They are best known for their memorably anthemic hit about waiting for the weekend, "This Beat Goes On / Switchin' to Glide," released in 1980. The story of the song is captured in the documentary "The Kings: Anatomy Of A One-Hit Wonder," available at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4uz7tuTIfo
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The Beat Goes On
The Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Kings Are Here
This Beat Goes On
Hey Judy, Get Trudy
You said to call you up
If I was feeling moody
Hey Little Donna
Aw, still wanna
When I was in Toronto
I have lots of friends
That I can ding at anytime
Can mobilize some laughs
With just one call
Like a bunch of lunatics
We'll act away past dawn
sure we'll be rocking
Til our strength is gone
Yeah this beat goes on
And on and on and on
Hey ladies
Ooo you crazies
Well me and zero
Request you in the Mercedes
I'll just go ride
So close to the inside
The sky's the limit
This time I'm switchin' to glide
I don't give a hoot
About what people have to say
I'm laughing as I'm analyzed
Lunatics anonymous
That's where I belong
Sure 'cuz I am one
Til my strength is gone
Yeah this beat goes on
And on and on and on
I have lots of friends
That I can dig at any time
Can mobilize some laughs
With just one call
Like a bunch of lunatics
We'll act away past dawn
Sure we'll be rocking
Til our strength is gone
Yeah this beat goes on
This beat goes on (beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on and on)
This beat goes on and on and on...(this beat goes on...)
THIS BEAT GOES!
(Go right into Switchin' to Glide)
The Kings' The Beat Goes On is a fun and upbeat song that captures the essence of youthful enthusiasm and camaraderie. The lyrics are primarily about the joys of friendship, the power of music, and the ability to escape from the mundane aspects of daily life. The song begins with the singer addressing two of his friends, Judy and Trudy, and expressing his gratitude for their willingness to help him out when he's feeling down. He also mentions Little Donna, a woman he met in Toronto, who he can call when he's in the city. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes how important it is to have good friends who can "mobilize some laughs" and help him "act away past dawn."
As the song progresses, the singer goes on to express his disregard for what other people think about him. He compares himself and his friends to "lunatics," and proudly declares that he belongs in "Lunatics Anonymous." This part of the song is especially interesting because it suggests that the singer is completely comfortable with his unconventional ways, and that he finds his friends' "lunacy" to be a source of inspiration and joy. The singer ends the song by repeating the phrase "This beat goes on and on and on," which serves as a reminder that, no matter what happens, the music and the friends he has will always be there to lift him up and keep him going.
Overall, The Kings' The Beat Goes On is a timeless classic that celebrates the power of friendship, the joys of music, and the importance of living life on one's own terms. Through its catchy melody and infectious lyrics, the song inspires listeners to embrace their own idiosyncrasies and to surround themselves with people who will always keep the beat going.
Line by Line Meaning
The Kings
The Kings are the band or musical group performing this song.
The Kings Are Here
This line is establishing that The Kings have arrived.
This Beat Goes On
The beat is steady and continues without stopping, representing the continuous journey of life.
Hey Judy, Get Trudy
This line is a callout to Judy to get Trudy, someone they want to involve in their activities.
You said to call you up
If I was feeling moody
This line shows that the singer has someone to turn to when they're not feeling their best.
Hey Little Donna
Aw, still wanna
You said to ring you up
When I was in Toronto
This line shows that the singer has someone in Toronto to call when they're in town.
I have lots of friends
That I can ding at anytime
Can mobilize some laughs
With just one call
Like a bunch of lunatics
We'll act away past dawn
sure we'll be rocking
Til our strength is gone
Yeah this beat goes on
And on and on and on
The singer has plenty of friends to call upon to have a good time. They can stay up all night like crazy people, but they'll keep going because life and the party never stop.
Hey ladies
Ooo you crazies
Well me and zero
Request you in the Mercedes
I'll just go ride
So close to the inside
The sky's the limit
This time I'm switchin' to glide
This line is calling out to some ladies and saying they're wild and crazy like the singer. They want to go for a ride and experience the freedom of being limitless.
I don't give a hoot
About what people have to say
I'm laughing as I'm analyzed
Lunatics anonymous
That's where I belong
Sure 'cuz I am one
Til my strength is gone
Yeah this beat goes on
The singer doesn't care what other people think of them. They're happy being themselves, even if they're perceived as crazy. They're content to live their life the way they see fit, all while smiling and laughing.
This beat goes on (beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on)
This beat goes on (this beat goes on and on)
This beat goes on and on and on...(this beat goes on...)
The beat is the constant rhythm of life. It never stops and continues on and on.
Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mikecowen2797
Show of hands if you're still watching this in 2024.
@thekingsarehere
Hard to believe it's 2024 Mike
@barrybyington9039
2024 and I still listen to this cranked up....
@thekingsarehere
@@barrybyington9039 Nicely done Barry!
@mitchellbaker9434
Am, and will be in 2034and 2024, God willing!
@mitchellbaker9434
that's 2044!
@theresalacey6126
Who still loves this song in 2023? Me!! So much energy on stage!
@thekingsarehere
Thanks so much Theresa!
@JohnSmith-fg6pt
Listen 🎶 16 Feb 2024-- the song don't die until I do. I was 23 when it came out fall 1980
@jjstraka1982
The transition from This Beat Goes On to Switchin' to Glide is one of those transcendent moments in rock music, where you can't believe something this good exists. I was aware of this song because of my dad listening to album rock radio in the car in the '90s, but it's only now, closer to middle-age, where I can appreciate fully how great this is. Like "Driver's Seat" or "Ah! Leah!", it's one of those songs that's easy to fall through the cracks for years if not decades, but then you hear it again and just say "oh my god, THIS song!!!"