The band went on to record several successful albums and was popular on the late-1960s concert and festival circuit, with performances at the Fillmore West, in San Francisco; the Fillmore East, in New York City; the Monterey Pop Festival; and Woodstock. The band split in 1971.
Mellow Down Easy
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You jump, jump, jump everywhere
Then you mellow down easy, mellow down easy
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top
You shake, shake here, you shake, shake there
You shake, shake, shake everywhere
Then you mellow down easy, mellow down easy
You wiggle, wiggle here, you wiggle, wiggle there
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle everywhere
Then you mellow down easy, mellow down easy
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top
The lyrics to The Paul Butterfield Blues Band's song Mellow Down Easy are playful and rhythmic, creating a catchy tune that invites the listener to dance and wiggle. The repeated phrases "you jump, jump here," "you shake, shake there," and "you wiggle, wiggle everywhere" convey a sense of movement and excitement, almost like an invitation to join in the fun.
However, the refrain "then you mellow down easy" suggests that there is a shift in the energy of the song, from frenzied to relaxed. This line is repeated after each set of movements, reinforcing the idea that the act of jumping, shaking, and wiggling is a precursor to a soothing calm. The final line "you mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top" adds a layer of complexity to the song - suggesting that the act of letting go and dancing wildly is a way to release pent-up emotions and find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
You jump, jump here, you jump, jump there
You move around frantically, bouncing from one place to another
You jump, jump, jump everywhere
Your movements are not focused in one particular direction, but scattered all over
Then you mellow down easy, mellow down easy
You calm yourself down, becoming relaxed and easygoing
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top
You calm yourself down only when you're on the brink of losing control
You shake, shake here, you shake, shake there
You tremble with excitement, moving from one place to another
You shake, shake, shake everywhere
You're excited and full of energy, but lacking direction
You wiggle, wiggle here, you wiggle, wiggle there
You move your body in a playful and carefree way, dancing around
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle everywhere
Your movements are not structured, but free and spontaneous
Then you mellow down easy, mellow down easy
You calm down and become relaxed again
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top
You only calm down when you're close to losing control and need to cool off
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Twiggysiren
This song is so special to me. My dad and I spent Saturday nights listening to his old records and this was a favorite. Thank you!
Eric Mueller
Love Butterfield's short solo after Bloomfield's. it's super vicious. I crank it every time I hear it.
Linden Tree
If you want more standard versions of the blues it everywhere dude. These guys were pushing boundaries like no one else back then
Kevin Mccarty
It must be played loud!
Robert Goldenthal
Everything I listen to this (since the mid-
sixties) I get off on it. Pure energy and rhythm, harp/guitar interplay perfection, incredible tone, especially harp, sax like but brighter. The only thing missing is Elvin Bishop. Kudos to the late Butter, Bloomfield, Lay and Arnold. Interesting that Elvin is the soul survivor, the National Merit Scholar/UC College genius.
Greg Meeuwsen
Amazing phrasing!
Rick M.
Surprising there are only two comments for this PBB classic. To be honest, when I first played the LP and got to this track after the first 5 on side 1 it seemed to be a let down. Bloomfield's playing for the first minute is pretty mundane, but for all you Bloomfield fans, trust me, stick with this song until about 1:10 -- its a short solo, but one of Bloomfield''s best on this classic album.
Mike Mckenna
NOTHING MUNDANE ABOUT BLOOMFIELD..LOL..
John Lowen
Short but sweet! Perhaps my favorite passage of all time and I’m 65 and lived during R&R/R&B’s golden age. First heard this in ‘68’ my older sister turned me on to PBBB and so much more. Thanks Crazy Mary!
Mike Roberti
I’d kill for a tab of Bloomfield’s solo on that! I’ve been trying to figure it out since I first heard it back in 1965. Some parts of it are just impossible, at least for my skill level, to even figure out what he’s playing, let alone play it as deftly and clean as Mike does at speed!