Come On, Coot Do That Thing

Song Meaning

This track opens with a boast: the narrator, Coot, is the one who outshines all the other dancers. While Lizzie and Jennie strutted and Liza was the best, Coot is the "baby that turned their dampers down." When Coot enters the hall, the crowd reacts with an immediate, excited "squall." The energy is palpable, setting the stage for Coot's performance. The core of the song is a command and a declaration: "Come on, Coot, and do that thing." The "thing" is a specific, unique dance. It's described as getting "all up in a hump" and moving like "old folks hunch," with hand slaps and a rise-and-fall motion. The repeated instruction "don't you change" emphasizes the value of Coot's individual style, a style that clearly captivates the audience. The lyrics highlight a fascinating tension between tradition and individuality. The dance is compared to "old folks hunch," suggesting a rootedness in established forms. Yet, the narrator is also urged to let "an idea, let it ring" and to "shimmy" and "wobble." This suggests that while the dance has familiar elements, it's also a space for personal expression and improvisation, a "thing" that is uniquely Coot's. Ultimately, the song celebrates a performer who commands attention through a distinctive, perhaps even eccentric, dance. The repeated phrase "I can do that thing" is a powerful assertion of skill and self-possession. It's not just about dancing; it's about owning a unique talent and reveling in the electrifying response it generates from the crowd.