Even though stylistically, this song is pretty much a Honky Tonk Country tune, I wrote it to pay my last respects to Little Joe Cook who was an R&B performer and recording artist that I worked with and learned from over the years. Truth is, it's mostly just a song about Going out, Dancing and Having Fun.
The Cantab Lounge was like a second home to me in my early days around Boston. It was the heyday of Stevie Ray Vaughn's popularity so, like many guitarists, I was really into trying to polish the technical aspects of playing the instrument.
The thing is, that until Little Joe pointed it out to me, I never noticed that most people really don't care if you play fast, cool licks. They just want to find someone to dance with and have a good time.
Listen to the song for the rest of the story. I hope you like it.
And please ... look up Little Joe on YouTube. He was a hot shit!
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******************** In Case You Don't Know ... ********************
- Little Joe Cook passed away on April 15, 2014 at the age of 91, but he was a great performer right to the end and, back in the 1950s and 60s he was a successful recording artist. I didn't meet him until he was in his 70's. But even then, he was still packing the house with college kids 5 nights a week.
- At the height of exciting points in a song, Joe used to howl out at the audience "Dance Your Pants Off, You Disco Freaks!"
(I used that line in this song, but it's really his. Thanks Joe)
- Joe used to have a nickname for everybody at the jams. There was California Clay, West Coast Tommy, Head-Down Danny, Delaware Floyd, Chuck-a-Luck, Turn-Around-Terry and many others. I was no exception... He always called me Ponytail-Bob because my hair was pretty long when I first met him and I wore it tied back most of the time.
- Joe was famous for coining the phrase, "you Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers", in reference to the Guys and Girls in the crowd. Joe took the secret with him so I still don't know which was the guys and which was the girls, but in this song I made the guys be the Cheese on top.
lyrics
LYRICS to the song:
Way back when… I first came to town ..I Jammed at the Cantab Lounge.
I met a lot of talented people there and some of them were even renowned.
One memorable cat named Little Joe Cook taught me many important things.
He called me Pony Tail Bob taught me how to play music that swings…
Well Little Joe said "Hey, Pony-Tail You got to think of what the music will say?”
Them hamburger’s lookin for cheese on top,
but they’re depending on the music you play.
He said people got their own drama and they got their own romance too
so-my-pledge-is-to-help-that-girl get up and dance with you
So I think …
It’s about time ..for you to dance your pants off you disco freaks
It’s about time ..'cause this band is so tight that it squeaks
It’s about time that girl found out,
you’re the man she’s been dreaming about,
and it’s about time you stop sittin' there like some old antiques
(Guitar Solo … )
It’s about time ..that you sweat off some of that beer
It’s about time for your shoes to beat the floor to tears
It’s about time .she found out ..
You’re the man she’s been dreaming about .
And it’s about time that you stop wasting your best years
Little Joe said “Slow dancing’s good. but it's hard to get the girls on the floor.”
“and if you’re up there playing slow blues all night,
the ladies, they’ll head right for the door”.
To get you out of your seat 'n moving your feet, you need songs that Motivate
Then the boys and girls can begin to negotiate. . .
That's why I sat down and wrote this song about why you’re all here
You wanna meet a new friend, see some old ones and drink some beer.
But there’s another thing you gotta do that’ll help you get the other things too
Ask that pretty girl right over there to dance with you.
It’s about time ..you forget about all your fears
It’s about time -you-shift your Game into High Gear
It’s about time that girl found out ..
You’re the man she’s been dreaming about,
and it’s about time you stop wasting your best years
Hell Yeah ..
It’s about time ..that you sweat off some of that beer
It’s about time for your shoes to beat the floor to tears
It’s about time .she found out ..
You’re the man she’s been dreaming about .
And it’s about time that you stop wasting your best years
It’s about time ..you fought back all your fears
It’s about time -you-put this night in High Gear
It’s about time she found out ..
You’re the man she’s been dreaming about,
and it’s about time you stop wasting your best years
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