Original The Dovells version
Hey pretty baby
(You can't sit down)
A-don't you hear the drummer thumping
(You can't sit down)
You got to shake it like you're crazy
(You can't sit down)
A-'cause the band is saying something
(You can't sit down)
Everybody is a-jumping
(You can't sit down)
You gotta slop, bop, flip flop, hip hop all around
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta move, move, move around and round
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta fly, fly, fly way off the ground
They're putting down a crazy sound
No no you can't sit down, no no you can't sit down
When you're on South Street
(You can't sit down)
And the band is really booting
(You can't sit down)
You hear the hip beat with the back beat
(You can't sit down)
And you see the gang a-grooving
(You can't sit down)
A-gotta get your motor moving
(You can't sit down)
You gotta make it, break it, shake it all around
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta move, move, move around and round
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta fly, fly, fly way off the ground
They're putting down a crazy sound
No no you can't sit down, no no you can't sit down
A yeah, yeah, yeah, hey pretty baby
(You can't sit down)
A-don't you really dance so fine now
(You can't sit down)
You're really shaking like you're crazy
(You can't sit down)
A-don't you never leave the line now
(You can't sit down)
A-gonna do it one more time now
(You can't sit down)
You gotta slop, bop, flip flop, hip hop, never stop
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta move, move, move around and round
(You can't sit down, you can't sit down)
You gotta fly, fly, fly way off the ground
They're putting down a crazy sound
No no you can't sit down, no no you can't sit down
No no you can't sit down, no no you can't sit down
You gotta move, move, move around and round
(You can't sit down, no no you can't sit down)
You gotta fly, fly, fly way off the ground
They're putting down a crazy sound
No no you can't sit down...
[Fades out]
YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN is a song written by Phil Upchurch, Dee Clark, Cornell Muldrow, and Kal Mann and originally released by The Dovellsas a single in 1963. The above lyrics are for the original The Dovells version of YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN as released in 1963.
The song was originally recorded in 1959 as "Can't Sit Down" by The Bim Bam Boos on Dasher Records and credited to Joe Dasher and Cornell Muldrow. It was an instrumental featuring Philip Upchurch on guitar and Cornell Muldrow on organ. The Dovells recorded a version with lyrics in 1963. It is The Dovell's version of YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN that Bruce Springsteen's cover is based on.
Bruce Springsteen performed YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN live a number of times between 1976 and 1978 and on a few occasions later in his career. See Bruce Springsteen's live 08 Dec 1978 version for more details.
List of available versions of YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN on this website:
YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN [Live 08 Dec 1978 version]