“Let’s Turkey Trot” – A Playful Dance Craze with the Spark of the Sixties
“Let’s Turkey Trot” by Little Eva is a lively, carefree song that perfectly embodies the fun-loving spirit of the early 1960s. Released in 1963, the track capitalized on the era’s fascination with novelty dances, following in the footsteps of other hits like “The Twist” and “The Loco-Motion”—the latter of which had also been a chart-topping success for Little Eva. With its upbeat rhythm, cheerful vocals, and catchy hooks, “Let’s Turkey Trot” encouraged listeners to get on the dance floor and embrace a silly, yet joyful new dance move.
The song’s playful lyrics describe the “turkey trot,” a simple, quirky dance that involves flapping arms and jerky steps reminiscent of a bird’s movements. The appeal lies not in sophistication but in fun and spontaneity. The chorus playfully urges:
“Come on and turkey trot, let’s turkey trot!”
The simplicity of the lyrics reflects the primary goal of the song: to get people moving and having a good time. It taps into the cultural moment when dance crazes ruled the airwaves, and every new hit song seemed to come with its own signature moves.
Musically, the track is anchored by a bouncy piano line and lighthearted rhythm that gives it a carefree, almost childlike feel. Little Eva’s warm, energetic vocals glide over the infectious beat, urging listeners to follow along and join the fun. The backing vocals, performed by members of The Cookies, add an extra layer of charm, echoing Eva’s enthusiasm with playful call-and-response lines. The song’s production, helmed by the legendary songwriting duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King, balances the simplicity of its arrangement with polished pop sensibilities, ensuring that it remains memorable and engaging.
Although “Let’s Turkey Trot” didn’t achieve the same level of success as “The Loco-Motion,” it still managed to reach #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing Little Eva’s status as one of the era’s most beloved pop stars. The song also became a favorite at high school dances and sock hops, where teenagers eagerly imitated the whimsical dance moves described in the lyrics.
The charm of “Let’s Turkey Trot” lies in its lightheartedness and refusal to take itself too seriously. It’s a song designed for pure fun—an invitation to leave your worries behind, flap your arms, and trot around the dance floor like a turkey. This carefree attitude, so emblematic of early ’60s pop music, has ensured that the song remains a nostalgic favorite, often featured in retrospectives celebrating the era’s dance crazes.
More than just a novelty track, “Let’s Turkey Trot” captures the essence of an era when music was as much about movement as it was about melody. Little Eva’s infectious enthusiasm and the playful energy of the song remind us that sometimes, the simplest pleasures—like dancing without a care—are the most memorable ones. Even today, “Let’s Turkey Trot” stands as a joyful relic of a bygone time, a song that continues to invite listeners to shake off their seriousness and dance like nobody’s watching.