He was born Todd Washington Rhodes, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Rhodes attended both the Springfield School of Music and the Erie Conservatory, studying as pianist and songwriter.
In the early 1920s he played with Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Rex Stewart, Doc Cheatham, and Don Redman in McKinney's Cotton Pickers, a jazz group. Rhodes lived and played in Detroit in the 1930s. In the late 1940s he started his own group, Todd Rhodes and His Toddlers, and started doing more R&B arrangements. With his Toddlers, he recorded "Your Daddy's Doggin' Around" and "Your Mouth Got a Hole In It." Rhodes also worked with Hank Ballard, The Chocolate Dandies and Wynonie Harris. He featured African American female lead singers, such as Connie Allen, who recorded "Rocket 69" in 1951. After she left the band in early 1952, her position was taken by LaVern Baker.
Rhodes died in June 1965 in Detroit, at the age of 64.
Rocket 69
Todd Rhodes Lyrics
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(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
Well, would you like to ride my rocket 69?
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
Little, sweet man like you we could have such a wonderful time
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
You'll have to hold tight bobble while I go into my speed
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
You'll love the new world I'm going to take you in
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
We'll take off from a star and the moon is not too far
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
Well, we'll take off from a star and the moon is not too far
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
We'll ride and glide and be so satisfied
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
Stand by
Stand by
The rocket is ready to fly!
I'll make you mighty happy that I'm your girl
We'll fly through the sky and go out of this world.
I'll bet you sweet papa I can make you feel mighty fine
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
When you take a little trip on a rocket 69
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
We'll zip it we'll dip it
(On a rocket 69)
We'll rip it we'll tip it
(On a rocket 69)
We'll flip it we'll whip it
(On a rocket 69)
We'll ride and guide and be so satisfied
The trip will be fine
In my rocket 69
(Rocket 69, rocket 69)
The lyrics to Todd Rhodes's song "Rocket 69" are blatant in their sexual innuendo. The singer, presumably a woman, addresses a man and asks if he would like to ride her rocket 69, promising him a wonderful time. She warns him to hold on tight as she goes into her speed and takes him to a new world. The moon and the stars are featured in the lyrics as the backdrop for their journey. The couple will "ride and glide" and be "so satisfied" on the trip.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you like to ride my rocket 69?
Asking if the listener wants to join in the singer's sexual adventure
Little, sweet man like you we could have such a wonderful time
Telling the listener that they would enjoy the sexual experience
You'll have to hold tight bobble while I go into my speed
Preparing the listener for the intense speed of sexual pleasure
You'll love the new world I'm going to take you in
Promising the listener a unique and exceptional sexual experience
We'll take off from a star and the moon is not too far
Describing the sci-fi setting for their sexual fantasy
We'll ride and glide and be so satisfied
Promising sexual satisfaction and pleasure
The rocket is ready to fly!
Announcing they are ready to start their sexual experience
We'll fly through the sky and go out of this world.
Describing the extent of their sexual experience to go beyond conventional earthly pleasures
I'll bet you sweet papa I can make you feel mighty fine
Confidently assuring the listener their sexual prowess can satisfy them
When you take a little trip on a rocket 69
Encouraging the listener to enjoy and indulge in the sexual experience
We'll zip it we'll dip it...We'll flip it we'll whip it
Using sexual innuendos to describe various sexual acts
The trip will be fine, In my rocket 69
Reiterating that the overall sexual experience will be satisfactory and exceptional
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . Glover, . Mann, . Kay
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