Travis Pritchett, born 18 March 1939, Jackson, Alabama
Bob Weaver, born … Read Full Bio ↴Travis Pritchett, born 18 March 1939, Jackson, Alabama
Bob Weaver, born 27 july 1939, Jackson, Alabama

Travis and Bob were one-hit wonders from Jackson, Alabama, a small town in Clarke County, with a population of 5,419 at the 2000 census. They attended the local grammar school together and had a common interest in making music. A DJ at WPBB, Jackson's hometown radio station, suggested that they go to Mobile to make a demo. A guy called Henry Bailey had a little sound studio there and was so enthusiastic about their song "Tell Him No" that he introduced Travis and Bob to Johnny Lee Bozeman and Paul Dubois, who owned the Sandy label in Mobile. Dubois and his brother Johnny recorded the duo in a garage in their hometown, Gulfport, Mississippi. "Tell Him No" was the first song Travis Pritchett ever wrote. The record took off immediately and the Sandy label, which had never had a hit before, arranged a deal with Randy Wood's Dot label to ensure that the record would get national distribution. By April 1959 the disc had climbed to # 8 on the Billboard charts. A cover version by Dean and Marc (the Mathis brothers, who had worked with Dale Hawkins and would later form the nucleus of the Newbeats) also charted, on the Bullseye label, peaking at # 42. There were other covers : by the Jackson Brothers (Atco 6139, issued in the UK on London HLX 8845*) and in the UK by the Mudlarks and the Lana Sisters, a trio that included a youthful Dusty Springfield. The Travis and Bob version was released in the UK on Pye Inter- national N 25018, but did not chart there, though it was a hit in several other European countries, like my native Holland, where it went to # 2.

The follow-up, "Little Bitty Johnny" (Sandy 1019) was issued in May 1959 and is arguably their best record. However, in Billboard it got no further than a "Bubbling under" position at # 114, and it spent two weeks on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at # 95. "Oh Yeah"/"Lover's Rendezvous" followed soon thereafter, but sold even fewer copies and "Wake Up And Cry"/"That's How Long" (Sandy 1029, March 1960) was their swan song on Sandy, though an album's worth of stuff was recorded. "They had quit trying on us", said Travis. "They'd made some bucks, and they were satisfied. It woulda meant puttin' more money into us". Travis and Bob are sometimes compared to the Everly Brothers, but they were not in that league. A comparison to the Kalin Twins is more appropriate and for Mercury they cut one song by the Kalins, "The Spider And the Fly" (recorded prior to "When"). Wesley Rose, hot for a duo after losing the Everly Brothers, tempted them with 10 grand if they would sign to his Hickory label. But Bob Weaver had developed a deep mistrust of the music industry and would not go along with the plan. He and Travis parted ways, with Travis continuing as a solo act and songwriter. Travis Pritchett would later work in insurance for many years, eventually settling into the security business.

"Tell Him No" was the only hit Sandy Records ever had. The history of the label (1957-62) is told in some detail in the liner notes for the CD "Gulf Coast Grease : The Sandy Story, Vol. 1" (Ace CDCHD 595). The last sentence of those notes (by Ray Topping) is : "Sandy's hit makers Travis and Bob are not included on this collection as they will be featured on the next instalment of the Sandy story, with a whole CD of their own." That was in 1996. It is 2007 now and the CD still isn't there. One of several promises that Ace didn't keep. "Tell Him No" is available on an Ace compilation though, "The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 5" (Ace 600).

There is, however, a CD featuring 14 tracks by Travis and Bob, probably their complete recorded output. The title is "Takin' A Ride With Travis & Bob and Jim & John":

Tell Him No
Travis & Bob Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a date, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no"

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a kiss, tell him no-oh-oh-oh

Tell him "no"

It′s all right to go to a party
It's all right to have some fu-un
It′s all right to take in a movie
But don't let him be the one

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
If he offers his ring, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no"

Did he tell you that he loved you?
And did you thrill to his charms?
And did you feel much more better
When he held you in his arms?

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a date, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no"

FADE

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Tell Him No" by Travis & Bob is a classic example of a young woman who is getting unwanted attention from a persistent admirer. The lyrics of the song advise the girl to reject the boy's advances by repeatedly saying "tell him no" when he asks her out on a date, for a kiss, or offers her a ring. The song further emphasizes that while it's okay to have fun and enjoy social activities, it's essential to be careful and avoid getting too close or involved with someone who is not right for her. The song explores the theme of young love and heartbreak, and caution women to make wise decisions when it comes to love.

The song is musically simple but emotionally powerful, with an unmistakable doo-wop sound that was popular at the time. It is sung calmly and sincerely, with a hint of sadness inherent in the singer's voice. The song reminds us of the innocence of young love, the pain of heartbreak, and how important it is to know when to say "no." The lyrics are straightforward and to the point, making the song easy to understand and sing along to, which is why it has stood the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Refusing the offer of a man.

When he asks for a date, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
When he asks to go somewhere with you romantically, tell him that you don't want to.

Tell him "no"
Reiterating the rejection of the man's offer.

It's all right to go to a party
You have the freedom to attend social events.

It's all right to have some fu-un
You can enjoy yourself at these events.

It's all right to take in a movie
You can watch a film with someone else.

But don't let him be the one
However, you should not allow this particular man to be your companion.

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Refusing the offer of a man.

When he asks for a kiss, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a romantic kiss, you should refuse it.

Tell him "no"
Reiterating the rejection of the man's offer.

If he offers his ring, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
If he proposes marriage, you should reject him.

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Refusing the offer of a man.

Did he tell you that he loved you?
Did he express his affection for you?

And did you thrill to his charms?
Did you find him attractive or captivating?

And did you feel much more better
Did you feel much better emotionally

When he held you in his arms?
When he hugged you?

Tell him "no", oh-oh-oh
Refusing the offer of a man.

When he asks for a date, tell him no-oh-oh-oh
When he asks to go somewhere with you romantically, tell him that you don't want to.

Tell him "no"
Reiterating the rejection of the man's offer.

Writer(s): Travis Prichett

Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS

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01Wake Up And Cry2:30

PT2M13S

06We're Too Young1:55

07Pocahontas2:02

08Baby Stay Close To Me2:11

09Oh Yeah1:55

10The Spider And The Fly2:02

11Give Your Love To Me2:23

12Lover's Rendez-Vous2:11

13Little Bitty Johnny1:55

14That's How Long2:06

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ronald Herrera

5y↑9

Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a date
Tell him no-oh-oh-oh .....
Tell him "no" -

Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a kiss -
Tell him no-oh-oh-oh .....
Tell him "no" -

It's all right - to go - to a party .....
It's all right to have - some fu-un -
It's all right to take - in a movie .....
But don't let him be the one ....

Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
If he offers his ring .....
Tell him no-oh-oh-oh .....
Tell him "no" -

Did he tell - you that - he loved you !!
And did - you thrill - to his charms .....
And did - you feel - much more better -
When he held you in his arms .....

Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh
When he asks for a date -
Tell him no-oh-oh-oh .....
Tell him "no" -

Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh .....
Tell him "no" oh-oh-oh .....

All comments from YouTube:

MikeBlitzMag

5y↑13

One of rock and roll's definitive masterpieces. Absolute, utter perfection!

shelley Ganz

35w↑1

Agreed Mike!! LUV THIS, GREAT "HICK A BILLY"!! A Super Fave!!

Lenny Vidal

1y↑3

One of the better songs of the 59 year in 1959 and it was just something that sticks in your head for all these years I'm 78 years old and I remember it well

TheChitown5

Perfect! great harmonies

Muffs 55mercury

2y↑1

Music would never be what it is without the one hit wonders. A tad on the sad side but a great tune from a more innocent time.

Leo Nobles

5y↑1

I liked this song when it came out and today it popped into my head so had to listen to it. Thanks for posting it. When I was a kid, I thought they were saying "Teddy Nook" instead of "tell him no," and had no idea what it meant.