Beginning in 1968, as a pivotal member of James Brown's hard working band, Fred Wesley played on numerous hit recordings including: "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud;" "Mother Popcorn;" and co-wrote tunes such as "Hot Pants".
The lineup would shift occasionally, and, Wesley who'd left Brown's group for a period, in a pay dispute, rejoined as official leader in 1970, beginning a very fruitful period that lasted through 1975.
The J.B's scored several instrumental hits in the early 70s, including: "Pass the Peas," "The Grunt","Gimmie Some More;" and the #1 R&B "Doing It to Death;" on Brown's People Records imprint distributed through Polydor. In 1974 they had three top 40 hits: "Same Beat;" "If You Don't Get It the First Time, Back Up and Try It Again, Party;" and "Damn Right I Am Somebody."
While the J.B.'s sound has most often been associated with three hornmen in particular -- Wesley, along with saxophonists Maceo Parker and Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, other key J.B.'s in the group included at one time or another: tenor saxman St. Clair Pinckney; saxophonist Jimmy Parker, and a trumpet section consisting of Jerone Jasaan Sanford, Russell Crimes, and Isiah "Ike" Oakley.
Others who played on key recordings included: Bobby Byrd on organ; bassists Fred Thomas or William "Bootsy" Collins and his guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins, other guitarists included Hearlon "Cheese" Martin and Jimmy Nolen.
Drums were played by either John "Jabo" Starks, or John Morgan joined by conga player Johnny Griggs.
Wesley, along with saxophonist Maceo Parker, helped define the instrumental potentials of funk and are heavily sampled by Hip Hop producers & DJs. Both men left Brown's band in 1975, and spent several years playing with George Clinton's various Parliament/Funkadelic projects, like Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and they recorded a couple of albums specifically focused on their talents, as the spin-off group, The Horny Horns featuring fellow J.B.'s refugee, Pee Wee Ellis.
The various members of the J.B.'s occasionally would get back together for reunions and side projects, including a stint in the 90's performing as The JB Horns, and they recently released a single in 2008, admonishing black youth to have some dignity and Pull Your Pants Up!!
Doing It To Death
Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you feeling, brother
(Feeling good)
You feel good
How you feel, man
(I feel alright)
I don't want no people
To know you're in here
How you feeling, brother
Hey, jam, sure getting down
Lookie here, ha
We're gonna have a
Funky good time
We're gonna have a
Funky good time
We're gonna have a
Funky good time
We're gonna have a
Funky good time
Now, take em up, Fred
We gotta take you higher
All right, gonna do it again
You wanna do it again
We gotta take you higher
Brother (yeah)
Now I want everybody to
Let Fred blow about two chords
(Mumbling) alright
I wanna get that fella
With the little horn over there
Fred, can you take us higher
(Yeah) take us higher
Fred, Fred, Fred
You know what
When I hear a groove like this
It say I got to take you higher
Yeah, baby, yeah, yeah
Like way up wonder
Lookie here
Someone got a groove like this
You know, you know, know
I need the grit, got the grit
Wanna eat, got to get
Need to get, go to grit
Now, Fred, you know
Hey, Fred Thomas, brother
I'm getting ready to
Wave y'all in
Know what, I feel so down
I need to get down
In order for me to get down
I got to get in deep
In order for me to get down
I got to get in deep
Need to get in deep
Down deep, down deep
Get on down
You like these
Think about making the big M
Lookie here, lookie there
You see over there
You better sing one word for us
What we gotta do
We gotta have a
Funky good time, oh, yeah
We gotta have a
Funky good time, oh, yeah
I didn't know you
Were singing, Fred
We gotta have a
Funky good time
We gotta have a
Funky good time
We gotta take you higher
Wait a minute, now
Who you say that was over there
Familiar looking cat
I know I seen him somewhere
Is that Maceo
He's doing everything over there
Maceo, is it who
Maceo, you know like
Maceo, won't you blow
Oh, yeah, Maceo
The lyrics to Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s "Doing It To Death" express an invitation to groove and have a good time. The song starts with some friendly banter, the band's leader asking his bandmates how they feel and making a call for them to get down. The repeated chorus "We're gonna have a funky good time" sets the tone for the whole song, which is a celebration of funky music and dancing. The lyrics of the song are minimal, with most of the vocalizations being shouts, screams, and calls for the band members to play solos or take the music higher.
The song is mostly instrumental, with the emphasis on the dancing rhythms and the interplay between the horns, keyboards, and guitar. The music builds up to several climaxes, with call-and-response segments between different instruments and solo breaks by the horns and keyboards. The lyrics serve as an exhortation to the listener to join in and dance along with the music, to let themselves go and surrender to the funk.
Line by Line Meaning
Hit it
Start playing the music
How you feeling, brother
Asking if everyone is having a good time
(Feeling good)
Answering in the affirmative
You feel good
Reiterating the question while also implying that the music is making everyone feel good
How you feel, man
Checking in again to see how everyone is doing
(I feel alright)
Answering that everything is fine
I won't call your name
Ensuring everyone's privacy and anonymity
I don't want no people
Reiterating that privacy is important
To know you're in here
Stressing the importance of discretion
Hey, jam, sure getting down
Noting that everyone is really getting into the music
Lookie here, ha
Expressing delight and surprise
We're gonna have a
Talking about the future
Funky good time
Describing the kind of enjoyable experience everyone is having
Now, take em up, Fred
Encouraging Fred Wesley to play some great music
We gotta take you higher
Wanting to elevate the experience even further
All right, gonna do it again
Saying that they're going to play another song soon
You wanna do it again
Asking if everyone wants an encore
Brother (yeah)
Addressing a friend and agreeing with them
Now I want everybody to
Addressing the entire audience
Let Fred blow about two chords
Asking Fred Wesley to play a specific tune
(Mumbling) alright
Casually commenting on the music
I wanna get that fella
Expressing a desire to hear a certain instrument
With the little horn over there
Referring to a specific sax player
Fred, can you take us higher
Asking Fred Wesley to play some really good music
(Yeah) take us higher
Agreeing and reinforcing the desire for great music
You know what
Making a casual observation
When I hear a groove like this
Reflecting on the music
It say I got to take you higher
Stating that the music should elevate everyone
Yeah, baby, yeah, yeah
Expressing agreement and excitement
Like way up wonder
Describing how high the music should take everyone
Lookie here
Noticing something interesting
Someone got a groove like this
Noting that the music is really good
You know, you know, know
Emphasizing the point
I need the grit, got the grit
Referring to a specific sound
Wanna eat, got to get
Using food imagery to describe the desire for music
Need to get, go to grit
Repeating the idea of wanting that specific sound
Now, Fred, you know
Addressing Fred Wesley
Hey, Fred Thomas, brother
Addressing Fred Thomas, another musician
I'm getting ready to
Saying that something is going to happen soon
Wave y'all in
Inviting everyone to participate
Know what, I feel so down
Admitting to not feeling great
I need to get down
Saying that in order to feel better, they need to get into the music
In order for me to get down
Stating that the only way to feel better is by dancing to the music
I got to get in deep
Saying that they have to really immerse themselves in the music
Need to get in deep
Repeating the idea that full immersion is necessary to feel better
Down deep, down deep
Emphasizing how deep the immersion should be
Get on down
Encouraging everyone to keep dancing
You like these
Asking if people are enjoying the music
Think about making the big M
Suggesting that the music is so good, it could make someone a millionaire
Lookie here, lookie there
Noticing something again
You see over there
Asking if someone is seeing what they're seeing
You better sing one word for us
Asking someone to sing along
What we gotta do
Asking what everyone should do next
We gotta have a
Stating what everyone should do next
Funky good time, oh, yeah
Describing the kind of experience everyone is having
I didn't know you
Admitting to not realizing something
Were singing, Fred
Surprised that Fred Wesley is singing
Wait a minute, now
Asking everyone to pause for a moment
Who you say that was over there
Asking about a specific person
Familiar looking cat
Describing the person they're asking about
I know I seen him somewhere
Saying that the person looks familiar
Is that Maceo
Posing a question about someone's identity
He's doing everything over there
Noting that the person in question is really involved in the music
Maceo, is it who
Asking if they've correctly identified the person
Maceo, you know like
Referring to a specific musician
Maceo, won't you blow
Asking Maceo to play a solo
Oh, yeah, Maceo
Excitedly acknowledging Maceo
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EarthWindandFirepower0990
BACK WHEN THE WORLD WAS STILL FUNKY
@reddfigga80
Now it just stanky 🤦🏾♂️
@Topwater_Lure_Junkie
Only the 1st time I have heard this makes me sad that I’ve only just picked up on it.awesome
@primesspct2
the worlds still funky if I am in it! lol
@rebavillarreal6551
My very first concert with my mom
@Android-vk8yh
The Godfather is rocking the clouds watching us dance to this and Fred is still out there funkin it up. Class and funk is permanent 👏👏👏
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@dougsfavorites2578
One of the best trombone solos ever!
@LeFruFru
This is my personal favourite James Brown track of all time. It's just got everything you could ever ask for in one of his songs. My God the brilliant musicians on this track, mind blowing stuff.
@janbailey-smith3164
You know it’s good music, over 30+ years old and still makes everybody hit the dance floor or shakeup the backyard BBQ! Name any artist today that can claim the same!!!
@a_07pictures93
@Jan Bailey-Smith you cant