Due to legal difficulties between Clinton and Revilot, The Parliaments' label, the name was abandoned in favor of Funkadelic, which consisted of the same group of people (that is, both the former Parliaments and their back-up band, now both combined in the name "Funkadelic"). The group signed to Westbound in 1968.
The group's self-titled debut album, Funkadelic, was released in 1970. The credits listed organist Mickey Atkins plus Clinton, Fulwood, Hazel, Nelson and Ross, though the actual recording also included several uncredited sessionmen then employed by Motown, as well as Ray Monette (of Rare Earth) and Bernie Worrell.
Bernie Worrell was officially credited starting with Funkadelic's second album, 1970's Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow, thus beginning a long collaboration between Worrell and Clinton (who had been friends for quite a while). Worrell would go on to produce many Parliament and Funkadelic albums, as well as play keyboard on albums by other members of P Funk.
After the release of Maggot Brain in 1971, Bootsy Collins and Catfish Collins joined the group. The brothers would go on to become major contributors to the P Funk sound. In 1972, this new line-up released America Eats Its Young, but many members left the group after that, due to internal squabbles, plus Hazel spending a year in jail for drug possession and assault and Tawl Ross experiencing a bad LSD trip and/or speed overdose, while Billy Bass quit due to financial concerns. Michael Hampton, a seventeen-year-old guitar prodigy, replaced Hazel.
1975 brought Funkadelic to Warner Brothers, and saw the release of Hardcore Jollies in 1976. The same year, Westbound released a compilation of archived tracks titled Tales of Kidd Funkadelic, which did significantly better than Hardcore Jollies and included "Undisco Kidd", a R&B Top 30 single. In 1977, Westbound capitalized on the success of Tales of Kidd Funkadelic by releasing The Best of the Early Years. Funkadelic recorded and released its magnum opus, One Nation Under a Groove in 1978. The title track spent six weeks at #1 on the R&B charts, while Parliament was enjoying success with "Flash Light" and "Aqua Boogie."
As the 1980s wore on, legal difficulties arising from the multiple names used by multiple groups, as well as a shakeup among Parliament's record label, Parliament and Funkadelic disintegrated. George Clinton recorded several solo albums (sometimes under the name George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars).
Filmmaker Yvonne Smith of Berkeley, California-based Firelight Media produced Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove, a full-length documentary about the groundbreaking group, which aired on PBS in 2005.
ALSO......
Though it often took a back chair to its sister group Parliament, Funkadelic furthered the notions of black rock begun by Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, blending elements of '60s psychedelia and blues plus the deep groove of soul and funk. The band pursued album statements of social/political commentary while Parliament stayed in the funk singles format, but Funkadelic nevertheless paralleled the more commercial artist's success, especially in the late '70s when the interplay between bands moved the Funkadelic sound closer to a unified P-Funk style.
In the grand soul tradition of a backing band playing support before the star takes the stage, Funkadelic began life supporting George Clinton's doo wop group, the Parliaments. After having performed for almost ten years, the Parliaments had added a rhythm section in 1964 -- for tours and background work -- consisting of guitarist Frankie Boyce, his brother Richard on bass, and drummer Langston Booth; two years later, the trio enlisted in the Army. By mid-1967, Clinton had recruited a new backing band, including his old friend Billy "Bass" Nelson (born January 28, 1951, Plainfield, NJ) and guitarist Eddie Hazel (born April 10, 1950, Brooklyn, NY). After several temporary replacements on drums and keyboards, the addition of rhythm guitarist Lucius "Tawl" Ross (born October 5, 1948, Wagram, NC) and drummer Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (born May 23, 1944, Philadelphia, PA) completed the lineup.
The Parliaments recorded several hits during 1967, but trouble with the Revilot label backed Clinton into a corner. He hit upon the idea of deserting the Parliaments' name and instead recording their backing group, with the added vocal "contributions" of the former Parliaments -- same band, different name. Billy Nelson suggested the title Funkadelic, to reflect the members' increased inspiration from LSD and psychedelic culture. Clinton formed the Funkadelic label in mid-1968 but then signed the group to Detroit's Westbound label several months later.
Released in 1970, Funkadelic's self-titled debut album listed only producer Clinton and the five members of Funkadelic -- Hazel, Nelson, Fulwood, and Ross plus organist Mickey Atkins -- but also included all the former Parliaments plus several Motown sessionmen and Rare Earth's Ray Monette. Keyboard player Bernie Worrell also appeared on the album uncredited, even though his picture was included on the inner sleeve with the rest of the band.
Worrell (born April 19, 1944, Long Beach, NJ) was finally credited on the second Funkadelic album (1970's Free Your Mind...and Your A** Will Follow). He and Clinton had known each other since the early '60s, and Worrell soon became the most crucial cog in the P-Funk machine, working on arrangements and production for most later Parliament/Funkadelic releases. His strict upbringing and classical training (at the New England Conservatory and Juilliard), as well as the boom in synthesizer technology during the early '70s, gave him the tools to create the horn arrangements and jazz fusion-inspired synth runs that later trademarked the P-Funk sound. Just after the release of their third album, Maggot Brain, P-Funk added yet another big contributor, Bootsy Collins. The throbbing bass line of Collins (born October 26, 1951, Cincinnati, OH) had previously been featured in James Brown's backing band, the J.B.'s (along with his brother, guitarist Catfish Collins). Bootsy and Catfish were playing in a Detroit band in 1972 when George Clinton saw and hired them.
The Clinton/Worrell/Collins lineup premiered on 1972's America Eats Its Young, but soon after its release several original members left the camp. Eddie Hazel spent a year in jail after a combination drug possession/assault conviction, Tawl Ross left the band for medical reasons relating to an overdose of LSD and speed, and Bill Nelson quit after more financial quarrels with Clinton. Funkadelic hired teenaged guitar sensation Michael Hampton as a replacement, but both Hazel and Nelson would return for several later P-Funk releases.
Funkadelic moved to Warner Bros. in 1975 and delivered its major-label debut, Hardcore Jollies, one year later to lackluster sales and reviews. The same year, Westbound raided its vaults and countered with Tales of Kidd Funkadelic. Ironically, the album did better than Hardcore Jollies and included an R&B Top 30 single, "Undisco Kidd." In 1977, Westbound released The Best of the Early Years while Funkadelic recorded what became its masterpiece (and arguably the best P-Funk release ever), 1978's One Nation Under a Groove.
During the most successful year in Parliament/Funkadelic history, Parliament hit the charts first with "Flash Light," P-Funk's first R&B number one. "Aqua Boogie" would hit number one as well late in the year, but Funkadelic's title track to One Nation Under a Groove spent six weeks at the top spot on the R&B charts during the summer. The album, which reflected a growing consistency in styles between Parliament and Funkadelic, became the first Funkadelic LP to reach platinum (the same year that Parliament's Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome did the same). In 1979, Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep" hit number one as well, and its album (Uncle Jam Wants You) reached gold status.
At just the point that Funkadelic appeared to be at the top of its powers, the band began to unravel. As is sometimes the case, commercial success began to dissolve several old friendships. In 1977, original Parliaments members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas had left the P-Funk organization to record on their own. In early 1981, they hit the R&B charts with a single called "Connections and Disconnections," recorded as Funkadelic. To confuse matters more, the original Funkadelic appeared on the charts at the same time, with the title track to The Electric Spanking of War Babies.
During 1980, Clinton began to be weighed down by legal difficulties arising from Polygram's acquisition of Parliament's label, Casablanca. Jettisoning both the Parliament and Funkadelic names (but not the musicians), Clinton began his solo career with 1982's Computer Games. He and many former Parliament/Funkadelic members continued to tour and record throughout the '80s as the P-Funk All Stars, but the decade's disdain of everything to do with the '70s resulted in critical and commercial neglect for the world's biggest funk band, especially one which in part had spawned the sound of disco. During the early '90s, the rise of funk-inspired rap (courtesy of Digital Underground, Dr. Dre, and Warren G.) and funk rock (Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers) re-established the status of Clinton & co., one of the most important forces in the recent history of black music. ~ John Bush, Rovi
Promentalshitbackwaskpsychosis Enema Squad
Funkadelic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our mouths neurological assholes
And psychologically speaking
We're in a state of mental diarrhea
Talking shit a mile a minute
Or in a state of constipated notions
Can't think of nothin' but shit
And in this world of
Constipated 19 now-nows
Emerges from the hiney of your head
The doo doo chasers
The Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad
The prune juice of the mind
The doo doo chasers
Friends of roto-rooter
Bringing you music to get your shit together by
The man in the tidy bowl of your brain
(What was that long word again-Promental?)
A musical bowel movement
Designed to rid you of moral diarrhea
Social bullshit
Crazy doo doo
Mental poots
(What was that again?)
They call us the unflushables
One swipe a clean wipe
(Go flush it, fellas)
And what causes all of this shit?
What is the source of food for thought?
Ego-munchin'
Religious doggie bags
A My burger with I sauce on it
A Me burger with I sauce on it
A myself sandwich
A personal burger
A me Hamburger
And a glass of constricted cola
Out to lunch with lunch meat
The fear of being eaten by the sandwich
The Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad
The doo doo chasers
Friends of roto-rooter
Music to clean your shit by
Low calorie logic
Muscle brains
Skinny brains
Count the calories of your thoughts
Funk, Confucius say
Like Chinese laxatives
Sweet and sour bowel movements
And in this world of stinking memories
Stankin memories
Shitty futures
19 now nows-constipated-like
Emerges the Doo Doo Chasers
The prune juice of the mind
The man in the tidy bowl of your brain
Bringing you music to get your shit together by
Funk, the P-Preparation
The prune juice of the mind
A mental, musical bowel movement
Groove-lax
One swipe, clean wipe
And with no extra charge
A psychological turd remover
A neurological enema
Holy Shit
(let me try one-crap)
Corpolites
Prehistoric doo doo
Helping you get your shit together
Backstage at a Funkadelic rehearsal
We bring you the Doo Doo Chasers
(Which one is George Clinton?)
Out to lunch with lunch meat, once again
The fear of being eaten by a sandwich
Lunchville
Where lunch is a nice time of day
At least twice a week
And fried Ice Cream is a reality
(Which one is George Clinton?)
Fried Ice Cream is a reality
Guess who's coming to lunch
I'm not gonna pay for this lunch, man!
Fried Ice Cream is a reality!
The lyrics of “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad” by Funkadelic is a social commentary on the state of the world and how our minds react to it. The song explores the idea that we are constantly bombarded by negative thoughts and ideas, which we then regurgitate through our mouths and minds, resulting in mental diarrhea. The song presents the idea that our minds are like assholes, and that we are constantly full of shit, both literally and metaphorically.
The song’s lyrics critique the unhealthy relationship between the self and consumerism, represented through religious dogmatic behavior, such as our relationship to food, ego-munching, and the fear of being consumed by others. This juxtaposition is represented in the deliciousness of our favorite food and the fear of being eaten by a sandwich. The Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad is seen as the solution to this mental constipation, claiming to be the prune juice of the mind, and seeking to help individuals to get their shit together.
In conclusion, the song suggests that our minds need cleansing as much as our bodies, and that the Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad is our solution to the excess negativity we experience.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is a toll-free toilet
The world is a place where people can freely dump their negative or toxic thoughts and emotions.
Our mouths neurological assholes
Our mouths are perceived as the channel through which we release our negativity and harmful thoughts, and are equivalent to our body's anus from a psychological standpoint.
And psychologically speaking, we're in a state of mental diarrhea
Psychologically, people are in a state of diarrhea, constantly and uncontrollably releasing their negative thoughts and ideas.
Talking shit a mile a minute
People are constantly saying negative or harmful things at a very fast pace, similar to uncontrollable diarrhea.
Or in a state of constipated notions
Alternatively, people are unable to produce new, positive, or creative ideas due to being stuck in their own negative patterns of thinking, similar to constipation.
Can't think of nothin' but shit
People are only capable of thinking about negative or harmful ideas.
And in this world of Stinky futures, shitty memories and Constipated 19 now-nows
The world is full of negative ideas and thoughts about the future, negative memories from the past, and people feel stuck in their negative thought patterns.
Emerges from the hiney of your head
From the mind, we can create positive actions and thoughts that go against the negative and harmful ones that emerge from the negative thought patterns.
The doo doo chasers
These positive thoughts and actions are the doo doo chasers.
The Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad
The positive thoughts and actions are equivalent to a psychological enema for the negative and harmful thoughts, and are necessary to cleanse the mind of this negativity.
The prune juice of the mind
The positive thoughts and actions are similar to prune juice, which is used to cleanse the body's digestive system.
Friends of roto-rooter
These positive thoughts and actions are the friends of roto-rooter, which is a service to unclog sewage pipes.
Bringing you music to get your shit together by
The positive thoughts and actions are being promoted through music, which will help people get their negative thoughts in order and under control.
A musical bowel movement
The music being created is the equivalent of a memorable and cathartic bowel movement for the mind.
Designed to rid you of moral diarrhea
The music is created with the aim of encouraging people to become more positive, freeing them from their negative thoughts and behaviors.
Social bullshit
The negative thoughts and beliefs that people hold about the society they live in.
Crazy doo doo
The dogma, beliefs, and behavior that restrict people's thinking.
Mental poots
The volatile, oppressive and negative thoughts and ideas that we all may harbor.
They call us the unflushables
Others may perceive these thoughts and ideas as difficult to be rid of, just as people might find it challenging to dispose of certain waste materials.
One swipe a clean wipe (Go flush it, fellas)
Through music and other positive behaviors, people will be encouraged to purge themselves of negative and harmful thoughts and beliefs, becoming more positive and open-minded.
Ego-munchin' Religious doggie bags
Negative thinking caused by unchecked ego along with religious doctrine that inhibits people from thinking for themselves
A My burger with I sauce on it, A Me burger with I sauce on it, A myself sandwich, A personal burger, A me Hamburger, And a glass of constricted cola
All these items are metaphors signifying the pettiness that dominates the individual's psyche, such as narcissism, entitlement, selfishness, and exposure to commodified or limited choices.
Out to lunch with lunch meat
People are in a state of being unproductive, passive, or uninterested, like slices of lunch meat sitting on a plate.
The fear of being eaten by the sandwich
The fear of becoming a bland afterthought like a simple, unremarkable sandwich or becoming reduced to something trivial without deeper meaning or purpose.
Low-calorie logic
Shallow or underdeveloped reasoning, lacking complexity, nuance, or depth
Muscle brains
People who engage in thought or behavior with brute force, power, or brute strength without critical thinking or nuance.
Skinny brains
People who engage in thought or behavior without feeding their mind or developing their knowledge, leading to a lack of intellect and depth in their thoughts and actions.
Count the calories of your thoughts
Evaluate and regulate the content of your thoughts to guarantee their meaningfulness or benefit.
Funk, Confucius say
Adopting the advice of Confucius to become a wiser person, while drawing inspiration from the musical genre of Funk to conform to an active and energized philosophy of life.
Like Chinese laxatives
Metaphorical comparison of an action (in this case, following Confucian philosophy) that will help individuals achieve progress and personal growth, similar to the efficacy of Chinese laxatives in promoting digestive health.
Sweet and sour bowel movements
Compared to food, bowel movements are an outcome of consuming positive and negative thoughts, expressing how our thoughts inevitably create some positive and negative results.
Where lunch is a nice time of day
Lunch is seen as an opportunity for respite, to digest the new ideas and knowledge gained throughout the day.
And fried Ice Cream is a reality
The possibility of dessert (in this case the unusual concept of fried ice cream) is a reflection of the diverse set of opportunities available to individuals who develop a more positive perspective on life.
Guess who's coming to lunch
The anticipation of a new or unpredictable experience, representing the possibility of others adopting a more positive outlook on the world.
I'm not gonna pay for this lunch, man!
Despite the positive experiences that come with taking charge of mental health, there is an implicit cost to progress, which might involve personal sacrifice or the loss of status quo to form new habits.
Holy Shit (let me try one-crap)
A shoutout to the transformative and spiritual powers of positive thought and taking action to overcome negative thoughts and beliefs.
Corpolites
Fossilized and or shrunken waste that has hardend over time into solid form, a representation of that negativity that can burden our mind over time.
Prehistoric doo doo
Metaphorical comparison of archaic ideas, beliefs, or opinions that have become so stagnant and repellent that they begin to act like the material released as waste from the body.
Helping you get your shit together
Positive thoughts and actions will help individuals to take control of their negative thoughts and rethink them in a more constructive way.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Garry Marshall Shider, George Jr. Clinton, Linda Lee Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind