I started this one after reading about the song “Hokey Pokey.” It was originally a play-party song from the 1850’s. When it got to the part about “put your whole self in, take your whole self out, put your whole self in, and turn yourself around,” I wanted something at the end that rhymed. When “twist and shout” popped into my head, I knew I had it. The rest came easily.
Every day when you wake up
Get on your feet and dance
Take your legs and shake ‘em up
Get on your feet and dance
Do it to the right, do it to the left
Do it to the north, south, east, and west
Do it any way that feels the best
Just get on your feet and dance
Find a carpet, then cut a rug
Get on your feet and dance
You can be a little jitterbug
Get on your feet and dance
Do it in a circle, do it in a square
It doesn’t matter what you wear
No one’s watching, no one cares
So get on your feet and dance
Crank up the music, find the groove
Get on your feet and dance
When things get loose, let everything move
Get on your feet and dance
Put your whole self in, take your whole self out
Put your whole self in, twist and shout
That’s what life is all about
Get on your feet and dance
