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.
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This is not the soundtrack composer George S. Clinton who did Mortal Kombat etc.
The Flag was still there
George Clinton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You do, though, don't you? Yeah, you do
You do, don't you? Though you do
You do, though, don't you? Yeah, you do
So you wanna be me, don't you know, don't you know?
You're never gonna be me
You better watch, where you, when you walk in my footsteps
Never an unkept step
You wanna keep up with, can't be kept up with
You wanna be up on me, clone me
Not a chance
Clone me, don't play that
Don't even say that
Must be some other way that
You can be you
And I don't have to dis or down another
A brother ain't heavy
Like a light is a beer or a match which you ain't for me
Although you wanna be, you never ever gonna be me
You do, you do, don't, don't you? Yeah, you do
You do, you do, don't you do
You do, you do, don't, don't you? Yeah, you do
Say you do, you do, don't you do?
You do, you do, don't, don't you? Yeah, you do
So you wanna be me, don't you know, don't you know
You never gonna be me
Better watch where you, when you walk in my footsteps
Step into what you gonna
Never an unkept step
You wanna keep up with what can't be kept up with
You wanna be up on me, clone me
Not a chance
Clone me, don't play that
Don't even say that
Must be some other way that
You can be you
And I don't have to dis or down another
A brother ain't heavy
Like a light is a beer or a match which you ain't for me
Although you wanna be me
You do, don't you know, you do
You do, though don't you?
Yeah you do, you know, you do
What, you wanna be me?
I be about the ribbon trophy banner or the cup
Silver, bronze, gold medals got to give 'em up
I'm a winner and you wanna be me
Yeah, you do, don't you know, you do
You do though, don't you?
Yeah, you do
Yeah, you do, don't you know, you do
You do though, don't you?
Yeah, you do
Yeah, you do, don't you know, you do
You do though, don't you?
Yeah, you do
You do, don't you know, you do
You do though, don't you
Yeah, you do, you know, you do
And the flag was still there
Waving on, while we dance
And the flag was still there
Waving on as we dance
And the flag was still there
Waving on while we dance
And the flag was still there
I'm on it, you're all over me like shephard's sheep
It's deep they only wanna talk about one thing
Me, I'm the conversation about what it be
You give up each and every single possession to keep me
This be the reason, me plus the things that I say
Yeah, I got it goin' on
Women every night and day
Yes, yes, yes, is what they wish I'd say
But you know how it goes, they just stay stuck on me
I traded my limo and a mansion for a yacht and a condo sure
I took little Susie to the movie
And she knew just what she had in store
I trade in men's women like credit cards
And they just want to give me more
They trade a zero like you for hero like me
Yeah, totally and for sure
'Cause I'm on it, you're all over me like a shephard's sheep
It's true they only wanna talk about one thing
Me, I'm the conversation about what it be
You give up each and every single possession to keep me
This be the reason me plus the things that I say
Yeah, I got it goin' on
Fellas every night and day
Yes, yes, yes, is what they wish I'd say
But you know how it goes they just stay stuck on me, yeah
And the flag was still there
Waving on while we dance
The flag is still here
And the flag was still there
Waving on while we dance
The flag is still there
The song "The Flag was still there" by George Clinton is a commentary on the desire to be someone else. In the lyrics, Clinton addresses someone who wants to be like him, but he makes it clear that there is no chance of that happening. He urges the person to find their own way and be true to themselves.
The repeated lines "You do, don't you? Though you do, you do, though, don't you? Yeah, you do" emphasizes this theme of wanting to be someone else. It's as if Clinton is saying, "I know you want to be me, but it's not going to happen."
The chorus of "And the flag was still there, waving on while we dance" is an interesting addition to the song. It brings up the idea of patriotism and what it means to be American. Clinton seems to be saying that no matter what happens, the flag is a symbol of the country and its enduring ideals.
Overall, "The Flag was still there" is a song that encourages individuality and staying true to oneself, while also recognizing the importance of national identity and patriotism.
Line by Line Meaning
You do, don't you? Though you do
Despite all your efforts, you wish to mimic me
You do, though, don't you? Yeah, you do
Yes, you still try to imitate me
So you wanna be me, don't you know, don't you know?
You desire to be in my shoes, don't you?
You're never gonna be me
But you must realize that you can never be like me
You better watch, where you, when you walk in my footsteps
If you continue to follow in my footsteps you may lose your way
Step into what you're gonna
Be aware of the paths that you choose to follow
Never an unkept step
I always make sure to make calculated moves
You wanna keep up with, can't be kept up with
You want to imitate me, but it's impossible to keep up with my pace
You wanna be up on me, clone me
You aspire to be just like me, but you can't copy my persona
Not a chance
It's not going to happen
Clone me, don't play that
Don't even attempt to mimic me
Don't even say that
It's pointless to talk about copying me
Must be some other way that
You need to find your own style
You can be you
Embrace your own unique identity
And I don't have to dis or down another
I don't need to put others down to lift myself up
A brother ain't heavy
I don't see you as competition, we should lift each other up
Like a light is a beer or a match which you ain't for me
You're not going to be the person that brings me down
Although you wanna be, you never ever gonna be me
I'm my own person and you won't be able to become me
What, you wanna be me?
You still wish to be me?
I be about the ribbon trophy banner or the cup
I aspire to achieve great things
Silver, bronze, gold medals got to give 'em up
I have won various awards, but I mustn't get complacent
I'm a winner and you wanna be me
You wish to be like me, a successful person
The flag was still there
Even in the midst of distraction, patriotism remains
Waving on, while we dance
Our celebration of life goes on
I'm on it, you're all over me like shephard's sheep
You're constantly following my every move
It's deep they only wanna talk about one thing
People only seem to care about my success
Me, I'm the conversation about what it be
I always seem to be the topic of discussion
You give up each and every single possession to keep me
You're willing to sacrifice it all to try and become like me
Fellas every night and day
Men are always trying to associate themselves with me
Yes, yes, yes, is what they wish I'd say
They hope I will agree to what they want
But you know how it goes they just stay stuck on me
They can't seem to get me off their minds
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE CLINTON, JR., GEORGE JR CLINTON, PHELPS CATFISH COLLINS, STEVEN BOYD, TRACY "TREYLEWD" LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stanley Cole
George is a hell of a bonafide genius to sample his own music, you see thats the good thang about P-FUNK its even better when you funk it years later...FUNK GETS STRONGER
Edward Sims
O what's up man this is ASM thank you for appreciating my music
ACS 79
Shityeah 🔥
Dun Can
Zapp roger vibe
Barry Johnson
@81nitestan- you definitely have an ear for the Parliament sound...I just listened to this today, my first time ...I can hear the samples from Gloryhallistoopid & other beats etc...
Barry Johnson
@Dun Can - More bounce 🎶🎶🎶
Ronald Harrison
That's right keep it funky
Damion Aiden McAulay
Absolute hidden gem
W. Lester
It really is!
Joseph Jones
This song when popular was ahead of it's time. Should be played now. yall dig it.