About the Song
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On: A Raucous Rock and Roll Anthem by Jerry Lee Lewis
In the annals of rock and roll history, few figures stand as tall and iconic as Jerry Lee Lewis. With his untamed pompadour, flamboyant stage persona, and lightning-fast piano playing, Lewis was a true original, a wild man who embodied the untamed spirit of the genre’s early days. And among his many incendiary performances, few songs capture his raw energy and infectious enthusiasm quite like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”
Released in 1957, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” was an instant sensation, rocketing up the charts and becoming one of Lewis’s biggest hits. The song’s driving beat, catchy melody, and risqué lyrics made it an irresistible force, and Lewis’s unhinged vocals and pounding piano playing added an extra layer of wild abandon. It was a sound that had never been heard before, a raw, untamed expression of youthful rebellion that set the stage for the rock and roll revolution to come.
“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” was more than just a hit song; it was a cultural touchstone. The song’s influence can be heard in countless rock and roll acts that followed, from Chuck Berry to The Beatles. It was a template for rock and roll songwriting, a demonstration of how to combine simple, catchy elements with raw energy and unrestrained passion.
But “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” is more than just a historical artifact; it’s a song that still sounds fresh and exciting today. Lewis’s performance is still electrifying, his piano playing still jaw-dropping. The song’s energy is infectious, and its lyrics are still as relevant as ever. It’s a reminder of a time when rock and roll was young and dangerous, when it had the power to shock and excite, and when it could change the world.
Key takeaways:
- “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” is a seminal rock and roll song that captures the raw energy and infectious enthusiasm of the genre’s early days.
- Jerry Lee Lewis’s unhinged vocals and pounding piano playing make the song a wild, untamed expression of youthful rebellion.
- The song’s influence can be heard in countless rock and roll acts that followed, and it remains a fresh and exciting listen today.
Video
Lyrics
Come on over, baby, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
Yes I said come on over, baby, baby, you can’t go wrong
We ain’t fakin’ a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
Well, I said come on over, baby, we got chicken in the barn
Come on over, baby, babe, I got the bull by the horns
We ain’t fakin’, a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
Well, shake, baby, shake
I said shake, baby, shake
I said shake it, baby, shake it
Well shake, baby, shake
Come on over, whole lot of shakin goin’ on
Ah let’s go
Well, come over, baby, we got chicken in the barn
Whose barn, what barn, my barn
Come on over, baby, better got your bull by the horn
We ain’t fakin’, whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on
Easy now
Shake it, oh, shake it, baby
Yeah, you can shake one time for me
Well, I said on come over, baby, whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on
Now let’s get real low one time now
Shake, baby, shake
All you gotta, honey, is kinda stand in one spot
Wiggle around just a little bit
That’s what you gotta do, yeah
Ooh, babe, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
Now let’s go one time
Shake it, babe, shake it
Shake it, babe, shake
Shake it, babe, come on, babe
Shake it, babe, shake it
Come on over, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on