The Rubberband Man

The Spinners

About The Rubberband Man

"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners. The song, written by producer Thom Bell and singer-songwriter Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight. Intended to improve his son's self-image, the song eventually evolved from being about "The Fat Man" to "The Rubberband Man". The last major hit by the Spinners to feature Philippé Wynne on lead vocals, "The Rubberband Man" spent three weeks at number two on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 (blocked from the top spot by Rod Stewart's massive hit single "Tonight's the Night") and topped the U. S. R&B chart at the end of 1976. It was also a top-20 hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 16 in October 1976. The song was included in the Detroit Free Press's "Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs" list, ranking 70th. 


Year:
1977
116 
#2

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Hand me down my walkin' cane
Hand me down my hat
Hurry now and don't be late
'Cause we ain't got time to chat
You and me we're goin' out
To catch the latest sounds
Guaranteed to blow your mind
So high you won't come down

Hey, y'all prepare yourself
For the rubberband man
You never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control
When the rubberband starts to jam

Oh, Lord this dude is outta sight
Everything he does
Seems to come out right

Once I went to hear them play
At a club outside of town
I was so surprised, I was hypnotized
By the sound this cat's puttin' down
When I saw this short fat guy
Stretched a band between his toes
Hey, I laughed so hard 'cause the man got down
When he finally reached his goal

Hey, y'all prepare yourself
For the rubberband man
You never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control
When the rubberband starts to jam

Got that rubberband
Up on his toes
And then he wriggled it up
All around his nose

Guaranteed to blow your mind
Playin' all that music, yet keepin' time
Where in the world did he learn that, oh, Lord
Lord, help him get away

Hey, y'all prepare yourself
For the rubberband man
You never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control
When the rubberband starts to jam

Rubberband man, rubberband man
How much of this stuff do he think we can stand
So much rhythm, grace and debonair from one man, Lord
And then he had the nerve to wiggle his left toe
To his knee, got the feelin' in his head, y'all
Ah, come on baby

Hey, y'all prepare yourself
For the rubberband man
You never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control (and he likes to jam)
When the rubberband starts to jam

Rubberband man starts to jam
Movin' up and down across the land
Got people all in his ways
Everything about him seems out of place
Just a movin', just a movin', just a move-move-movin'
Just a, a rubberband, rubberband man
Just a movin', just a movin', just a move-move-movin'
Just a rubberband, rubberband man

Get down
Oh, get down lover
Uh-huh

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The Spinners

The Spinners are a soul and R&B vocal group that emerged in the 1960s. They gained popularity for their smooth harmonies and hit songs like "I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love." The group's lineup has changed over the years, but they have remained a prominent act in the soul music genre. more »

4 fans

Written by: LINDA CREED, LINDA DIANE CREED, THOM BELL, THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release Date
"The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners was released in 1976.
Chart Performance
The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped the U.S. R&B chart.
Grammy Nomination
"The Rubberband Man" earned The Spinners a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1977.
Song Origin
The song was written by songwriter Thom Bell for his son, who had difficulty with his homework. He used the song to explain to him that some things take time to learn.
Album Name
"The Rubberband Man" is from the album "Happiness Is Being with the Spinners."
Song Length
The album version of the song was almost 7 half minutes long, but it was edited down to 3 minutes and 33 seconds for radio play.
Lead Vocalist
It was one of the band's biggest hits featuring vocalist Phillipe Wynne.
Later Use
The song was featured in the 2017 movie "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," renewing its popularity.
Cover Versions
The song was covered by multiple artists post its release, with some notable versions by Yello and Trent Reznor.
Song Meaning
Although the song was written for Bell’s son, its lyrics are metaphorical and are wide open to interpretation. The"Rubberband Man" could signify an energetic person who is flexible and can bounce back from hard times.
Dance Moves
The song is notable for inspiring a dance routine, where participants mimic the stretching and releasing of a rubber band with their movements.

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    The Rubberband Man

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1976

    Billboard #2


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