweating from my brow
The singer feels anxious and excited, causing him to start sweating.


Like a snake, her body fascinates me, I can't look away now
The girl's movements are enchanting, and the artist is unable to take his eyes off of her.


Now she's moving all around the table's luring all in sight
The girl is moving around the table and grabbing everyone's attention with her dancing.


But I know that she cannot see me hidden by the light
The artist knows that the girl is unaware of his presence because he's hidden by the light.


Closer, closer, she is getting nearer; soon she'll be in reach
The girl is slowly coming closer towards the singer, and soon she will be within reach.


As I enter into her spotlight, she stands lost for speech
The moment the artist enters the girl's spotlight, she becomes speechless and stops dancing.


Now I hold her, people are staring, don't know what to think
The singer is holding the girl, and people around them are watching and trying to understand what's happening.


And we struggle, knocking over tables, spilling all the drinks
During the struggle and chaos, tables are knocked over and drinks are spilled.


Can't they understand that I want her? Happens every week
The singer is frustrated that people don't understand his desires, which occur frequently.


Heavy hand upon my collar throws me in the street
The artist is forcefully removed from the scene by someone who grabs his collar.


Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
The artist wants the dancing to stop and requests some space to take a breath.


Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave
The singer threatens to leave if the dancing doesn't stop.


Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
The singer repeats his request for the dancing to stop and wants to catch his breath.


Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave
The artist reiterates that he'll leave if the dancing doesn't stop.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN CLARKE, GRAHAM NASH, TONY HICKS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Philip Kassabian

One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Emile g

See the girl with cymbals on her fingers
Entering through the door
Ruby glistening from her navel
Shimmering around the floor
Bells on feet go ting a-ling a-linging
Going through my head

Sweat is falling just-a-like-a tear drops
Running from her head

Now she's dancing, going through the movements
Swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory
Thoughts of long ago
Blood is rushing, temperature is rising
Sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me
I can't look away now
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing

Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I'll have to leave

Now, she's moving all around the tables
Luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me
Hidden by the light
Closer, closer, she is getting nearer
Soon she'll be in reach
As I enter into a spotlight
She stands lost for speech

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I'll have to leave

Now I hold her, people are staring
Don't know what to think
And we struggle knocking over tables
Spilling all the drinks
Can't they understand that I want her?
Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar
Throws me in the street

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I'll have to leave



Günter Gerd Julio Vaderrama Sorge

The very best band of the 60's; no doubt!!!


See the girl with cymbals on her fingers
Entering through the door
Ruby glistening from her navel
Shimmering around the floor

Bells on feet go ting-a ling-a linging
Going through my head
Sweat is falling just-a like-a tear drops
Running from her head

Now she's dancing, going through the movements
Swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory
Thoughts of long ago

Blood is rushing, temperature is rising
Sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me
I can't look away now

[Chorus]
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I'll have to leave

Now she's moving all around the tables
Luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me
Hidden by the light

Closer, closer, she is getting nearer
Soon she'll be in reach
As I enter into a spotlight
She stands lost for speech

[Chorus]

Now I hold her, people are staring
Don't know what to think
And we struggle knocking over tables
Spilling all the drinks

Can't they understand that I want her
Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar
Throws me in the street

[Chorus]



peter .farias

1966....See the girl with cymbals on her fingers entering
through the door
Rubies glistening from her navel, shimmering around the floor
Bells on feet go ting-a-ling-a-ling, going through my head
Sweat is falling just like a tear drop running from her head
Now she's dancing, going through the movements, swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory, thoughts of long ago
Blood is rushing, temperature is rising, sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me, I can't look away now
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave
Now she's moving all around the table's luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me hidden by the light
Closer, closer, she is getting nearer; soon she'll be in reach
As I enter into her spotlight, she stands lost for speech
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave
Now I hold her, people are staring, don't know what to think
And we struggle, knocking over tables, spilling all the drinks
Can't they understand that I want her? Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar throws me in the street Stop,  stop, stop all the dancing, give me time to
breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing or I'll have to leave.....1966



Perry Perro

​@Patrick Jane See See See See See Stadt Yve R See





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All comments from YouTube:

GenkiSugiru

Tony Hicks is an extraordinary musician. How he gets a banjo to sound like a sitar is so amazing and creative.

MJC1124

While I agree with you, Wiki says that a tape delay was used for the banjo. This track was recorded and released in 1966 when miming was common for TV appearances. The sound seems identical to the vinyl release.

graham yogibear

miming

joeli:)

Also, funnily enough he does play a guitar-sitar (yes, it's rlly called that). :')

Steve Stone songwriter

@MJC1124 he started he used a six-string banjo which is tuned like a guitar and slap back echo was applied to it. Yes awesome guitarist

Brian E

The sound was more like a balalaika, which when I first heard it in 1966, I thought it was a balalaika. To find out it was a banjo I was surprised, to say the least -- and I wanted to know how Hicks got that sound out of it. Credit the producer Ron Richards, who put the banjo on tape delay for the lay-down.

14 More Replies...

Paul Popoff

Truly inspiring, a banjo in a band from England! Tony Hicks played it to perfection! Allan Clarke's vocal was superb!

joseph lemko

The Hollies were one of the finest bands who emerged, during the 1960s. Their songs were excellent & OH those great vocals, along with Tony Hicks' fine musicianship.✌😇

j20tower

People don't realize how many big hits The Hollies had back then. This is just one more great one.

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