Throughout the 70s and 80s, the group remained up with the times and occasionally crept ahead of them, such that they became influences themselves upon younger generations of R&B and hip-hop acts. By the time the group's popularity started to fizzle in the late 80s, a series of hits were left in the band's wake, ranging from greasy, funky workouts to smooth ballads to swinging synthesized tracks and more. Further separating Cameo from their forebears was the fact that they didn't have a diaper-clad guitarist. Instead, they had a codpiece-wearing lead vocalist in Larry Blackmon.
Today, the group's iconic single "Word Up", released in 1986 from the album of the same time, remains a radio staple. The U.S. Hot Dance Singles and U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart topper has also been famously covered by artists such as the hard rock band Gun and the alternative metal group Korn. Other popular Cameo singles include "Attack Me With Your Love", "Candy", "Freaky Dancin'","I Just Want To Be", and "Sparkle".
Rigor Mortis
Cameo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rigor Mortis won't sit, just sit there and you'll see,
The music sounds to good for you to look and act this way.
Just free your mind of all your thoughts and you will surely say yeah!
Are you ready? For the party maker!
Are you ready? For the jazz taker.
Say uh, uh, uh- get on down.
Say you-can't do it like you should.
Then move aside, 'cause ? ain't how to do.
Now get on down! (conversation)
IF you hustle- that's cool.
If you bustop, you know thats cool too.
Say you can't do what you wanna do.
The musics good, I wanna get down wichu.
Say I've got to shake it out the scene.
What's good for you, might not be good for me.
Now get on down!
You shake your hips, you got on down, there's not much more to say.
And now this thing is over, I'd like to go your way.
You say that's not too slick, 'cause ya man couldn't dig it quite that way.
Well, Hey! That's cool, go on home, we'll party anyway.
Now get on down!
The lyrics of Cameo's song Rigor Mortis is a call to action, an invitation to the listener to dance and groove to the music. The first verse encourages the listener to let go of their inhibitions and join in the dance, stating that the music is too good to be wasted on standing still. The chorus then asks the listener if they are ready for the party and urges them to get on down to the beat. The second verse acknowledges that everyone has their own way of dancing, and that's cool as long as they're moving to the music. The song ends with an invitation to the listener to party on, regardless of their dancing styles.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't see why you won't groove, won't have this dance with me.
I can't understand why you're not moving to the music and dancing with me.
Rigor Mortis won't sit, just sit there and you'll see,
If you don't start dancing, you'll feel the stiffness of not moving.
The music sounds to good for you to look and act this way.
The music is too good to not be dancing and enjoying it.
Just free your mind of all your thoughts and you will surely say yeah!
Let go of your worries and just let yourself enjoy the music and the dancing.
Are you ready? For the party maker!
Are you ready to party with me?
Are you ready? For the jazz taker.
Are you ready for me to take you on a jazz-filled journey?
Say uh, uh, uh- get on down.
Say 'uh, uh, uh' and dance along with the beat.
Say it feels good then sure man get on down.
If the music feels good, then let yourself dance along with it.
Say you-can't do it like you should.
If you can't dance like you want to, that's okay.
Then move aside, 'cause ? ain't how to do.
Don't let your inability to dance stop others from enjoying themselves.
Now get on down! (conversation)
Now, let's get back to the dancing.
IF you hustle- that's cool.
If you dance the same way as everyone else, that's okay.
If you bustop, you know that's cool too.
If you dance differently than others, that's cool too.
Say you can't do what you wanna do.
If you can't dance the way you want to, that's okay.
The musics good, I wanna get down wichu.
The music is good, and I want to dance with you.
Say I've got to shake it out the scene.
I have to dance and let it all out on the dance floor.
What's good for you, might not be good for me.
We might have different dancing styles, and that's okay.
Now get on down!
Time to dance and enjoy the music!
You shake your hips, you got on down, there's not much more to say.
You're dancing and enjoying the music, and that's all that matters.
And now this thing is over, I'd like to go your way.
Now that the party is over, I'd like to spend time with you and get to know you better.
You say that's not too slick, 'cause ya man couldn't dig it quite that way.
You don't think that's a smooth move, because your partner didn't appreciate the offer.
Well, Hey! That's cool, go on home, we'll party anyway.
It's okay if you don't want to come along. We're still going to party and dance.
Now get on down!
Let's continue with the party and dancing!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NATHAN DAVID LEFTENANT, LARRY BLACKMON, ARNETT LEFTENANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sambson Wayfinder
on Aphrodisiac
Woooaaaahhh! Oh why don't you, why don't you? Aaaay hey hey! The sensation is here, the vibration is clear, you really put me in the mood. You're my aphrodisiac, send cold chills down my back, when I'm on the dance floor with you. Come on girl dance! Dance! Smurf me! Dance! Dance. You make my body hot, don't ever stop, just put your hand right here, fear one I'll have to fail. I'll slip onto your move, your sweat I have to use, just let me hear you say, you can have it your way. I know I'm ready to do ya, I know I'm ready to do you. I've got to do what I have to do! Aaaww! When I need to dance my pressure starts to rise, and then I hear the words that always takes me high, like... I wanna have a dance with you, I wanna shake the date with you, you're a mean little lady, you drive me crazy, I wanna dance with you. Come on! I know I'm ready to do ya, I know I'm ready to do you. I've got to do what I have to do! Aaaww! Step on my neck girl! Heeey, hey! Just let me do what J have to do. Let us play! Bah dah bah bah baeeyah. Bah dah bah bah baeeyah, bop bow. OhhhOoooOoooh. Do it again. Bah dah bah bah baeeyah. Bah dah bah bah baeeyah, bop bow. OhhhOoooOoooh. Bah dah bah bah baeeyah. Bah dah bah bah baeeyah, bop bow. OhhhOoooOoooh.
Sambson Wayfinder
on Let's Not Talk Slot
Woooo! They think I'm weird but I'm not, cause all day they call the shots. They say this music sounds funny, but we're making the money. Whether or not the girl is hot, we'll take our shots cause that's all we got. We give a lot and the game is hot, let's not talk slot, that's not your slot. That's not your slot! Learn to live and love each other, never talk about his mother, do together, work together, play together, Aaaaah. Die die die die, die die die die, die die die die, die die diiiie... Oh no no no no no! You put your money in the machine, what does it mean? You get the hots for the score, last quarter, then no more. PacMan, Donkey Kong, top gun or the runs. So tell Slim, Bob and Hank, put their money in the bank.
Drianna
on Intro
Morty: Why can't we stay and watch then? I like Lola
Drianna
on Intro
Rick: Here's yo problem now dum dums!
Drianna
on Intro
Morty: I will never erase what I saw from my brain!