He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Harris traveled as a singer and dancer with the Lucky Millinder Big Band in his youth. His first big solo hit was in 1944 with his record "Who Threw The Whiskey in the Well". He was a dynamic live performer who brought a lot of attention to the emerging styles of rhythm and blues.
Harris made a major contribution to the birth of rock and roll when he covered "Good Rocking Tonight", written and originally recorded by Roy Brown. Brown's version was a jump blues with a jazz rhythm section. Harris's cover version was much more frantic and played with a much stronger back beat. In effect, Harris, a black artist, had done what many white artists were to do later. He had turned blues into rock and roll and made one of the first rock and roll records. The song was later covered by Elvis Presley.
Harris recorded for many labels and in 1947, had a hit on Aladdin Records with "Wynonie's Blues", featuring Illinois Jacquet on tenor sax. His greatest success came at King Records where he was the leading male solo artist. "All She Wants to Do is Rock" went to Number One on the R&B charts. Many of his songs were novelty numbers, like "(Don't Roll Those) Bloodshot Eyes (at Me)", "Good Morning, Judge", and "I Love my Baby's Pudding", and his last hit, "Loving Machine".
Harris' severe alcoholism resulted in his career going into a tailspin in the mid-1950s. While other blues shouters of his generation such as Big Joe Turner were able to maintain their popularity despite changing styles, and Presley's cover versions brought his songs to a whole new audience, Harris fell into obscurity. He recorded little after 1956 and nothing after 1960. Harris' last public appearance was as a guest performer at a Motortown Revue concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California in 1966, which was universally considered to be a disaster (according to author Nick Tosches' article on Harris in Creem magazine, collected in Tosches' Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll). Harris died of throat cancer on June 14, 1969.
Good Rockin Tonight
Wynonie Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty man
I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty man
So meet me in the alley behind the barn
Don't you be afraid 'cause I'll do you no harm
Baby, bring my rockin' shoes
'Cause tonight I'm gonna rock away all my blues
Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
I got the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty man
I got the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Well, Al's around, Deacon Jones
They even left their happy home
They'll be there just you wait and see
A-jumpin' and a-stompin' at the Jubilee
Hey man, that's a-good rockin' tonight
Sweet Lorraine, Sioux-City Sue,
Sweet Georgia Brown, Caledonia too
They'll be there, jumpin' like mad
Hey sister, ain't you glad
We got the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Hoy-hoy-hoy, there's good rockin' tonight
Hey, hey, hey everybody's rockin' tonight
The song "Good Rocking Tonight" by Wynonie Harris was originally released in 1947 and later became a hit in the early 1950s. The song is considered to be a classic example of early rock and roll and rhythm & blues music. The lyrics depict the excitement and enthusiasm of the music scene during this era. The opening lyrics, "I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight" suggest that an event or party is happening and everyone is invited to come and let loose. The singer is eager to hold his lover tightly and show her that he is a "mighty man." The chorus repeats the phrase "good rockin' tonight," emphasizing the importance of this musical genre to its fans.
The second verse expands on the theme of the party or event happening, with the lyrics "Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight." The singer urges his lover to meet him "in the alley behind the barn" where they can dance and forget their troubles, as he plans to "rock away all my blues." The bridge of the song mentions some of the notable figures attending this event, such as musicians Al and Deacon Jones. The final lyrics reiterate that "everybody's rockin' tonight" and encourage listeners to join in the joyous celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
Did you hear the news? Everyone is going to be rocking tonight
Gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
I am going to hold my loved one very close to me
Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty man
Today I'll be known as powerful and strong by my significant other
Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Have you not heard? There's going to be a lot of people dancing tonight
So meet me in the alley behind the barn
Let us meet in that alley by the barn
Don't you be afraid 'cause I'll do you no harm
Do not fear because I will not harm you
Baby, bring my rockin' shoes
Honey, bring me my shoes that I can dance in
'Cause tonight I'm gonna rock away all my blues
Tonight I am going to forget all my worries and just dance
I got the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
I received the news that everyone is going to be dancing tonight
Well, Al's around, Deacon Jones
Al and Deacon Jones will be here
They even left their happy home
They even left their comfortable house
They'll be there just you wait and see
You'll see, they'll be there
A-jumpin' and a-stompin' at the Jubilee
They'll be jumping and dancing at the Jubilee
Hey man, that's a-good rockin' tonight
Wow, that's some amazing dancing tonight
Sweet Lorraine, Sioux-City Sue
Lorraine, Sue from Sioux City
Sweet Georgia Brown, Caledonia too
Georgia Brown too. As well as Caledonia.
They'll be there, jumpin' like mad
They'll be dancing quite a bit
Hey sister, ain't you glad
Aren't you happy about this, my dear?
We got the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
We received word that everyone is going to be dancing tonight
Hoy-hoy-hoy, there's good rockin' tonight
Wow! This is great dancing tonight
Hey, hey, hey everybody's rockin' tonight
Everybody is dancing tonight! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roy Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlo6230
ELVIS NAILED IT
@northlight1908
The first true rock 'n' roll record, for my money. Heavy backbeat. This is the one that kicked it all off.
@Aqua.man045
Still Jump blues but the tempo is very rock and roll.
@ericm.7754
Sister Rosetta Tharpe's Strange Things Happening Every Day is a little earlier, but this one rocks a little more than that one.
@hyzercreek
@@ericm.7754 She sure was great. Rocking in the bosom of Abraham. She was Rocking the Cradle of the Lord. She
@hipnogger
What about Arthur Big Boy Crudup, came out 2 years earlier.
@justawitness4963
I agree 100%. This song has a classic early rock and roll feel to it.
@jabezcreed
I've been on a personal quest to understand rock and roll, and I appreciate that this recording shows all the signs of rock and roll as opposed to the heavy syncopation of the Roy Brown original. The backbeat is now emphasized, and the lyrics have the more free wheeling aspect over many blues style lyrics.
@larrybuxton4614
This is more rock n roll to me than Rock Around the Clock, for sure.
@rayley1
I've listen to "Good Rocking Tonight" by Wynonie Harris' released in 1948 many many times and cannot understand why it is never mention as a possible contender for the title of first rock 'n' roll record. Who can't help listening to the refrain, "Well I heard the news, there's good rocking tonight and not say this is a true rock n' roll record !