Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Studio albums
Please Please Please (1958)
Try Me! (1959)
Think! (1960)
The Amazing James Brown (1961)
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. (1962)
Prisoner of Love (1963)
Grits & Soul (1964)
Showtime (1964)
Out of Sight (1964)
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday (1965)
Mighty Instrumentals (1966)
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (1966)
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs (1966)
Handful of Soul (1966)
James Brown Sings Raw Soul (1967)
James Brown Plays the Real Thing (1967)
Cold Sweat (1967)
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
I Got the Feelin' (1968)
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul (1968)
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things (1968)
A Soulful Christmas (1968)
Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1969)
Gettin' Down to It (1969)
The Popcorn (1969)
It's a Mother (1969)
Ain't It Funky (1970)
Soul on Top (1970)
It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In (1970)
Hey America (1970)
Sho Is Funky Down Here (1971)
Hot Pants (1971)
There It Is (1972)
Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Black Caesar (1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973)
The Payback (1973)
Hell (1974)
Reality (1974)
Sex Machine Today (1975)
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump (1975)
Hot (1976)
Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)
Bodyheat (1976)
Mutha's Nature (1977)
Jam 1980's (1978)
Take a Look at Those Cakes (1978)
The Original Disco Man (1979)
People (1980)
Soul Syndrome (1980)
Nonstop! (1981)
Bring It On! (1983)
Gravity (1986)
I'm Real (1988)
Love Over-Due (1991)
Universal James (1993)
I'm Back (1998)
The Merry Christmas Album (1999)
The Next Step (2002)
And I Do Just What I Want
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't matter how long you live, you're a long time dead.
I said no use to worry, no use to fret,
I'd like a million dollars but I ain't gonna bet.
I'm alright tonight, and I'll do just what I want.
Tell everybody in the neighborhood,
That I want to party, want to party good.
And I don't care what the people don't allow,
I'm alright tonight, and I do just what I want. Oww!
{Erik - Solo}
Whoo!
Live while you're livin', 'cause you know what they said,
Don't matter how long you live, you're a long time dead.
I said no use to worry, no use to fret,
I'd like a million dollars but I ain't gonna get.
I'm alright tonight, and I do just what I want ....
{Dave - Solo}
When I hold you in my arms,
Love can't do no wrong,
And when I hold you tight,
Love gonna do me right.
(Tell everybody in the neighborhood!)
(I want to party, want to party good!)
And I don't care what the people don't allow,
I'm gonna have a good time any old how.
I'm alright tonight, and I do just what I want.
I'm alright tonight, and I do just what I want.
I'm alroit tonoit, and I do just what I want.
{Goonerisms}
The lyrics of James Brown's "And I Do Just What I Want" speak to the idea of living life to the fullest without worrying about the opinions of others. Brown encourages listeners to embrace their freedom and do what makes them happy, even if others disapprove. He recognizes that life is short and death is inevitable, but instead of dwelling on that, he suggests enjoying the present moment. Brown mentions that he would like to have a million dollars, but he's not going to rely on that to be happy. He's content with his current situation and will continue to do what he wants.
Brown's lyrics also touch on the theme of love. When he holds his partner, love can do no wrong, and he believes that love will treat him right. This emphasizes his desire to live in the moment and enjoy the little things in life, such as holding someone close. The lyrics can also be interpreted as a call to rebellion against societal norms and expectations. Brown wants to party and have a good time, regardless of what others think or say. In essence, the song is a celebration of freedom and self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Live while you're livin', 'cause you know what they said,
Enjoy life while you still can because as they say, life is short.
Don't matter how long you live, you're a long time dead.
Regardless of how long you live, death is inevitable and universal.
I said no use to worry, no use to fret,
It's not worth it to worry or be anxious about things beyond our control.
I'd like a million dollars but I ain't gonna bet.
While money would be nice, he's not going to gamble on it.
I'm alright tonight, and I'll do just what I want.
He's feeling good and plans on doing what he pleases.
Tell everybody in the neighborhood,
Spread the word to everyone nearby.
That I want to party, want to party good.
He wants to have a good time and celebrate.
And I don't care what the people don't allow,
He doesn't care about any rules or restrictions others may try to impose on him.
I'm gonna have a good time any old how.
He's determined to have a good time regardless of any obstacles or naysayers.
When I hold you in my arms, Love can't do no wrong,
Being in the arms of someone you love is a magical feeling where everything just feels right.
And when I hold you tight, Love gonna do me right.
Love will always treat him well when he embraces it.
I'm alroit tonoit, and I do just what I want.
He's feeling good and will continue to act on his own desires.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind