About the song
“Mess Around” is a timeless classic that has been delighting music lovers for generations. Written by Ahmet Ertegun, the co-founder and vice-president of Atlantic Records, under the pseudonym A. Nugetre, this song has become an iconic representation of the early days of rhythm and blues. Released in 1953, “Mess Around” was one of Ray Charles’s first hits, and its enduring popularity is a testament to the song’s infectious energy and timeless appeal.
The song’s origins can be traced back to the stride pianist Pete Johnson, who inspired Ertegun to write the tune. The New Orleans boogie piano riff that underpins the song has its roots in the early 1930s and 1940s, with examples such as Charles “Cow Cow” Davenport’s “Cow Cow Blues” from 1928. Dr. John, a renowned New Orleans pianist, has also spoken about the song’s origins on his DVD series, Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano.
The lyrics of “Mess Around” are a call to dance, urging listeners to get up and move to the music. The song’s catchy chorus, featuring the iconic phrase “see that girl with the red dress on”, is a nod to Pinetop Smith’s early boogie-woogie classic, “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie”. The song’s release in 1953 marked a significant milestone in Charles’s career, and it has since been covered by numerous artists, including the Animals, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, and Squeeze.
“Mess Around” has also made appearances in popular culture, featuring in films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Ray, as well as the TV series Lucifer. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the song’s timeless appeal, and its influence can be heard in many genres of music, from rock and roll to jazz and blues.
Video
Lyrics
Ah, you can talk about the pit, barbecue
The band was jumpin’, the people too
Ah, mess around
They doin’ the mess around
They doin’ the mess around
Everybody doin’ the mess around
Ah, everybody was juiced, you can, bet your soul
They did the boogie-woogie, with a steady roll
They mess around
They doin’ the mess around
They doin’ the mess around
Everybody doin’ the mess around
Now, ah, when I say stop don’t you move a peg
When I say go, just ah, shake your leg
And do the mess around
I declare, doin’ the mess around
Yeah, do the mess around
Everybody’s doin’ the mess around
Now let me have it there, boy
Now you got it, boy
Now this band’s goin’ to play from, nine to one
Everybody here’s gonna have some fun
Doin’ the mess around
Ah, doin’ the mess around
They doin’ the mess around
Everybody doin’ the mess around
Now you see that girl, with that, diamond ring
She knows how to, shake that thing
Mess around
I declare, she can mess around
Ah, mess around
Everybody do the mess around