Lyrics

DOWN THE ROAD APIECE

Original Will Bradley Trio version


Boy, where's you goin', I seen you goin' down the street the other night!

Ah, I wasn't goin' nowhere, I been where I was goin'

That's all right, I didn't see you 'til you was plumb out of sight.
Man, I'd sure like to latch onto some of that boogie woogie tonight

You mean some of that fat boogie woogie

That's what I need

That's what I need, too

If you wanna hear some boogie, then I know the place
It's just an old piano and a knocked out bass
The drummer man's a guy they call Eight-Beat Mac
You remember Doc and old Beat Me Daddy Slack
Man, it's better than chicken fried in bacon grease
Come along with me boys, just down the road a piece

Well let's you and I walk on down the road a piece!

I'm walkin', keep going, I'm walking right behind!

Look out there, boy, don't knock into that cart!

Man, look out where you're stepping, that ain't second base!

[whistling solo]

Now there's a place you really get your kicks
It's open every night from 'bout twelve to six
If you wanna boogie woogie then you'll get your fill
Yeah, it put the eight beats through you like an old steam mill
Come along with me boys 'fore they lose their lease
It's just down the road, down the road a piece, a piece

Info

DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE is a song written by Don Raye. It was recorded in 1940 by the Will Bradley Trio and released on the B-side of CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT [by Will Bradley and his Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley]. The above lyrics are for the original Will Bradley Trio version of DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE as released in 1940.

Will Bradley and his Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley / Will Bradley Trio -- "Celery Stalks At Midnight / Down The Road A Piece"
Will Bradley and his Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley / Will Bradley Trio -- "Celery Stalks At Midnight / Down The Road A Piece"

10" single - Columbia (35707) - USA, 1940

Bruce Springsteen's Version

Bruce Springsteen has occasionally performed DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE live throughout his career. See his live Feb 1972 version for more details.

Springsteen's cover of DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE is based on the Rolling Stones' version of the song. For example, the Rolling Stones replaced "Kicking McCoy" with "Charlie McCoy" and Bruce Springsteen followed suit.

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for transcribing these lyrics.

Available Versions

List of available versions of DOWN THE ROAD APIECE on this website:

DOWN THE ROAD APIECE [Live Feb 1972 version]
DOWN THE ROAD APIECE [Live 20 Oct 1995 version]
DOWN THE ROAD APIECE [Original Will Bradley Trio version]
Page last updated: 26 Jun 2014