Tunesmith Tuesday - "Mess Around" by Ray Charles

Released on June 19, 1953, Mess Around was one of Ray Charles first hits. It starts off with a New Orleans-style boogie piano riff, then seamlessly segues into Charles' distinctive flair.

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, do 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

(Yeah, ah, mess around, go on mess around)

(Mess around, 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