SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL^©

Live 02 Sep 1995 version

One, two, three, four
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Get into that kitchen and make some noise with those pots and pans, babe
Well I believe to my soul you're the devil in nylon hose
Yeah I believe to my soul you're the devil in nylon hose
Well the harder I work the faster my money goes

I said, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Well you won't do right now to save your doggone soul

Well you wear those dresses when the sun come shinin' through
Yeah you wear those dresses when the sun come shinin' through
Well baby I can't believe all of that belongs to you

I said, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Ah, you no wouldn't now to save your doggone soul
I said, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
The harder I work, the faster my money goes

Page last updated: 17 Mar 2008

Written by Charles Calhoun, SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL was most famously done by Bill Haley And His Comets, but it was originally recorded by Joe Turner. Check out the original version for more details.

The above lyrics are for the live 02 Sep 1995 performance at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, OH, during the concert for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That was the first known Bruce Springsteen performance of the song, and it was Joe Turner's version that he covered. The concert was broadcast live by various TV stations in the US. SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL was performed as part of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's set, and along with GREAT BALLS OF FIRE and WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON (two numbers performed by Jerry Lee Lewis backed up by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band) were officially released a year later by Columbia Records on the various artists 2-CD compilation The Concert For The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Bruce Springsteen performed the song live in a few more special occasions, always off-tour:

• 16 Oct 1995 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
  The song was played during an extensive (3 to 4 hours) private rehearsal to prepare for the start of the Grushecky-Springsteen "October Assault" mini-tour starting the following night.
   
• 09 Aug 1996 at Great Northern Bar And Grill, Whitefish, MT
  Springsteen dropped by to catch the final set of the evening by The Fanatics, the restaurant's resident house band. He hopped onstage and sang two songs: SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL and MUSTANG SALLY. The Fanatics had been hired to play at Toby Scott's wedding reception the following day. It appears that Bruce, in anticipation of performing the next day, wanted to meet the band and get in a bit of practice.
   
• 10 Aug 1996 at Grand Mountain Lounge, Whitefish, MT
  This was during the wedding reception of Toby Scott (Springsteen's longtime recording engineer and archivist). Bruce joined local Whitefish rock band The Fanatics for several songs including SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL.
   
• 11 Oct 1998 at Springsteen's residence in Colt's Neck, NJ
  This was a belated outdoor birthday bash for Bruce at his farm property, originally planned for 23 Sep 1998, but which had been delayed due to poor weather. As they had the previous year, New York City based band The Gotham Playboys provided the entertainment, and Bruce joined them for several songs including SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL.
   
• 06 Nov 1998 at Club 251, West Palm Beach, FL
  SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL was among the several songs on which Springsteen played during a guest appearance with Clarence Clemons at the club.

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake). Some info about the live performances are taken from Brucebase.