One of the most popular black singers of the 60s, Wilson Pickett helped introduce the aggressive, rhythmic style of black music to a wide audience and has influenced almost countless rnb artists over the years. It all got started in Prattville, Alabama, where he was raised. Pickett moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of sixteen, and he made his professional debut spending several years singing with the gospel group The Violinaires in the late 50s. From 1961 to 1963, he was in The Falcons, writing and singing their 1962 hit "I Found A Love".
Pickett then went solo and signed with Lloyd Price's Double L Records, where he wrote and recorded "If You Love Me" and "It's Too Late." In 1964, Pickett signed with Atlantic Records and did his early recordings in the Stax studio in Memphis, Tennessee with Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper of The MGs. Cropper co-authored three of his early hits, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Don't Fight It from his debut album The Exciting Wilson Pickett that established him as a major soul star. The album also included "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)," "She's So Good to Me," and "Land of a 1,000 Dances," all recorded at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals.
Pickett then had hits with "Mustang Sally," "I Found a Love," and "Funky Broadway," all recorded in Muscle Shoals. Pickett then teamed with Bobby Womack in 1968 for Midnight Mover that yielded a Top 10 R7B and pop hit with Womack's title song. In 1969, Pickett had a major hit with The Beatles "Hey Jude,", followed in 1970 by "Sugar, Sugar." Later in 1970, Pickett worked with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The result was two crossover hits "Engine Number Nine," and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You."
After crossover hits "Don't Knock My Love - Part 1" and "Fire and Water" Pickett left Atlantic for RCA, with minimum success. Pickett later recorded for several record companies, including his own Wicked label, but failed to have anymore hits.
Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.In 1999 he performed with his friend Bruce Springsteen.In 2002 he performed in the movie Only The Strong Survive.Singing his classic hits like In the Midnight hour and Land Of 1000 Dances.In 2004 Pickett retired from performing do to Health problems.Pickett told his sister he was going to the field of God but he never recovered.
On January 19,2006 Pickett died of a heart attack at his home. At his funeral long time friend Richard Pennimen (Little Richard) did a eulogy for Mr Pickett with his brothers at his funeral.
Pickett's Personal life was troubled. In 1993 he struck a pedestrian Pepe Ruiz. Later that year Ruiz died. Soul Singer Don Covay called him "Young and Wild". Pickett was arrested many times in his life.
Don't Fight It
Wilson Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All by yo'self
Everybody's dancin'
They can't a-help themselves
The mood is much too strong
You can't a-hold out longer
So get up
(You got to feel it, feel it)
You better get on up
And get that groove
You know what, baby?
I like the way you move!
Ya do the Thing
Like you oughta be, alright
So don't fight it
Whoa, baby, yeah, yeah
(Feel it, feel it)
The way you, Jerk
The way you do The Twine
You're too much, baby
I'd like to make you mine
And after the dance
I'm gonna take you home
So don't fight it
Baby, you've got to feel
(Feel it, feel it)
Don't fight it, oh, no
(Feel it, feel it)
You got to feel
(Feel it, feel it)
You can't fight it
(Feel it, feel it)
No.
Wilson Pickett's "Don't Fight It" is a classic soul song that speaks to the unstoppable power of music and dance. The opening lines describe a party where everyone else is getting down, and the singer urges the person sitting alone to give in to the music and join in the fun. The chorus urges the listener to "feel it" and let the groove take over. The verses praise the way the listener dances, particularly the way they "Jerk" and "Twine," and expresses a desire to take them home after the dance is over.
The song captures the feeling of surrendering to the music and allowing it to take over your body and soul. It's a celebration of the joy and release that comes from getting lost in the rhythm, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is let go and dance.
Interestingly, "Don't Fight It" was co-written by Pickett and a young guy named Steve Cropper. Cropper would go on to become one of the most in-demand session guitarists of the era, playing on numerous soul and R&B hits. He also co-wrote classics like "In the Midnight Hour" and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. Another interesting fact about "Don't Fight It" is that it was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a legendary recording studio that was responsible for some of the greatest soul and R&B records of the 60s and 70s. Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and many others recorded there.
Line by Line Meaning
There you sit
You are sitting there alone
All by yo'self
You are all alone, nobody with you
Everybody's dancin'
Everyone is dancing
They can't a-help themselves
They can't resist dancing, it's too tempting
The mood is much too strong
The party atmosphere is too infectious
You can't a-hold out longer
You cannot resist the party mood any longer
So get up
You should stand up and join the party
Don't fight it
Don't resist or suppress the urge to dance
(You got to feel it, feel it)
You need to feel the rhythm of the music and dance to it
You better get on up
You should stand up and start dancing
And get that groove
And start moving to the rhythm of the music
You know what, baby?
You know what? my dear
I like the way you move!
I like your dance moves
Ya do the Thing
You are performing the dance moves
Like you oughta be, alright
As you are supposed to dance, perfect
So don't fight it
So don't resist the party atmosphere
Whoa, baby, yeah, yeah
Wow, my dear, yes, yes
(Feel it, feel it)
Feel the rhythm of the music, dance to it
The way you, Jerk
The way you are performing the Jerk dance move
The way you do The Twine
The way you do The Twine dance move
You're too much, baby
You are a great dancer, my dear
I'd like to make you mine
I would like to have a relationship with you
And after the dance
After we finish dancing
I'm gonna take you home
I will take you to your house
So don't fight it
So don't resist, just go with the flow
Baby, you've got to feel
You need to feel the rhythm of the music
(Feel it, feel it)
Feel the rhythm of the music, dance to it
Don't fight it, oh, no
Don't resist or suppress the party atmosphere
(Feel it, feel it)
Feel the rhythm of the music, dance to it
You got to feel
You need to feel the rhythm of the music
(Feel it, feel it)
Feel the rhythm of the music, dance to it
You can't fight it
You cannot resist the party atmosphere
(Feel it, feel it)
Feel the rhythm of the music, dance to it
No.
No need to resist, just dance to the rhythm of the music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE CROPPER, WILSON PICKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rockabillydj
OMG- this is got the greatest groove EVER in the history of music! Absolutely kick arse, MATE!
David Harris
I was 19 when this song hit the charts, it still puts me in the groove 50 years later.
mike g
almost 7 decades have passed and this song gets me up every time I play it. How can anyone not "move" to this!! Thanks for the upload.
Nila Sanders
Oh how right you are! Brings back amazing dancing memories!!
Indian Summer
Still movin' at almost 73!😍
Alan Wilson
Five decades, chuklehead.
Alan Wilson
Five decades fool!
Jewell Winston
Ikr
OutsideNila
This is beautiful! I used to dance my ass off to this back in the 60s. Wilson is King!
Seagull Rock Squawk
The early DOORS played this tune for a cover song. Jammed it.
This was before they put out their first album !