The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four-piece 60s British merseybeat band, best … Read Full Bio ↴The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four-piece 60s British merseybeat band, best known for their proto-rave-up hit single "Hippy Hippy Shake" (also known as "The Hippy Hippy Shake"). Intriguingly, while the song sounds rather Beatles-clone like, the Beatles did in fact do a cover version of this song for the BBC. The Swinging Blue Jeans had a spell of moderate success, breaking into the U.S. with the aforementioned hit but also charting again and again in the U.K. such as with the top 5 cover track "You're No Good". Sadly, they seemed to fly along with the all-pervading merseybeat success story. Once the novelty started to pale, the hits dried up, and the band eventually retired to the oldies circuit.

Guitarist Terry Sylvester left the group in the late 60s, and he joined another seminal Britsh rock act, The Hollies, as a replacement for the departing Graham Nash. The Swinging Blue Jeans, with some original members, soldiered on through the decades. A version of the group, with singer-songwriter and guitarist Ray Ennis remaining, continues to tour to this day.

Shake Rattle And Roll
The Swinging Blue Jeans Lyrics

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Get out from that kitchen
And rattle those pots and pans
Get out from that kitchen
And rattle those pots and pans
Well, roll my breakfast
'Cause I'm a hungry man

I said, shake, rattle, and roll

I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
Well, you'll never do nothing
To save your doggone soul

Wearing those dresses
Your hair done up so nice
Wearing those dresses
Your hair done up so nice
You look so warm
But your heart is cold as ice

I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
Well, you'll never do nothing
To save your doggone soul

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

I'm like a one-eyed cat
Peeping in a sea food store
I'm like a one-eyed cat
Peeping in a sea food store
I can look at you
'Til you don't love me no more

I believe you're doing me wrong
And now I know
I believe you're doing me wrong
And now I know
The more I work
The faster my money goes

I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
I said, shake, rattle, and roll
Well, you'll never do nothing
To save your doggone soul

Shake, rattle, and roll

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Swinging Blue Jeans' song "Shake Rattle and Roll" are a classic example of 50s and 60s rock and roll. The opening verse calls for the person in the kitchen to stop cooking and start dancing. The repetition of the line "Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans" sets the tone for the entire song. The singer is hungry and wants to eat, but this song is less about food and more about rhythm.

The chorus of the song has the singer repeating the phrase "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" four times, followed by the line "Well, you'll never do nothing to save your doggone soul." This line is a warning to the listener that they need to let loose and have fun before it's too late. The fact that the song mentions the soul is significant since rock and roll music was often criticized for being sinful and promoting immoral behaviors.

The second verse introduces the theme of deception and heartbreak. The singer describes a person who looks warm and friendly on the outside but is cold and indifferent on the inside. This is a common theme in rock and roll music, and it is often used to express vulnerability and hurt.

The bridge of the song provides an opportunity for the singer to show off their improvisational skills. The lines "Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" are repeated several times, and the singer ad-libs a series of sounds and yells that are designed to energize the audience. It's a favorite part of the song for fans and musicians alike.

Line by Line Meaning

Get out from that kitchen
Stop cooking and start dancing

And rattle those pots and pans
Make some noise with the kitchenware by hitting them together or tapping them with utensils

Well, roll my breakfast
Cook my breakfast and serve it to me enthusiastically

’Cause I’m a hungry man
I'm hungry and I need my breakfast now

I said, shake, rattle, and roll
Dance and make some noise

Well, you'll never do nothing
If you don't dance, you won't accomplish anything

To save your doggone soul
To save your own soul or to accomplish anything of value

Wearing those dresses
Wearing beautiful dresses and looking attractive

Your hair done up so nice
Hair styled nicely to complement the dresses

You look so warm
You look friendly and inviting

But your heart is cold as ice
But you're actually not friendly and can be mean or cruel

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Encouragement to start dancing and having fun

I'm like a one-eyed cat
I'm like a curious cat, always intrigued by something

Peeping in a sea food store
Peeking into a place where there's plenty of good things to look at

I can look at you
I can stare at you

’Til you don't love me no more
So much so that you'll eventually get tired of me

I believe you're doing me wrong
I think you're treating me unfairly

And now I know
I'm sure about it now

The more I work
The harder I try

The faster my money goes
The more money I spend or lose quickly

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Calhoun

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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