Bim Bam Boos ( The ) - You can't sit down

First performance: 01/08/1976

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 34 times in full:

2012-09-02 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
2011-07-17 Wonder Bar, Asbury Park
2009-10-19 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia
2009-07-19 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
2009-04-28 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia
2008-08-15 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville
1987-07-31 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park
1982-02-20 Big Man's West, Red Bank
1981-07-11 Big Man's West, Red Bank
1979-04-15 Fast Lane (The), Asbury Park
1978-12-08 Summit (The), Houston
1978-09-16 Palladium, New York City
1978-08-25 Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
1978-06-05 Sports Arena, Toledo, OH
1978-05-29 Music Hall, Boston
1978-05-27 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1978-05-26 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1978-05-23 Shea's Buffalo Theatre, Buffalo
1977-12-31 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
1977-03-25 Music Hall, Boston
1977-03-24 Music Hall, Boston
1977-03-23 Music Hall, Boston
1977-03-22 Music Hall, Boston
1977-03-20 Alumni Hall, Providence
1976-10-18 McDonough Arena, Washington, DC
1976-09-26 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix
1976-08-22 Springfield Civic Center, Springfield
1976-08-21 Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT
1976-08-07 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
1976-08-06 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
1976-08-05 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
1976-08-03 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
1976-08-02 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
1976-08-01 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank
 
 
 
  •  Snippets (15 times)
during LIGHT OF DAY
 
2012-04-17 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia
1999-09-24 First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia
1999-09-21 First Union Center, Philadelphia
 
during DETROIT MEDLEY

1981-09-08 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-08-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-24 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-16 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-11 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1981-08-04 Capital Centre, Largo
1981-07-29 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield
1981-07-19 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-16 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia
 

Songinfo

"You Can't Sit Down" was originally recorded in 1959 as "Can't Sit Down" by The Bim Bam Boos on Dasher Records catalogue number D-500 and credited to Dasher - Muldrow, it featured Philip Upchurch on guitar and Cornell Muldrow on organ. The later better-known recording of "You Can't Sit Down" by Phil Upchurch and his Combo (Upchurch, Muldrow, David Brooks, Mac Johnson and Joe Haddick) was re-recorded in New Orleans in 1960 and released in 1961 by Boyd Records (Boyd 3398) of Oklahoma with distribution by United Artists Records. Upchurch's own version reached #29 on the Billboard pop charts. This was followed by the vocal cover version by the Dovells that reached number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1963. It is based, at least in part, on the gospel song "Sit Down Servant".
 
 
   

Other cover versions

It was the Dovell's version that Bruce's cover is based on.
 
 

Bruce on the artist

2021-07-21 SiriusXM Studio, New York City
Bruce played the song during the 25th episode of 'From My Home to Yours' series, themed "Frat Party"
 
Bruce on the song: 
"You Can't Sit Down" was an E Street Band barn burner of a encore for quite a few years. Of course, my man Little Steven Van Zandt played and traveled with The Dovells for a number of years. With its great organ and frenetic pace, it is a guaranteed showstopper. Get out of your seats!"
 
 
 
  
 

Lyrics

INSTRUMENTAL
 
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...