Peak
7
Weeks
15
Score
2,507
Chart Year
1973
///
Despite the line, "You're a bad dog baby, but I still want you around," this song is not about an actual dog, although it has long been rumored to be. Gilbert O'Sullivan says it's about "an overzealous lady," not a poorly trained pooch. The dog rumor started when the BBC played it on their Christmas 1973 edition of Top Of The Pops. Their dance troupe, Pan's People, did a routine to the song where the five dancers chastised four very patient pooches (one ran off early on) as part of the choreography. This very literal interpretation of the song has hung around for decades. In America, O'Sullivan is best known for his #1 hit "Alone Again (Naturally)," but in the UK, his chart-toppers were "Clair," followed by "Get Down." This made O'Sullivan the first Irish-born artist with two UK #1 hits (he grew up in England, where his family moved when he was young). This funky, rock-oriented song marked a change in direction from O'Sullivan's previous singles, which were mostly ballads. The musicians supplementing Gilbert's piano included Chris Spedding (guitar) and Herbie Flowers (bass). This was only a modest hit in America, but it was huge in the UK, where it won the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed British Song of 1973. "Get Down" is a great example of O'Sullivan's very percussive piano technique. "I play the piano like drums, so my left hand is basically hitting the high hat, and the right hand is the snare," he told the SodaJerker podcast. According to Rick Finch, this song inspired the KC & The Sunshine Band hit Get Down Tonight, which Rick co-wrote. In March 1973, this was released in the UK backed by "A Very Extraordinary Sort Of Girl" on the MAM label. Over the years, it appeared on various records, including a 1985 Dutch release on the BR Music label as the B-side of "Matrimony," and the 1986 release on the Kitty label, Japan, as the B-side of "Alone Again (Naturally)."
Told you once before And I won't tell you no more Get down, get down, get down You're a bad dog baby But I still want you 'round You give me the creeps When you jump on your feet So get down, get down, get down Keep your hands to yourself I'm strictly out of bounds Once upon a time I drank a little wine Was as happy as could be, happy as could be Now I'm just like a cat on a hot tin roof Baby what do you think you're doin' to me Told you once before And I won't tell you no more So get down, get down, get down You're a bad dog baby But I still want you 'round, around I still want you around I don't give a damn And I'd like you if you can to Get down, get down, get down You're a bad dog baby But I still want you 'round
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 23, 1973 | 76 | 50 |
| 2 | Jun 30, 1973 | 61 | 65 |
| 3 | Jul 7, 1973 | 48 | 78 |
| 4 | Jul 14, 1973 | 31 | 95 |
| 5 | Jul 21, 1973 | 22 | 104 |
| 6 | Jul 28, 1973 | 18 | 108 |
| 7 | Aug 4, 1973 | 14 | 112 |
| 8 | Aug 11, 1973 | 13 | 113 |
| 9 | Aug 18, 1973 | 7 | 119 |
| 10 | Aug 25, 1973 | 7 | 119 |
| 11 | Sep 1, 1973 | 8 | 118 |
| 12 | Sep 8, 1973 | 13 | 113 |
| 13 | Sep 15, 1973 | 17 | 109 |
| 14 | Sep 22, 1973 | 27 | 99 |
| 15 | Sep 29, 1973 | 45 | 81 |