The song was included on Ice Cube's Greatest Hits album and on the 1996 George Clinton remix album Greatest Funkin' Hits. "Bop Gun (One Nation)" was mixed at Aire LA Studios in Glendale, CA by Raymundo Silva.
Bop Gun
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So low you can't get under it
So high you can't get over it
Can't get over it
Ready or not here we come
Getting down for the one which we believe in
Ice Cube comin' with the half ounce
Not just knee deep jeep fulla' smog
Atomic dog
Like your behind heard it through the grapevine
How much longer will you be mine?
And I'ma tell ya, I don't like drama
So do I have to put my handcuffs on your mama?
'cause nothin' but did her damn boogie with my crew
But I'd rather be with you, boo
And make you say humdrum, Tweedledee dumb
Humdrum don't succumb when I'm done, fuckin' hicks
One nation under a groove gettin' down for the funk of it
Tear the roof of this mother like we did last night son
And hit you with the bop gun
Here's my chance to dance my way
Out of my constriction
Gonna be freakin' up and down
Hang up really late
The groove I only got
Wish you all be moved
Ready or not, here we come
Gettin' down for the one which we believe in
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
If you hear any noise, it's just me and the boys
Playin' with our toys
M-1, 'cause everybody's gotta have fun
Under the sun, under the sun
So rough, so tough when I get down
The disco fiend with the monster sound
I wants to get (whistle) when I'm chillin'
The bigger the headache, the bigger the pill-in
You let her funk me 'cause my funk is the best
Comin' from the west
Kickin' them hits
We occupied, dedicated to the preservation motion of hips
Hittin' them dips, cd skips but I'm straight
As I bounce, rock, skate
Now I'll toast to that
If it's rough, make the girls say "Do that stuff! Aw do that
Stuff!"
But ya got to be, you got to be a freak of the week
For the top gun, hit you with the bop gun
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Do not attempt to adjust your radio
There ain't nothin' wrong, so hit the bong
Waitin' on the double dutch bus for a ride
As the buffalo girl go round the outside
Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip
Got Dayton's on the mother ship
And you can ring my bell if you need me to pass
The doja on the left hand side for the sale
'cause nobody knows where the nose goes
When the ? dog child got the
Lookin' for the theme from the Black Hole
Now I'll big bang you with my black pole
A flashlight, red light, we don't like cops on the bike
Just made bail tonight
So whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail?
I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
Ready or not, here we come
Getting down for the one which we believe in
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Ice Cube's song Bop Gun is a call to the people to get down and immerse themselves in the funk. The lyric "so wide you can't get around it, so low you can't get under it, so high you can't get over it" speaks to the power of the funk, which is all-encompassing and irresistible. The phrase "getting down for the one which we believe in" suggests that the funk is more than just music, it's a way of life, a belief system.
There are several references to funk legends in the lyrics, including "knee deep jeep fulla' smog," which is a nod to George Clinton's song "Knee Deep," and "Atomic Dog," which is a reference to Clinton's song of the same name. This indicates that Ice Cube is paying homage to the roots of funk music and its pioneers. The lyric "how much longer will you be mine?" suggests that Ice Cube is courting someone, perhaps the listener, and wants them to stick around for the funk.
The line "ready or not here we come" is a play on the children's game hide and seek, suggesting that the funk is not something to be hidden from but something to be embraced. Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of funk music to bring people together and get them moving.
Line by Line Meaning
So wide you can't get around it
The problem is so big that it cannot be avoided or ignored.
So low you can't get under it
The problem is on such a basic level that it cannot be bypassed.
So high you can't get over it
The problem is so complex that it cannot be solved easily.
Can't get over it
The problem cannot be ignored or avoided.
Ready or not here we come
The artist and their group are prepared to take on any challenge.
Getting down for the one which we believe in
The group is dedicated to fighting for their beliefs and values.
One nation under a groove gettin' down for the funk of it
Everyone is coming together to enjoy the music and dance.
Tear the roof of this mother like we did last night son
The group is going to party hard and have a good time.
And hit you with the bop gun
The music will be so powerful that it will hit listeners like a stun gun.
Here's my chance to dance my way out of my constriction
The artist sees dancing as a way to break free from their limitations.
Gonna be freakin' up and down
The singer plans on dancing energetically and wildly.
Hang up really late
The group plans to party until the early hours of the morning.
The groove I only got
The singer only has the music to rely on.
Wish you all be moved
The singer wants everyone to enjoy the music and be moved by it.
Nothin' can stop us now
The singer is confident that they and their group can overcome any obstacle.
If you hear any noise, it's just me and the boys playin' with our toys
The artist is referring to the music as a 'toy' and playfully teasing their audience.
M-1, 'cause everybody's gotta have fun
The artist believes that fun is a necessary part of life.
Comin' from the west kickin' them hits
The singer is proud of their music and where they come from.
But ya got to be, you got to be a freak of the week
The singer is implying that in order to fully enjoy the music, one must be open-minded and free-spirited.
Whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail? I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
The artist is lightheartedly joking about being in jail and looking forward to enjoying the music once free.
Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip
The artist is encouraging the audience to move and dance fluidly.
And you can ring my bell if you need me to pass the doja on the left hand side for the sale
The artist is offering to share their drugs (doja) and wants the listener to signal them if interested.
So whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail? I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
The singer is repeating the earlier line to emphasize the message of having fun and enjoying the music.
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE CLINTON, WILLIAM BOOTSY COLLINS, GARRY MARSHALL SHIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hinkhall5291
George Clinton is the secret sauce of gangsta rap. He made everything legendary.
@EricConey-qt6ls
💯
@erikmonroe8087
Agreed 💯
@czgibson3086
This is really more of a George Clinton record than an Ice Cube record. It's a really good tribute to the man who brought us the P-Funk.
@kenabi
the funktipus always brings you on through. always ready to give mankind a ride on the mothership~
@jplaya2023
All those G funk records are more george clinton records. They just paying homage to the king
@davidking3311
@420 Everyday Lethal Injection still one of my top 5 albums, needs some good subs for those bass lines though
@yodathecloverholder69
@j playa Don’t forget Roger Troutman.
@smokemystogies9063
Cubes verses make the song though, that second verse 👌
@calicentral9995
1993, Much more baiiiiaiiiiiounce