Funk Gets Stronger Part 1
Funkadelic Lyrics

(OK...heh, heh, hey)
The song is about to start and the singer is drawing the audience's attention

OWWWW!
An exclamation indicating the energy and power of the funk that is about to start

Turn it over
The song is requesting the audience to change the side of a Vinyl record or tape cassette for the Funk performance

Let the funk get stronger
The song wants the Funk music to increase in its intensity and power

Just a silly millimeter longer
The increase in the intensity of the Funk is like a small unit of measurement, but enough to add to the power of the music

Funk gets stronger
Emphasizing the title, the singer reiterates that Funk becomes stronger as it goes on

As it goes longer
Funk music is at its strongest and most powerful when it is allowed to last longer

As they say in the great big state of Texas
A nod to Texas, USA where everything is supposedly better and more significant

An armadillo millimeter longer
The increase in power in Funk is like the size increase of an armadillo, a strange and mysterious mammal

Funk gets stronger (x2)
Singer reiterates the title again to reinforce the song's message

Funkadelic say:
Lyrics shift to represent the band Funkadelic saying some stuff

Gorilla millimeter longer
The increase in power in Funk is like the size increase of a Gorilla, a big and imposing presence

In the old west
Reference to the Wild West of America, where things were tough and rough

It's a killer millimeter longer
The increase in power in Funk is like the deadliest and most powerful moment of a gunfight in the old west

David and Goliath (funk gettin' stronger!)
A Biblical reference to the story of David and Goliath, but with the ongoing emphasis on the Funk music still becoming stronger

This is what they say
Introducing the next section of the lyric where a story is told

Had a little run-in
The fight between David and Goliath was not a friendly exchange; it was violent, and the singer wants the audience to recognize this violence

David got his way
Contrary to expectations, David won the confrontation with Goliath and proved stronger than him

Broke old Goliath and
David defeated Goliath but left him wounded and defeated

??? in his stash
The meaning of this line is unclear and ambiguous, but it may refer to Goliath's weapons or ornaments that he had in his possession

David was funky
The singer is drawing a parallel between David's strength and Funk music's power, underscoring how the music can inspire and motivate listeners

Funk em in a lash???
This line is unclear in meaning, but it may be interpreted as referring to how the victory over Goliath was so sudden and unexpected that it hit him quickly, almost like a lash or whip

Armadillo millimeter longer
The singer wants to remind the listeners that Funk music's power grows incrementally, but it is still present and noticeable

A gorilla millimeter longer
Emphasizes that Funk music's power comes from its gradual progress, much like the way gorillas grow in size and strength

Funk gets stronger as it goes on, ha
Final reminder in this section that Funk grows in strength and power over time

Check it oh
Breaking away to a new segment of the song lyrics, calling for the audience to pay attention

Sonny should've listened
An allusion to Sonny Liston, a boxer who lost to Muhammad Ali twice in the sixties because he wouldn't listen to his corners or officiants

But Cassius wasn't Clay
Cassius Clay is a reference to Muhammad Ali before he converted to Islam. This line implies that his name change represents a turning point in his career

Floyd's still pattin'
Floyd Patterson, a former world heavyweight champion, is comforting Liston and trying to help him despite his loss

trying to stop the day (gorilla millimeter longer)
The reference to 'stopping the day' is something like trying to stop time or an event that is happening. The gorilla-sized increase in Funk's power showcases the relentlessness of its strength and how unstoppable it is

Smokin' Joe was smokin'
Joe Frazier, Ali's rival, was also a famed boxer who smoked cigarettes occasionally and had once claimed he needed to smoke because it relieved the boredom leading up to fights

It wasn't too long
The singer introduces a short interlude and sets the stage for a twist that happened to Smokin' Joe

The champ was still jokin'
Referring to Muhammad Ali, who was still joking and playful despite the intense proceedings before a fight

You know what made him strong? ahhh-ha
Leads into an unexpected and brightening moment of the song

Oh, it's a Thrilla in Manilla longer
The Thrilla in Manila is the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that took place in Manila, Philippines in 1975. The song suggests that the match made Ali even stronger, intensifying his fighting spirit

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
An Ali quote that became synonymous with his style of fighting, suggests that he could dodge punches while hitting back with his own

Oh, ow!
The song shift to a sudden cry of pain, underscoring the intensity of the Thrilla in Manila fight

You keep holding me back
The singer is addressing an unknown entity that has been suppressing them and preventing their success

Put it where you know it belong (funk gets stronger)
An admonishment to the same entity, to put something (the Funk music?) in its right place so that it could flourish and achieve full potential

Ho!
A call to action, asking the listeners to pay attention and be aware

Yeah, yeah, yeah
A quick vocalization that prepares the listener for another stylistic shift in the song

You never let the icing (gorilla millimeter longer)
Metaphorically, the icing is something that adds to the beauty and decoration of a cake. The song wants to emphasize how Funk never receives the proper treatment it deserves in terms of appreciation and acceptance

Get in the way of my cake
Funk music is like a cake offering a delicious taste of life. The song wants to see the beauty in this music without distraction or hesitation

Forget about the icing (gorilla millimeter longer)
The song wants people to forget about any 'icing' that may distract from Funk music's true beauty: its raw, uplifting ability to inspire through music

Ooh, who could really fake (ow!)
The song recognizes how challenging it is to fake or fabricate greatness or talent, even for people who think they can. The 'ow!' shows how the struggle to achieve success can sometimes be challenging, painful, or unexpected

So when you gonna do it, do it
An exhortation for people to act and take control of their affairs, both in terms of creating Funk music or upholding its values and importance

Do it, do it, do it, do it
A repetition of the previous line to drive the message home. Like the previous line, it emphasizes the need to take action and achieve your desires or goals

Do it, do it good
An implication in this line is that it is easy to give lip service to a task, but harder to do it well and achieve the desired result. Mistakes are acceptable along the way to greatness, but actual execution and perfection are the most important aspects.

And then we can do it, do it
The song creates a positive atmosphere with the suggestion that the audience might be up for a collaboration or joint effort of some kind.

Do it, do it
Reiterating the lyrics as a way to get the audience excited to make magic together.

We really wish you would
The final plea by the singer to encourage the audience to take action and collaborate. The song wishes for the listeners to join together for the cause of great Funk music.

I think I see Sly (funk gets sronger)
The singer is now talking directly to someone, seemingly a member from the band Sly and the Family Stone. The increase in Funk's power coincides with their appearance.

Hey Syl
The singer continues to try and get the attention of someone in Sly and the Family Stone.

Ah, Syl (funk gets stronger)
The singer seems to have finally gotten Sly's attention as the Funk's power rises again.

Everything I do from now on (funk gets stronger)
The song concludes with the reiteration that everything the singer will create or perform from here on out will continue to contribute to the strength of the Funk's legacy, building upon its importance and place in the musical zeitgeist.

Is gonna be funky
A straightforward conclusion to the song, highlighting the importance and focus on Funk music and its continued strength and power.

(x3)
Repetition of the previous line three times to drive the message home and reinforce the theme of the song

We'd love to take you home with us
An interesting sentiment as the song concludes, with the singer expressing a desire to extend Funk's legacy and involve others in its creation and continuation

We'd love to funk you home
The song finalizes with the idea of bringing the fun home, sharing it with all fans who appreciate the music and want to continue to build on its strength and power.

Boom-bum boom-boom (x3) (funk gets stronger)
An increase in energy and sound, building up to the conclusion of the song and emphasizing Funk's continued strength

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, ha ha (funk gets stronger)
The song's energy crescendos in this section, pushing towards the conclusion with enthusiasm and exuberance

Boom-bum boom-boom (funk gets stronger)
Re-emphasizing the ascension of the Funk's power to its strongest point as the song concludes

Yeah yeah yeah yeah (funk gets stronger)
Final note re-emphasizing the Funk's strength and the continuation of its legacy

(we love you, yeah, yeah yes) (x3)
The final note of the song, again emphasizing love and a sense of collaboration, and tying together all the images and themes of strength, beauty, and joyousness in the Funk music tradition.