Gladys Knight, born on May 28, 1944, developed her singing style while singing with her family at Baptist church functions. Though the group first released recordings in 1958, their career really got started when Motown founder Berry Gordy witnessed them perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1966 and felt very impressed. With a career following spanning decade after decade, featuring many hits, the group has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Come Together
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoot me
Shoot me
Shoot me
Here come old flat top
He come groovin' up slowly
He got ju-ju eyeball
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker
He just do what he please
Shoot me
Shoot me
Shoot me
He wear no shoeshine
He got toe jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca-Cola
He say I know you, and you know me
One thing I can tell you is
You got to be free
Come together, right now
Over me
Shoot me
Shoot me
Shoot me
He bag production
He got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard
He one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair
You can feel his disease
Come together, right now
Over me
Shoot me
Shoot me
To-together
Shoot me
He roller coaster
He got early warning
He got muddy water
He one mojo filter
He say one and one and one is three
Got to be good looking
'Cause he's so hard to see
Come together, right now
Over me
Shoot me
Shoot me
Shoot me
Come
Come together
Come together
Together
Come together
Come together
Together
Come together
Come together
To-together
Well, well, well, well
Come together
The opening verse of Gladys Knight & The Pips's song Come Together is a tribute to John Lennon's famous Beatles hit of the same name. The lyrics introduce a peculiar man who goes by the name of "Flattop." He has long hair, an easy-going personality, and no qualms about being himself. He is described as a "holy roller," meaning he is very religious, and has an infectious energy that makes those around him feel free to be themselves as well. He's unconcerned with the opinions of others and just wants to enjoy life without reservation. The phrase "Come together over me" is repeated throughout the song, inviting the listener to connect with the music and with each other.
The second verse of the song continues to paint a picture of Flattop as a unique, eccentric character. He has a "walrus gumboot," an "Ono sideboard," and "one spinal cracker." His feet are described as being "down below his knee," which is both biologically impossible and a testament to how otherworldly his presence is. The final lines of the verse are unsettling, as Flattop's energy is portrayed as diseased and contagious. Despite this, the chorus beckons listeners to forget their differences and "come together right now over me."
Line by Line Meaning
Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
A cool, calm and collected person is approaching slowly.
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
The person has an intense and devout stare that can inspire a religious movement.
He got hair down to his knee
The person has really long hair, which makes them stand out and unique.
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He likes to play tricks and make jokes that make him feel good.
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
The person doesn't care about keeping his shoes clean and prefers to play soccer with his toes.
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He has extraordinary fingers that can manipulate objects in unexpected ways, like shooting a soda can from a distance.
He say 'I know you, you know me'
He's confident that he knows the person he's talking to and expects them to recognize him too.
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
He advises that true freedom comes from not being held back by anyone or anything.
Come together right now over me
He wants everyone to gather and join him in creating a united front towards something.
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
The person receives a lot of attention due to his creativity and distinct style.
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He has an unusual piece of furniture and can crack jokes that make people laugh hard.
He got feet down below his knee
He has a strikingly tall physique that makes him stand out from the crowd.
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
He's so charming that he can make people comfortable in his presence even if he's sick.
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He has been through a lot of ups and downs and has learned to anticipate danger early on.
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He has a way of cleaning up the dirtiest things and turning them into something exotic and mysterious.
He say 'One and one and one is three'
He believes that three things working together can produce a powerful and harmonious effect.
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
He's so unorthodox and different that he can be hard to understand, so it's important to look at him with an open mind.
Come together right now over me
He invites everyone to gather around him and work together towards a common goal.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind