The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later spawned the Ramones, Blondie, Television and Talking Heads."
Showdown
The New York Dolls Lyrics
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Don't you know you're in my neighborhood
They tell me you're pretty fast on your feet
You best be at the dance hall down on 14th street, you hear
There's gonna be a showdown
There's gonna be a showdown
I've got ten notches on my shoes
I just can't lose
They call me the top cat, right in this man's town
I just want you to meet me, baby, before the sun goes down
There's gonna be a showdown
There's gonna be a showdown
All the girls been losin' faith in me
Don't seem like top cat's great
As he once used to be
I know I'm good
So you better be better
When you get yourself out on that floor
You better have your steps together
There's gonna be a showdown
There's gonna be a showdown
Now my reputation has been one of the fastest men alive
So I'm gonna see how good you are when I count to five
(One) oh man, you better step
(Two) You can do better than that
(Three)come on baby,you better step aside
(Four-Five) And let me get out here and do my jive
There's gonna be a showdown
There's gonna be a showdown, showdown, oh yeah
The New York Dolls' song "Showdown" is a high-energy tune about a dance-off between two men. The lyrics are simple but effective in conveying the competitive nature of the situation. The singer, who calls himself Top Cat, is challenging another man who he has heard is a good dancer. He boasts about his own abilities, saying he has ten notches on his shoes and has never lost a dance-off. He warns the other man to be prepared, as there is going to be a showdown.
The lyrics also suggest that Top Cat's reputation may be fading, as the girls in the neighborhood are losing faith in him. This adds a sense of urgency to the challenge, as he may see this as an opportunity to reclaim his status as the best dancer in town. The showdown is presented as a sort of test of manhood, with both men needing to prove themselves in front of their peers.
Line by Line Meaning
Say man, they tell me you think you're pretty good
The singer hears that someone thinks they're a great dancer
Don't you know you're in my neighborhood
The singer wants to warn the person that they're in their territory
They tell me you're pretty fast on your feet
The person is reputed to be a fast and skilled dancer
You best be at the dance hall down on 14th street, you hear
The singer challenges the person to come to a specific dance hall for a dance-off
There's gonna be a showdown
The singer is excited for the upcoming dance-off
I've got ten notches on my shoes
The singer has danced so much that there are ten worn-out spots on their shoes
When it comes to dancin', I just can't lose
The singer is confident in their dancing abilities and feels like they can't be beaten
They call me the top cat, right in this man's town
The singer is known as the best dancer in the area
I just want you to meet me, baby, before the sun goes down
The singer wants to meet the other dancer before the dance-off starts
All the girls been losin' faith in me
The singer feels like they're not as popular with the opposite sex as they used to be
Don't seem like top cat's great as he once used to be
The singer thinks people don't see them as a great dancer anymore
I know I'm good, so you better be better
The singer is warning the other dancer that they need to be just as good or better
When you get yourself out on that floor, you better have your steps together
The singer wants the other dancer to be well-prepared for the dance-off
Now my reputation has been one of the fastest men alive
The singer has a reputation for being one of the fastest and most skilled dancers
So I'm gonna see how good you are when I count to five
The singer is confident that they can test the other dancer's skills in just five counts
Oh man, you better step
The singer thinks the other dancer needs to up their game
You can do better than that
The singer wants to see the other dancer's best moves
Come on baby, you better step aside
The singer is challenging the other dancer to move out of the way so they can show off their moves
And let me get out here and do my jive
The singer is ready to show off their best dance moves
There's gonna be a showdown, showdown, oh yeah
The singer is hyped up for the dance-off and ready to determine who the best dancer is
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEON HUFF, CINDY SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessehook8762
The Dolls gave a 100 percent when they played live!! You can see and feel how tight and great these guys were.. Another Bad Ass American band!!!!
@rickytoddbotelho9555
One of the greatest, bestest songs and bands in the history of the world 🌎 ❤️ ✨️ ♥️ 💕
@flinchey6962
Johnny’s Guitar is unmatched and Jerry on drums. Rip billy/killer kane David’s Vocals were special, Syl is still going 48 yrs strong The Dolls were way ahead of their time
@jonasaronson9909
They sure were!
@gogoyubari366
Syl passed away.
@lazlokovacs2263
This cover of Archie & The Drells by the Dolls is killer.
My punk "friends" reject it.
And I play Tighten Up really loud.
@wjb8855
So glad I was a teen in the early 70's, was really getting into Rush when I found the dolls in the cut bin at the local record shop.. Have loved them ever since.
@donovanpsicodelico6916
melhor banda do mundo!!! david, syl ,arthur, johnny, jerry, billy
When I say I'm in love you best believe
I'm in love, L U V
@thebyrdsfan1966
concordo!
@jonsantos8384
Like Lorenzo the bus driver said " There's nothing worse than wasted talent and Johnny lived up to that literally and figuratively. Just wish you were still around ,Rest in peace bro !