The lyrics describe someone who spends an evening dancing with a partner and does not want the fun to end. At first, the singer sounds unsure, but once the dancing begins, his attention turns to the music, his partner, and the passing time. The mood is playful and energetic, building toward the comic frustration of having to leave when the band stops playing.
โReelinโ and rockinโโ suggests moving and dancing with lively, perhaps slightly dizzying energy; it is a rhythmic phrase rather than a precise description of a dance. The repeated watch-checking gives the song a simple structure: the minutes pass, but the party continues. โGet my kicksโ means to enjoy oneself or get excitement, not to receive a physical kick. The line about being unable to tell whether he was โdead or aliveโ is an exaggerated way to say he is exhausted or overwhelmed by dancing.
The lyrics are mostly a light celebration of music, movement, and shared enjoyment. The singerโs changing descriptions of the womanโincluding surprise at her sizeโmake the scene a little absurd, but the song does not clearly explain what he thinks of her or why he is surprised. The opening uncertainty also remains unexplained: it may simply set up the contrast with his later enthusiasm.