… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Dury (1942-2000) was an English singer, songwriter, and bandleader.
Born on 12th May 1942, he is best known as founder and lead singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads, though he began his musical career in pub-rock act Kilburn & the High Roads. He wrote many famous songs including "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", "What a Waste", and "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll". He died on 27th March 2000.
At the age of seven, Dury contracted polio; very likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend on Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic. After six weeks in a full plaster cast in Truro hospital, he was moved to Black Notley Hospital, Braintree, Essex, where he spent a year and a half before going to Chailey Heritage Craft School, East Sussex, in 1951. Chailey was a school and hospital for disabled children, and believed in toughening them up, contributing to the observant and determined person Dury became.
Funky Disco
Ian Dury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll take you to the show
Walking in the sunshine
Rolling in the snow
Stepping from the threshold
Out into the street
All you ought to do, my love,
Is dancing with your feet
To those funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky disco pops
Oh!
I went to see the doctor
Not so long ago
I told her all about you
I put her in the know
Tried to get you treatment
I didn't stand a chance
She turned on her radio
And she did the doctor's dance
To those funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky disco pops
When doctor doctors another doctor,
is the doctor doing the doctoring
doctor the doctor who's being doctored?
Just as the doctor being doctored wants to be doctored
Or does the doctor doing the doctoring
doctor the doctor who's being doctored?
Just as the doctor who's doing the doctoring wants to do the doctoring
Do the doctoring
Do the doctoring
I long to take you courting
but bopping is the boss
Hugging makes you angry
Kissing makes you cross
Your only installation
Is booty in the seat
In this position your disposition
Is always very sweet
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky disco pops
The lyrics to Ian Dury's song "Funky Disco" reflect a playful and lighthearted exploration of various situations and ideas. The first verse describes the singer's willingness to take their loved one to different experiences, such as going to the movies or a show, walking in the sunshine, or even rolling in the snow. The emphasis is placed on the simple pleasure of enjoying life and dancing with one's feet.
The chorus, with its repetition of "funky disco pops," signifies the infectious and energetic nature of disco music. It captures the joy and excitement that comes from dancing and immersing oneself in the lively atmosphere of a disco. The repetition of "funky" adds to the catchy and rhythmic nature of the song.
The second verse takes a humorous turn as the singer visits a doctor and tries to get treatment for the person they are addressing in the song. The mention of the doctor's dance suggests that the doctor has a fun and unconventional approach to medicine. The wordplay in the section where the singer questions the doctor doctoring another doctor adds to the humorous and playful tone of the song.
The final verse touches upon the singer's desire to spend quality time with their love interest, but acknowledges that dancing and having fun take precedence. The mention of hugging making the person angry and kissing making them cross adds a touch of humor and showcases the quirky dynamics of their relationship. The line "In this position your disposition is always very sweet" suggests that when the person is engaged in booty-shaking on the dance floor, they are in their element and enjoy themselves.
Overall, "Funky Disco" is a light-hearted and catchy song that celebrates the joy of dancing and highlights the fun and playfulness found in various situations.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll take you to the pictures
I will escort you to the cinema
I'll take you to the show
I will accompany you to the performance
Walking in the sunshine
Strolling under the rays of the sun
Rolling in the snow
Moving around playfully in the snow
Stepping from the threshold
Emerging from the entrance of a place
Out into the street
Venturing onto the road
All you ought to do, my love,
What you must do, my dear,
Is dancing with your feet
Is moving rhythmically with your feet
To those funky disco pops, funky disco pops
To the captivating beats of funky disco music
Oh!
Expressing surprise, excitement, or delight
I went to see the doctor
I visited the physician
Not so long ago
Relatively recently
I told her all about you
I revealed everything about you to her
I put her in the know
I informed her of the situation
Tried to get you treatment
Attempted to secure treatment for you
I didn't stand a chance
I had no possibility of succeeding
She turned on her radio
She activated her radio
And she did the doctor's dance
And she performed the dance associated with doctors (metaphorical)
When doctor doctors another doctor,
When one doctor treats another doctor,
is the doctor doing the doctoring
is the treating doctor performing their medical duties
doctor the doctor who's being doctored?
treat the doctor who is receiving treatment?
Just as the doctor being doctored wants to be doctored
Just as the doctor undergoing treatment desires medical attention
Or does the doctor doing the doctoring
Or does the treating doctor
doctor the doctor who's being doctored?
treat the doctor who is receiving treatment?
Just as the doctor who's doing the doctoring wants to do the doctoring
Just as the treating doctor desires to perform their medical duties
Do the doctoring
Perform the act of medical treatment
I long to take you courting
I yearn to court you romantically
but bopping is the boss
but dancing energetically is the dominant activity
Hugging makes you angry
Embracing makes you irate
Kissing makes you cross
Kissing makes you upset or annoyed
Your only installation
Your sole disposition
Is booty in the seat
Is placing your posterior in a chair
In this position your disposition
In this state, your attitude or temperament
Is always very sweet
Is consistently pleasant
Funky disco pops, funky disco pops
Captivating beats of funky disco music
Funky, funky, funky, funky, funky disco pops
Enticing, groovy, captivating, rhythmic beats of funky disco music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guillote Maldonado
How can you be so cool and sing so low and quiet. And the band is just incredible. We miss you Ian.
Juanfran
Ian Dury the classic of rock and roll
Juanfran
Ian Dury funky puro
Daniel Reyes
Q
pbuotte
love this hidden gem, had the vinyl back in the day
1phillywilly
A wordsmith genius !. with Chaz Jankle behind him, they could do no wrong. CLASS !!!
nicole sgourou
Awesome music!!
Nice voice.
Andrew Shields
Absolutely PURE unadulterated GENIUS!
Juanfran
The BEST of Ian dury
Julie Russell
These guy's was amazing live and partied with them all at Bristol many moons ago .. never forgoton .. r. i p Ian and charlie charles .. my sweet dear friends xxx