Roe was raised in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Brown High School and was part of band. Greatly influenced by the sounds of the late Buddy Holly, Tommy Roe developed a unique style that, combined with his All-American clean-cut image, made him a popular musical performer throughout the 1960s. In April of 1961 he became a father to daughter Cynthia; he has 3 grandchildren.
Roe had a Billboard No.1 hit record hit in the United States and in Australia in 1962 with the song, "Sheila" and the following year scored two Top 10 hits with "Everybody" and the critically acclaimed "The Folk Singer" written by Merle Kilgore. Following the enormously successful tour of the United Kingdom by friend Roy Orbison, Tommy Roe toured there and then moved to England where he lived for several years. In 1965, he and Jerry Lee Lewis combined with Orbison to create an LP for the Pickwick International label. During the 1960s, he had several more top forty hits. In 1969, his song "Dizzy" went to No.1 on the UK Singles Chart as well as to Billboard's No.1 in the USA. His final Top 40 single was "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" in 1970.
A resident of Beverly Hills, California, Roe is married to Josette Banzet, an actress from France who won a Golden Globe Award for best supporting for her performance in the 1976 television mini-series, Rich Man, Poor Man. His daughter Cynthia still resides in Georgia with her family.
In 1986, Tommy Roe was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Although his style of music declined in popularity with the 1970s mass market, Tommy Roe maintained a following and continued to perform at a variety of concert venues, sometimes with sixties nostalgia rock and rollers such as Freddy Cannon and Bobby Vee.
Partial discography (singles)
* "Sheila" (1962)
* "Everybody" (1963)
* "The Folk Singer" (1963)
* "Sweet Pea" (1966)
* "Hooray for Hazel" (1966)
* "Dizzy" (1969)
* "Jack And Jill" (1969)
* "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" (1970)
Cinnamon
Tommy Roe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And knockin' on your door
Thought I had enough but I'm back for more
Cinnamon let me in
Cinnamon let me in
Knock, knock, let me in
Oh, uh, uh
I'm gonna see ya
If it takes all day
Oh, uh uh
Cinnamon let me in
Cinnamon let me in
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
One potato, two potato
Three potato, four
Open up Cinnamon I want more
Five potato, six potato
Seven potato, eight
Sock it to me Cinnamon
I can't wait
You can't hide girl
I'm comin' inside girl
Do what you want to
Baby I'll let you
Might as well face it
Cinnamon you know I'm gonna get ya
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la la, la, la, la
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la la, la, la, la
Cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon let me in
Cinnamon let me in
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
The lyrics of Tommy Roe's song Cinnamon portray a man who is infatuated with a woman and unable to resist the temptation to see her again. He is sneaking down her alley, knocking on her door and asking her to let him in, even though he knows he has already had enough of her. The repetition of the phrase "Cinnamon let me in" emphasizes his persistence and resistance to leaving her alone. The lyrics also mention a counting game, "One potato, two potato, three potato, four," which suggests that the man is playing childish games, unable to control his desire for the woman.
The phrase "Sha la, la, la, la, la, la" used repeatedly throughout the song might symbolize the man's attempt to convince the woman to let him in. The phrase has no particular meaning, but it conveys a feeling of exuberance which could be seen as either an attempt to woo the woman or to distract himself from the potential disappointment of being rejected by her.
In summary, the lyrics of Cinnamon express a man's infatuation with a woman and his inability to resist the temptation to see her again. They convey a sense of childlike playfulness, persistence, and determination in his attempts to win her attention.
Line by Line Meaning
Sneakin' down your alley way
Quietly walking through your neighborhood
And knockin' on your door
Requesting entry to your dwelling
Thought I had enough but I'm back for more
Though I believed I was satisfied, I'm seeking additional pleasure
Cinnamon let me in
Cinnamon, please grant me access to your space
Knock, knock, let me in
Requesting entry into your dwelling by tapping on the door
I won't go away
I will persist in my request for access
I'm gonna see ya
I am determined to visit you
If it takes all day
I am willing to invest much time and effort
One potato, two potato
A counting game used to make a selection
Three potato, four
Continuation of the counting game
Open up Cinnamon I want more
Please allow me in so that I may enjoy further stimulation
Five potato, six potato
Continuation of the counting game
Seven potato, eight
Continuation of the counting game
Sock it to me Cinnamon
Provide me with a pleasurable experience
I can't wait
I am eager to proceed
You can't hide girl
It is futile to try to conceal yourself from me
I'm comin' inside girl
I am entering your dwelling without permission
Do what you want to
You are free to act as you wish
Baby I'll let you
I am willing to accommodate your desires
Might as well face it
You must accept the reality of the situation
Cinnamon you know I'm gonna get ya
You are aware that I will obtain access to you
Cinnamon
A term of endearment for the person being addressed
Cinnamon let me in
Cinnamon, please grant me access to your space
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
A nonverbal expression of excitement or enthusiasm
La, la la, la, la, la
Continuation of the nonverbal expression of excitement or enthusiasm
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@janflipert2065
I was thinking about this song and just had to play it. It’s been decades. Still great.
@ABlackCountryWoman
Same here. I must've been about 6 when this was popular. Memories...
@chrisewing2019
so glad the radio played this today. i loved it hearing it all the time in early 70s
@jwadeteacher
I have so many memories attached to this song. Great times!
@ncast54
1968 , I remember loving this song
@deepfriedscotsman2860
This song was written and sung by Scottish / American singer /song writer Johnny Cymbal and released by his group called Derek in 1968
@gdc3084
I had sure forgot this song made me smile. I was 14yr when it came out it was a big deal in small town Midwest.
@randybarnett2308
Haven't heard this song since Voyage to the Bottom of Sea was on TV!!!!👍😀
@nancyfribbs7798
Loved this song back in the day
@johnpena7831
I was thinking of this song when someone at store said “we need Cinnamon mom!”… took me back to my 1960s chilhdhood days.!