The album was the band's biggest commercial success to date, with subsequent ones selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. They were influential in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the second longest standing Native Tongues group, after the Jungle Brothers. In 2006, the group won a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz on the single "Feel Good Inc."
In early 2015, they announced plans to release a Kickstarter funded upcoming 9th studio album and the Anonymous Nobody... in September 2015; it was released on August 26, 2016. The album tracks are said to be the result of multiple improvised jam sessions. The album also features guest appearances from artists such as Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, David Byrne, 2 Chainz and Snoop Dogg.
Studio albums
3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
Buhloone Mindstate (1993)
Stakes Is High (1996)
Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000)
AOI: Bionix (2001)
The Grind Date (2004)
Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve (2012)
and the Anonymous Nobody... (2016)
Saturday
De La Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl meets boy on Thursday night
Boy was high, girl fly like kite
They hold hands until next day
Boy then lets go, hit his way
Boy rules butt, brags to his boys
Erection brings bad boy joys
Big black fat love, big black fat
Girl calls boy to stand him up on Saturday
Saturday
Saturday, it's a Saturday
It's a Saturday, it's a Saturday
Saturday, it's a Saturday
Saturday, it's a Saturday
Back once more with the wallop in the score
Must I ride and rip, should I make you rock your hip
Reviver of a roller-boogie in a rink
And sure to make you think about the times
To scope fun instead of fights
(But diving from a piece of metal sure to take your life)
Yo, slip your butt to the fix of this mix
Toss that briefcase, it's time to let loose
Cause you've worked like heck to get the week in check
So unfasten that noose around your neck
Connected like a vibe from the wheel to the foot
Come on everybody dig the funky output
Five days you work
One whole day to play
Come on everybody, wear your rollerskates today
It's Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday-ay
(Is the word, is the word, is the word)
Now as you pump your fist I reminisce
To a bounce, rock, skate, roll
Fess to impress
Hey, pretty diamond, do you like the way I'm dressed
Cool, keep the faith and be my mate
Cause all we need is feet
(And rollerskates)
But promote the hustle cause it keeps me thin
No need to talk, look who just walked in
(Is there a Dred on skates?)
Yes, man
(So kick the wham on this jam)
Oh Mr. Sprinkler, Mr. Sprinkler
Wet me for one, Mr. Sprinkler
I'm heatin' high-five in a daze, no split
With a yawn I trip to the dawn
Out comes the bodies following the one idea
It's clear, rattle to the roll
Hold back up the track, grab your rollerskates y'all
And let's zip on by
Zip-a-de-doo-dah, let's zip on by
Feed on a weed and we're feeling high
Sun is on thick and the cheese is rollin' quick
Come on, there's no time to hide
Season is twist, spinning and winning
No hackeysack, let let me in
Spill on the bottom away, but it's okay, huh
It's a Saturday
Now let's all get baked like Anita
Watch Mr. Lawnge, don't look at the peter
Feel on the fun, I'll feel on the
Hey, watch that!
It's a Saturday
Now is the time
To act the fool tonight
Forget about your worries and you will be all right
It's Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday
Saturday, it's Saturday-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
(Aaoww)
(Saturday)
The De La Soul song, "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" is a celebration of youthful and carefree fun. The lyrics center on a romance that begins on a Thursday night and culminates with the roller skating jam on Saturday. This romance, however, is not the primary focus of the song. Rather, the song is about the excitement and freedom that comes with the weekend, where work and worries are set aside so that one can have a good time. The chorus repeats the phrase, "It's a Saturday," which reminds the listener that it is time to enjoy life and have some fun.
The lyrics mention several important items that contribute to the illusion of carefree abandon, such as "Rollerskates," "butt rules," "big fat back," and "hustle." These words evoke images of youth, freedom, and dance. Other lyrics, such as "Come on everybody, wear your rollerskates today," "Must I ride and rip, should I make you rock your hip," and "Connected like a vibe from the wheel to the foot," reinforce the theme of motion, dance, and connectivity. All of these elements combine to make a foot-tapping song about the excitement of the weekend that encourages the listener to let loose and have some fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl meets boy on Thursday night
A girl and a boy meet each other on a Thursday night
Boy was high, girl fly like kite
The boy was high and the girl was very happy
They hold hands until next day
Both of them hold hands together throughout the night
Boy then lets go, hit his way
The boy suddenly releases her hand and runs away
Boy rules butt, brags to his boys
The boy boasts about his sexual prowess to his friends
Erection brings bad boy joys
His sexual arousal gives him pleasure
Boy thinks of that big fat back
He thinks about the girl's curvy figure
Big black fat love, big black fat
He's attracted to her body and physical features
Girl calls boy to stand him up on Saturday
The girl intentionally makes the boy stand her up on Saturday
Saturday
It's the day when the roller skating jam takes place
Saturday, it's a Saturday
A repetition of the previous line emphasizing that it’s Saturday
Back once more with the wallop in the score
A reference that the song is back with a great beat and sound
Must I ride and rip, should I make you rock your hip
The singer wants the listeners to dance and groove to the beat
Reviver of a roller-boogie in a rink
The song is reminiscent of the roller-skating disco era
And sure to make you think about the times
The song is meant to evoke nostalgia in listeners who experienced this era
To scope fun instead of fights
The song encourages people to focus on having fun and not fighting with each other
(But diving from a piece of metal sure to take your life)
Although roller-skating is fun, it can be dangerous if people are not careful
Yo, slip your butt to the fix of this mix
The singer invites people to dance to the groove of the music
Toss that briefcase, it's time to let loose
The singer wants people to forget about their work and have fun
Cause you've worked like heck to get the week in check
People have worked hard all week and deserve to relax
So unfasten that noose around your neck
People should take off the stress of the week
Connected like a vibe from the wheel to the foot
The groove of the music is connected to the motion of roller-skates
Come on everybody dig the funky output
The singer wants everyone to enjoy the funky music
Five days you work
People work five days a week
One whole day to play
People have only one day to have fun
Come on everybody, wear your rollerskates today
People are encouraged to wear their roller-skates and have fun today
Now let's all get baked like Anita
Let's have fun like Anita Baker, a famous musician
Watch Mr. Lawnge, don't look at the peter
Watch the floor and don't be distracted by other people
Feel on the fun, I'll feel on the
Have fun, the singer will also have fun
Hey, watch that!
Be careful
Now is the time
This is the right moment
To act the fool tonight
To be silly and enjoy the moment tonight
Forget about your worries and you will be all right
If you forget about your problems, you will feel better
Saturday, it's Saturday
The weekend is here and it's time to have fun
Saturday, it's Saturday-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
A repetition of the previous line emphasizing that it’s Saturday
(Aaoww)
An enthusiastic shout to celebrate the moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, RODNEY MATTHEWS, BARRY ALAN GIBB, PAUL E. HUSTON, DAVID JOLICOEUR, VINCENT L. MASON, KELVIN MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind