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)
Jam Up Jelly Tight
Tommy Roe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My, my, my, my baby
Now you're outta sight
Jam up and jelly tight
You look a little naughty
But you're so polite
Jam up and jelly tight
You won't say you will but
I said the first day I met you
Someday I'm gonna catch you
Now you're here and baby I love it
So come on and give me some lovin
Jam up and jelly tight
My, my, my, my baby
Now you're outta sight
Jam up and jelly tight
You look a little naughty
But you're so polite
Jam up and jelly tight
You won't say you will but
There's a chance that you might
You've got a sweet disposition
So come on and give me permission
For one kiss and maybe another
You'll see we were meant for each other
Jam up and jelly tight
My, my, my, my baby
Now you're outta sight
Jam up and jelly tight
You look a little naughty
But you're so polite
Jam up and jelly tight
You won't say you will but
There's a chance that you might
Jam up and Jelly Tight
Jam up and Jelly Tight, yeah
The lyrics of Tommy Roe's “Jam Up And Jelly Tight” describe a man’s attraction to a woman who appears to be both naughty and polite. He is clearly infatuated with her and is determined to pursue her until he can earn her love. The chorus emphasizes this desire, repeating the phrase “jam up and jelly tight” as a way to describe how appealing he finds her. Despite her reluctance to reveal her true feelings, he remains hopeful, suggesting that “there’s a chance that you might” reciprocate his feelings.
The lyrics of “Jam Up And Jelly Tight” reflect the romantic ideals of the time in which it was written, as many songs of the 1960s focused on themes of love and desire. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy chorus have made it a popular choice for dance clubs and parties over the years, even as its lyrics have come under scrutiny for the potential implications of the phrase "jam up and jelly tight" and its potential sexual connotations.
Overall, Tommy Roe’s “Jam Up And Jelly Tight” serves as a classic example of a love song that celebrates the allure of desire and the thrill of the chase, ultimately presenting a lighthearted celebration of the joys of romantic pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
Jam up and jelly tight
Everything about you is perfect and attractive
My, my, my, my baby
My dear, the way you make me feel is indescribable
Now you're outta sight
You are beyond amazing and I cannot believe I have you
You look a little naughty
Your appearance is suggestive, hinting at your hidden desires
But you're so polite
You handle yourself with grace and tact, despite your suggestive appearance
You won't say you will but
You are hesitant to admit it, but
There's a chance that you might
You could possibly have feelings for me too
I said the first day I met you
From the moment I saw you
Someday I'm gonna catch you
I knew that one day I would win your heart
Now you're here and baby I love it
Now that we are together, I am thrilled beyond measure
So come on and give me some lovin
Let us embrace and express our affection for one another
You've got a sweet disposition
You are naturally kind and compassionate
So come on and give me permission
Allow me the privilege of loving you
For one kiss and maybe another
Starting with a single kiss, let's see where this could go
You'll see we were meant for each other
Our connection is more than just physical attraction, it is fate
Jam up and Jelly Tight
You and I are the perfect match
Jam up and Jelly Tight, yeah
Absolutely, without a doubt
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: FREDDY WELLER, TOMMY ROE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jameshooper9386
EVEN THE BUBBLE GUM MUSIC IS A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN THE CRAP THEY RETRIEVE FROM THE TOILET FOR TODAY'S...MUSIC???
@michaelwoodall5947
I love this stuff, I’m 64 years old and a musician and this was a huge influence
@AJAXKID123
I don’t care if Tommy Roe was bubblegum. I love bubblegum and I love Tommy Roe.
@rocket7697
It is catchy
@brianbarton8634
it is just fun music
@paulhause9040
Tommy’s regarded as the creator of bubblegum.
@robertakerman3570
Guilty Pleasure
@musiccollector
Nothing wrong with bubblegum. Absolutely nothing! Better than rap, indeed!
@josephconsoli4128
I was a little kid at this time, but these bubble-gum songs from this period open a scrapbook in my mind of this era. I thank God I was kid in this last great decade. I can honestly say it really was a spectacular time to be a kid - 1970-1980. After that a shift began, and not for the better.
@sportyguyusa
I’m 134, and I love this song!