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)
Intro/ It's A New Day
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got to let the girls know what they got to do for us
It's done got to be a drag, man, a man can't do nothin' no more
It's really a drag
You got to do somethin'
Can I tell 'em?
Let me on
Girl, let me tell you what you got to do
T.C.B. so mellow, 'til nobody can get through
When he asks you do you love him, smilin' and kiss his cheek
Walk away and twist your hip, make sure you keep him weak
Don't let nobody take care your business better than you do
Do what he wants, give what he wants, respect will come to you
And than you can hold your man, you can hold your man
You can hold your man, you can hold, hey
Never get so confident so it's nothin' you want to know
Because that's the time you lose your thing, and then you got to blow
You know what we got, you tell him, to take his feet off the table
Use your thing so carefully and don't be a total loss
Sister, when you love your man, be careful how you tell him that
He will put you back in a corner, and use you like a Sunday hat
You can hold your man, you can hold your man
You can hold your man, you can hold, hey
Hit it
Good God, get it
Hit me now
Good God
Never get too confident so it's nothin' you want to know
Because that's the time you lose your thing, then you got to blow
You know I got what it takes to be the untold boss
You gotta use it carefully and you can't be a total
Hit me now
Good God, hit it
Yeah
Good God
Fellas
Can I get some help?
Can I get some help?
Let me have some help
Can I get a witness?
Said I need a witness?
Said I need a witness?
I, I, I, I need a witness
Can I get a witness?
I want a witness over there
Can I get a witness?
I want a witness over here
I'm a witness right here
I'm a witness over there
Is a witness over there?
I'm a witness right here
Wait a minute
Girl, let me tell you what you got to do
T.C.B. so mellow, and nobody can get through
And when he asks you do you love him, smile and kiss his cheek
Good God
Walk away and twist your hip, make sure you keep him weak
Ah, make sure You keep him weak, good God sure You keep him
Ain't it funky now? Good God
Ain't it funky now? Hey
Ain't it funky now?
Ain't it funky now?
Ain't it funky now?
Ain't it funky now?
Ain't it funky now?
One more
Don't good God
Don't let nobody take care your business better than you do
Do what he wants, give what he wants, respect will come to you
Ain't it funky now?
Can I get some help?
Let me have some help
Then clap your hands
Then clap your hands
Build it up a little higher
Build it up a little higher
A little bit higher now
Build it up a little higher
Ain't it funky now?
Ain't it funky now?
Yeah
Believe I'll scream
Can I scream, brother?
Can I scream, brother?
Brother, can I scream now?
Can I scream, brother?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Gotta scream
Good God, gotta scream, now
I gotta scream, now
I gotta scream, now
They wanna hold the man
They need to hold the man
They need to satisfy the man
They need to hold the man
They got to hold the man
Ain't it funky now?
Good God, ain't it funky now?
Hey, yeah, yeah
Can I get some help?
I gotta have some help
I wanna get some help
Wanna get some help
I wanna, I wanna, wanna, I wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
Yeah, now
Good God
Can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, yeah
Never get so confident, so it's nothin' you want to know
Because that's the time you lose your thing, and then you got to blow
You know you got what it takes to be the untold boss
You gotta use it carefully, you can't be a total loss
So girls, look here
Sister, when you tell your love your man
Careful how you tell him that
He'll take you for granted and use you for a Sunday hat
Come on
Can I get some help?
Can I get a witness?
Can I get a witness?
A witness over there?
A witness over there?
A witness, witness
Witness, witness
Can I get a witness?
Can I get a witness?
Can I get a witness?
Can?
Can I get a witness?
Hey yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
The lyrics to this song are addressed to women, with the idea that they need to keep their man interested, so he'll stick around. Brown encourages the women to take care of their business better than anyone else could, and to do what their man wants, as long as they get the respect that they please. The song also suggests that women should be careful how they express their love, so as not to be taken for granted and used like a Sunday hat.
The song is a protest against the role of women in society, and how women were perceived as the weaker sex. Brown empowers women through his lyrics, encouraging them to hold their man and take control of their relationship. It's also a commentary on the changing times, with Brown declaring that "it's a new day," and forward-thinking ideals about gender roles.
Line by Line Meaning
Fellas, things done got too far gone
The men are struggling and need the women to step up and help in their relationships.
We got to let the girls know what they got to do for us
The men need to communicate to the women what they expect from them in their relationships.
It's done got to be a drag, man, a man can't do nothin' no more
Men are finding it hard to maintain their relationships and need the women to take more responsibility.
You got to do somethin'
Women need to step up and take action to save their relationships.
Can I tell 'em?
The artist is seeking permission to give advice to the women on how to save their relationships.
Let me on
The singer wants to take the opportunity to share his insights on how women can improve their relationships with men.
Girl, let me tell you what you got to do
The singer is addressing the women and offering them guidance on how to make their men happy.
T.C.B. so mellow, 'til nobody can get through
The women need to be in control of themselves and their emotions to the point that no one can provoke them.
When he asks you do you love him, smilin' and kiss his cheek
Women should express love and affection towards their partners even when they are upset or frustrated with them.
Walk away and twist your hip, make sure you keep him weak
Women should maintain their power and control in the relationship by leaving their partner wanting more.
Don't let nobody take care your business better than you do
Women should take responsibility for their own happiness and not rely on anyone else to make them happy.
Do what he wants, give what he wants, respect will come to you
If women meet their partners' needs and desires, they will earn their respect.
And than you can hold your man, you can hold your man
By following this advice, women can maintain a strong and healthy relationship with their partner.
Never get so confident so it's nothin' you want to know
Women should never become too complacent in their relationship and should always strive to learn and grow.
Because that's the time you lose your thing, and then you got to blow
If a woman becomes too complacent, she risks losing her power and control in the relationship.
You know what we got, you tell him, to take his feet off the table
Women should assert themselves and let their partners know when their behavior is unacceptable.
Use your thing so carefully and don't be a total loss
Women should use their power and control carefully and thoughtfully to maintain a healthy and happy relationship.
Sister, when you love your man, be careful how you tell him that
Women should express their love and affection carefully to avoid taking their partners for granted.
He will put you back in a corner, and use you like a Sunday hat
If a woman expresses her love and affection too freely, her partner may take advantage of her and disrespect her.
Hit it
An exclamation to encourage continued good music.
Good God, get it
An exclamation to encourage continued good music.
Hit me now
An exclamation to encourage continued good music.
Never get too confident so it's nothin' you want to know
Repeating earlier advice not to become too complacent in the relationship.
You know I got what it takes to be the untold boss
The artist is confident in their ability to lead and guide others.
You gotta use it carefully and you can't be a total
The singer emphasizes the importance of using power and control carefully and thoughtfully.
Come on
An exclamation to encourage continued good music.
A witness over there?
The singer is looking for someone to back up their advice.
Can?
An incomplete sentence or exclamation, possibly meant to encourage audience participation.
Hey yeah
An exclamation to encourage continued good music.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
UNC
WE ( BLACK PEOPLE ) ARE FRIKIN AMAZING!!! I’m in tears over here. Go to Africa and play this song for a crowd of 10,000 and just watch how everyone will be locked into the rhythm. Not a single person, Not One! Will be off beat. That’s our magic! It’s a direct gift from God!