Chairmen of the Board is an American-Canadian, Detroit, Michigan-based soul… Read Full Bio ↴Chairmen of the Board is an American-Canadian, Detroit, Michigan-based soul music group, who saw their greatest commercial success in the 1970s.

General Norman Johnson (23 May 1943, Norfolk, VA – 13 Oct 2010, Atlanta, GA), had a hit as the lead singer of The Showmen, in the early '60s, with the New Orleans rock'n'roll anthem It Will Stand.

When Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown, in 1967, to establish their own Invictus/Hot Wax group of labels, they teamed-up Johnson with Eddie Custis, Danny Woods &, Canadian born, Harrison Kennedy - as the new company's flagship act - under the appropriate name 'Chairmen of the Board'. Dozier explained, according to Songfacts: "We called them that because of their extraordinary talents. They each played several instruments, sang and wrote songs as well." Custis left the group after their second album.

Though they all had a turn at lead vocals, it was General Johnson's quirky hiccup-laden style and his songwriting which became increasingly showcased, wit hthe group selling a million plus copies of "Give Me Just A Little More Time". Chairmen of the Board also scored with "You've Got Me Dangling On A String", "Pay To the Piper", "Everything's Tuesday", "Working On A Building Of Love", "Elmo James", "Finders Keepers", and the original version of "Patches", a memorable ballad later covered with great success by Clarence Carter.

Kennedy, Woods and Johnson all went on to cut solo albums of varying quality, whilst Johnson wrote and produced (with Greg Perry) for other Invictus/Hot Wax acts, notably Honey Cone. Harrison having left, Johnson and Woods toured the UK in 1976 with six musicians as "Chairmen of the Board", but were not as successful as before. The act was broken up immediately afterwards, Johnson having signed for Arista Records as a solo artist.

In 1978, Johnson reformed the Chairmen of the Board. In 1980, the new Chairmen founded Surfside Records, for which the group records for to this day.

The Chairmen of the Board (General Johnson, Danny Woods and Ken Knox) were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

General Johnson continued to perform with Woods and Knox as the "Chairmen of the Board" until his death from lung cancer in 2010.

In 2012, Chairmen of the Board released a single, "You", which was written and produced by Knox.

In 2013, former member Harrison Kennedy was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the "Acoustic Artist" category.

Danny Woods died in January 2018.

Everybody's Got A Song To Sing
Chairmen Of The Board Lyrics

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Everybody's got a song to sing
A little joy to bring
Come on and do your thing
I see the world as a stage (Everybody's got a song to sing)
(A little joy to bring) Some voices soar
(Come on and do your thing) Some reach it higher
Don't fear that others (Everybody's got a song to sing)
overshadow you

(A little joy to bring) 'cause your voice is still
(Come on and do your thing) coming through.
Cause everybody's got a song to sing
A little joy to bring
Go on and do your thing
Cause everybody's got a song to sing

A little love to bring
Go on and do your thing!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chairmen of the Board's song "Everybody's Got A Song to Sing" are all about individuality and the power of expression. The opening line, "Everybody's got a song to sing," is a sentiment that could be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, it could mean that everyone has their own voice and unique perspective that should be celebrated. On the other hand, it could mean that every person has something they want to share with the world, whether that be a literal song or a personal message. Regardless, the idea is one of encouragement and inspiration.

Throughout the song, we see examples of how each person's voice can shine in its own way. Some "voices soar," while others "reach it higher." These descriptions suggest that there is not one ideal way to express oneself. It is more important to simply let your voice be heard, without fear of being overshadowed by others. The repeated refrain of "go on and do your thing" reinforces this idea of individuality and self-expression.

Overall, "Everybody's Got A Song to Sing" is a catchy and uplifting track with an important message about embracing one's unique voice. It encourages listeners to be confident in themselves and to share their perspectives and talents with the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody's got a song to sing
Every individual has a unique talent, message or purpose that they want to share with the world.

A little joy to bring
One's talent or message can bring happiness and positivity to others.

Come on and do your thing
Encouraging individuals to not be afraid to showcase their talent or message.

I see the world as a stage
The world is an opportunity for individuals to showcase their unique talent or message and make a difference.

Some voices soar
Some individuals have exceptional talent that stands out.

Some reach it higher
Some individuals work harder and persevere to achieve their goals.

Don't fear that others overshadow you
Do not think that your talent or message is insignificant compared to others, as it still has value.

'cause your voice is still coming through.
Your talent or message can still be heard, acknowledged and appreciated even if it is not as loud or prominent.

A little love to bring
One's talent or message can also bring love and unity among people.

Go on and do your thing!
Urging individuals to pursue and showcase their unique talent or message without hesitation.

Writer(s): Lamont Herbert Dozier, Raynard Miner, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland

Contributed by Annabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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