He was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. In Plainfield, he ran a barber salon, where he straightened hair, and soon formed a doo wop group, inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, called The Parliaments. Despite initial commercial failures, The Parliaments eventually found success under the names Parliament and Funkadelic in the seventies (see also P-Funk). This article focuses on Clinton's solo efforts after 1981.
Beginning in the early 1980's, Clinton recorded several nominal "solo" albums, although all of these records featured contributions from P-Funk's core musicians. The primary reason for recording under his own name was legal difficulties, due to the complex copyright and trademark issues surrounding the name "Parliament" (primarily) and Polygram's purchase of his former label (as part of Parliament), Casablanca Records. In 1982, Clinton signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist and as the P-Funk All-Stars, releasing Computer Games that same year. "Loopzilla" hit the Top 20 R&B charts, followed by "Atomic Dog," which reached #1 R&B, but peaked at #101 on the pop chart. In the next four years, Clinton released three more studio albums (You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish, Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends and R&B Skeletons in the Closet) as well as a live album, Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas) and charting three singles in the R&B Top 30, "Nubian Nut," "Last Dance," and "Do Fries Go with that Shake." This period of Clinton's career was marred by multiple legal problems (resulting in financial difficulties) due to complex royalty and copyright issues. In 1985 he was recruited by the Red Hot Chili Peppers to produce their album Freaky Styley, because the bandmembers were huge fans of George Clinton and Funk in general. Though Clinton's popularity had waned by the mid 1980s, he experienced something of a resurgence in the early 1990s, as many rappers cited him as an influence and began sampling his songs. Alongside James Brown, George Clinton is considered to be one of the most sampled musicians ever.
In 1989, Clinton released The Cinderella Theory on Paisley Park, Prince's record label. This was followed by Hey Man... Smell my Finger. Clinton then signed with Sony 550 and released T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power Of A Fully Operational Mothership) in 1996, having reunited with several old members of Parliament and Funkadelic.
In the 1990s, Clinton appeared in films such as Graffiti Bridge (1990), Good Burger (1997) and PCU (1994). Most recently he appeared as the voice of The Funktipus, the DJ of the Bounce FM station in the 2004 video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rapper Dr. Dre sampled most of his beats to create his G-Funk music era.
"You're Thinking Right" - the theme song for The Tracey Ullman Show, was written by Clinton.
----
This is not the soundtrack composer George S. Clinton who did Mortal Kombat etc.
Flashlight
GEORGE CLINTON Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, I lay me down to sleep
Ooh, I just can't find a beat
Flash light (ohh, I will never dance!)
Flash light
Flash light
Flash light
Oh, it's no use!
Flash light
Red light
Neon light
Ooh, stop light
Now I lay me down to sleep
I guess I'll go count the sheep
Oh, but I will never dance
(oh, don't make me do it)
(Dance, sucker! ooh ha ha!)
(oww! Get him!)
Most of all he needs the funk (shine it)
Help him find the funk (ha, funk it!)
Most of all he needs the funk
Help him find the funk (get him)
Most of all he needs the funk (I know we can get him)
Help him find the funk (ho!)
Most of all he needs the funk (ha, don't!)
Help him find the funk (I know you will! Dance, sucker!)
Most of all he needs the funk (Shine the spotlight on him!)
Help him find the funk (Oh funk me!)
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (Dance, Nose! You know you on my funk street
Oh, funk me!
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (get on down, Nose! I like it! Dance, then!
Flash light
Flash light (oh ho ho!)
Spot light
Neon light (neon light)
Street light (street light)
Oh ho, ha ha!
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Shinin' on the funk
Shinin' on the funk
Most of all he need the funk
Help him find the funk
Most of all he need the funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Help him find the funk
Help him find the funk
Help him find the funk
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Oh
Flash light (flash light, flash light)
Flash light (flash light, flash light)
Flash light (oh, flash light)
Flash light (oh, flash light)
Spot light (spot light)
Neon light (ooooh, neon light)
Flash light (ooh, flash light ho!)
Stop light (stop light)
Now I lay me down to sleep
I guess I'll go count the sheep
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (oh)
Shake your funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Shake your funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Shake your rump (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da) (ho!)
I think I found the funk
Flash light (flash light)
Day light (day light)
Spot light (spot light)
Red light (ohhh, hooo, red light!)
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
The opening lines of "Flash Light" by George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic speak of restlessness when trying to sleep, due to an inability to find the rhythm. The song is about finding the "funk", a certain element of groove and soul that permeates music and makes people want to dance. The main chorus repeats "Flash light" several times, perhaps referring to the light that shines on musicians during a performance. The second verse ends with the voice of someone urging the singer to dance, while the powerful basslines intensify the overall drive of the song. The lyrics suggest that all individuals have a little bit of funk within themselves and should be encouraged to let it shine.
Line by Line Meaning
Flash Light
The focus of the song is on the flashing light, which represents the groove that the band is trying to find.
Now, I lay me down to sleep
The singer is getting ready to give up on finding the beat and is about to fall asleep.
Ooh, I just can't find a beat
The singer is struggling to hear the beat of the music and can't seem to find it.
Flash light (ohh, I will never dance!)
The artist is frustrated that they can't find the beat and refuses to dance until they do.
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
This line represents the sound of the music and emphasizes the groove that the band is trying to find.
Oh, it's no use!
The singer is giving up on trying to find the beat because they believe it's hopeless.
Red light
The red light represents a stop or pause in the music where the band is trying to find the groove again.
Neon light
The neon light represents the vibrant and exciting energy of the music.
Ooh, stop light
The artist is frustrated by the stop light that is preventing the music from flowing smoothly.
I guess I'll go count the sheep
The artist is so frustrated by their inability to find the groove that they may as well give up and go to sleep.
Most of all he needs the funk (shine it)
The band is determined to find and focus on the funk, which is the heart and soul of the music.
Help him find the funk (ha, funk it!)
The band is calling for everyone to help them find the funk and groove with the music.
Shine the spotlight on him!
The band is requesting that the spotlight be shone on whoever has found the funk and is leading the way with the groove.
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
This line is a call to action for everyone to find their inner shine and groove with the music.
Under the sun
This line reinforces the idea that everyone has their own light within them that can shine and groove with the music.
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bernard Worrell, George Jr Clinton, William Earl Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericcendejas7505
I just tested positive for the funk
@jamesha175
there is no antidote
@Glamglizzyy
Atleast it's not positive for the coronavirus
@jynxrogers
Glamglizzyy lOl i was waiting for this comment
@zackzallie8735
lol this comment didnt age well
@ec_money
Zack Zallie damn beat me to it lol
@therage3904
I want this played at my Funeral.
So it can be a Funkeral
@melindagonzalez7326
I don't want no sad music at my funeral either
@genesisthepoet815
😂🤣🤣🤣 I loooove this comment
@zabrizzL
Going out in style lmao