Johnnie Taylor - "Disco Lady"


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Has ever a filthier song been such a #1 (R&B and pop) smash? (I'm not considering Chuck Berry's sadly pathetic "My Ding-a-Ling," a novelty song if ever there was.)

Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it around, disco lady
Move it in, move it out, move it in, 'round about, disco lady
Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it around, disco lady

Well, hey sexy lady
Said I like the way you do your thang
Lord have mercy girl
You dance so fine and you're right on time
Girl you oughta be on T.V., on Soul Train
When you get the groove there ain't no stoppin'
Just can't help it, but I'm finger poppin'

Shake it up, shake it down, move it in, move it around, disco lady
Move it in, move it 'round, move it in, 'round about, disco lady

Shake it baby shake it, baby shake your thang
Shake it baby shake it, baby shake your thang
You've got me groovin'
I feel like movin'
You've got me movin'
Can't sit still I'm groovin' (I like that funky stuff)

Shake it up, shake it down, move it in, move it around, disco lady
Move it in, move it out
Shove it in 'round about, disco lady

Hey, sexy lady
Girl, you drive me crazy
You dance so fine and you're right on time
Girl, you driving me out of my mind, yeah
If it wasn't for the girl sittin' next to me
I'd jump right up and outta my seat you see
You got me hyp-no-tized, so mes-mer-ized
Girl you're movin' me
Girl you're groovin' me

Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it round, disco lady, yeah
Move it in, move it out, shove it in 'round about, disco lady
Hey, you got me so set here in this discotheque
Girl, you're movin' me
Girl, you're groovin' me


I particularly note the lyric "shove it in", which seems pretty clear to me.

Yes, I know that "Disco Lady" simultaneously made Taylor's career - not only did the song top the charts, but its attendant album, his Columbia debut Eargasm, went #1 R&B/#5 pop - and undid it, as it ripped him from the Stax/blues cradle in which he'd come up. I'm sad for that, but nonetheless happy that he cut "Disco Lady." To my ears, this song drips with soul; sure, it's disco(ish), but is still firmly in and from the southern soul tradition. No matter what your musical persuasion, "Disco Lady" is a superb single.