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)
How Do You Stop
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So fast so smart
The world's at your feet
But what about your heart
Fame and power can't hold you tight
In the late hours of the night
How do you stop (How do you stop)
You choose and you lose if you hesitate
How do you stop (How do you stop)
Before it's too late
You think love will wait
So you don't hold on and then it's gone
Then it's gone
You've had some success
A new group of friends
You called it the "good life"
Thought it would never never end
One minute you're too young
Then you're in your prime
Then you're lookin' back
Through the hands of time
How do you (How do you stop)
Before it's too late
You choose and you lose if you hesitate
How do you stop (How do you stop)
Before it's too late
You think love will wait
You don't hold on and then it's gone
How do you stop a runaway train
How do you stop the pouring, pouring of rain
How do you stop the night turning to day
How do you stop love from slipping away
How do you stop from believing
How do you stop lovers from deceiving
How do you stop the tide from coming in
How do you stop the cold, cold wind
(How do you stop)
Before it's too late
You choose and you lose if you hesitate
How do you stop (How do you stop)
Before it's too late
You think love will wait
So you don't hold on and then it's gone
Then it's gone
(How do you stop)
A runaway train
How do you stop pouring, pouring rain
How do you stop a heart with wings
How do you stop everything
How do you stop before it's to late
Choose and you lose if you hesitate
How do you stop before it's to late
It's your life
James Brown's "How Do You Stop" is a soulful ballad about the struggle between success and desire, and how the pursuit of fame and power can lead one far from love and emotional fulfillment. The song begins with the contrast between the hard bodies and soft emotions of the singer, who is fast and smart, and who seems to have the whole world at their feet. They are at the height of their power, achieving success and surrounded by a new group of friends who share their lifestyle. This "good life" leads them to believe that they will always have the upper hand, but in the late hours of the night, they find themselves alone and questioning where it all went wrong.
The lyrics of "How Do You Stop" are a powerful reminder that fame and fortune cannot buy happiness or love, and that true emotional fulfillment requires a different set of values. The song addresses the challenges of choosing the right path and making the right decisions, which can be difficult when faced with so many opportunities and temptations. The refrain "How do you stop before it's too late?" is a plea for caution and reflection, a call to take a moment to think before making any irrevocable choices, especially in matters of the heart.
The song's message is universal, and the chorus asks the question that everyone must contend with at one time or another - how do you stop before it's too late? How do you hold on to the things that matter most, and avoid losing them in the pursuit of power and success? The answer is not an easy one, and the song does not offer any clear solution. Instead, it encourages the listener to consider their own lives and choices, and to choose wisely when faced with difficult decisions
Line by Line Meaning
Hard bodies, soft emotions
You may have a strong and fit body but your emotions can be fragile and easily hurt.
So fast so smart
You are intelligent and quick-witted.
The world's at your feet
You have achieved success and everything seems within reach.
But what about your heart
However, you may have neglected your feelings and emotions despite your material success.
Fame and power can't hold you tight
Your fame and power cannot give you the love and connection that you need.
In the late hours of the night
When you are alone at night, you may feel the void of true love and connection in your life.
How do you stop (How do you stop)
What can you do to stop feeling empty and unfulfilled?
Before it's too late
Before your success and material possessions cause you to lose sight of what truly matters.
You choose and you lose if you hesitate
If you do not actively make changes and take control of your life, you will inevitably lose out on what truly matters.
You think love will wait
You may believe that love is something you can postpone or that it will come to you eventually.
So you don't hold on and then it's gone
However, if you do not actively hold on to love and connection, it can slip away from you unnoticed.
You've had some success
You have achieved material success and gained a new social circle.
A new group of friends
You now have friends who share similar levels of success and power.
You called it the "good life"
You considered this new lifestyle to be the epitome of a good life.
Thought it would never never end
You believed this life of success and power would be everlasting.
One minute you're too young
But life moves quickly, and before you know it you may be too old to enjoy certain things.
Then you're in your prime
At your peak, but time is still passing you by.
Then you're lookin' back
Before you know it, you may be looking back on what you have done with your life.
Through the hands of time
Regretting missed opportunities and wondering if you could have done anything differently.
How do you stop a runaway train
Your life may feel like a runaway train that you cannot seem to slow down or stop.
How do you stop the pouring, pouring of rain
You may feel like the challenges and struggles in your life are never-ending, like a downpour of rain.
How do you stop the night turning to day
Feeling like each day is passing without anything meaningful or substantial being accomplished.
How do you stop love from slipping away
Stop taking love and relationships for granted, and learn to cherish and maintain them.
How do you stop from believing
Stop believing that your success and material possessions are enough to bring happiness and fulfillment.
How do you stop lovers from deceiving
Stop getting caught up in superficial relationships that do not bring true happiness and love.
How do you stop the tide from coming in
Sometimes life changes are like the natural force of the tide and may seem unstoppable, but it is up to you to adapt and navigate life's changes.
How do you stop the cold, cold wind
How can you shield yourself from the emotional chill caused by a life devoid of true love and connection?
It's your life
Ultimately, it is up to you to take action and make changes in your life to find true happiness, love and fulfillment.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE MIDNIGHT, DAN HARTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruce Laidlaw
You think love will wait,
So you donโt hold on,
And then itโs gone ๐ด๐ป
One minute youโre too young,
Then youโre in your prime,
Looking back
At the hands of timeโฆ. ๐ด๐ป
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Tracy Trice
I'm in my 50s now and oh boy is this song so true!!! Smooth groove and gets you to thinking and reflecting. Oh yeah, sing it James Brown, sing it!!! RIP Godfather of soul.
Dick Buelow
One of the best songs ever recorded by the King of Soul
cvisenti
With some sweet keyboard work by Steve Winwood too.
Kimberly Lomax
Yes and try me its so many i just love him
Michael Burton
Dick Buelow yes beautiful ๐๐ฝ
Mack Eppinger
Powerful song if you know music, just listen to the song
Selwyn Patrick
Love this beautiful song about loss and regret!
TVC15ohoh
How do you... not LOVE this song?!
Maju-Chรคn Oficial
James Brown, um cantor extraordinรกrio, mรบsicas extraordinรกrias e uma orquestra maravilhosa. O rei do Soul.
Helio marcos Santos
Isso que รฉ uma melo da hora mano..saudades dos anos 80s...puts รฉ foda