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)
People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Georgia, drivin' that funky soul, drivin' that funky soul
And you cross your tongue in Baltimore
Philadelphia, ha!
Join Chicago, St. Louis, Houston
I said Dallas, wow!
Cape Cove, the next-door neighbor
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive your funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
And I believe, they're drivin' their self
With that funky soul in Houston, Texas
They're gettin' their self together with the funky soul
In Mobile, Alabama, they gettin' that funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
Los Angeles, raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
Birmingham, raise up get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
On the Island Mama
Get yourself together, drive that funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
I'm goin' to get it
I'm goin' to get it
Gotta' get some money
And drive that funky soul.
Gotta' get some money
Gotta' get some money
I need a lil' bit a money
Oh, yeah, I need a lil' bit a money
Fred, I need a one million
Two million, three million
Brotha!
(Yeah)
So what about it?
Will one million be enough?
(Better get two)
Well since my man got three
Well man you better get three
You understand, can I use the three?
Take 'em on home Fred
Take 'em!
Get up get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
Woo!
That is
That is
That is, what is that?
Get up, raise up, raise up, raise up
Woo!
Raise up, raise up, raise
Raise on up, get yourself together
Drive that funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
You don't miss nothin' you never had
But you miss so much you wish you could get, ha!
I guess you can out that together
It takes a man to find a woman
And takes a woman to find what a man used to be
Get up, get on up
Get yourself together
Drive that funky soul
Everybody knows somebody
Who can drive that funky soul?
Everybody knows somebody
Who can drive that funky soul?
Get up, get yourself together
And drive your funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
Raise up, get yourself together
And drive that funky soul
Raise up, since we had it groovin'
You know
James Brown's song "People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul" is a call to action, a primal cry for people to let go and allow themselves to be taken over by the groove. The lyrics describe people all over the country, from Georgia to Baltimore to Los Angeles, getting down with their funky souls. The repetition of the phrase "raise up, get yourself together and drive that funky soul" is an exhortation to listeners to join in and be a part of something larger than themselves.
The song also touches on the theme of money and status, with Brown declaring his desire for "one million, two million, three million" dollars. He speaks directly to his friend Fred, asking for his help in obtaining the funds so he can drive his funky soul in style. The lyrics suggest that money isn't everything, but it's certainly helpful when it comes to living the good life and getting down with your funky self.
Overall, "People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul" is a celebration of both individualism and community, of the joys of finding oneself through dance and music and the pleasures of coming together with others and letting loose. It's a powerful example of James Brown's ability to tap into the raw emotions of his listeners while simultaneously creating a catchy, infectious groove that makes them want to move their feet.
Line by Line Meaning
I said they're drivin' that funky soul
People are driving with enthusiasm and energy
In Georgia, drivin' that funky soul, drivin' that funky soul
Specifically in Georgia, people are driving with that same energy
And you cross your tongue in Baltimore
There is excitement and anticipation in Baltimore
Philadelphia, ha!
Philadelphia is also filled with people who are enthusiastic about driving and grooving
Join Chicago, St. Louis, Houston
Cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Houston are also part of this movement to drive and groove
I said Dallas, wow!
Dallas is particularly impressive in its grooving and driving
Cape Cove, the next-door neighbor
Even smaller cities and towns like Cape Cove are part of this trend
They're drivin' that funky soul
Everyone is driving with energy and enthusiasm
Raise up, get yourself together
Get ready to groove and show your passion
And drive your funky soul
Get on the road and let your energy flow
And I believe, they're drivin' their self
Everyone is driving themselves and their own energy
With that funky soul in Houston, Texas
Houston is particularly full of this groove and energy
They're gettin' their self together with the funky soul
Everyone is finding their own groove and energy in their own way
In Mobile, Alabama, they gettin' that funky soul
Even small towns like Mobile, Alabama are part of this movement
Los Angeles, raise up, get yourself together
Even in a big city like Los Angeles, it's time to show your groove and energy
Birmingham, raise up get yourself together
In Birmingham, it's time to join the movement and show your passion
On the Island Mama
Even on the island, the grooving and energy is present
I'm goin' to get it
I'm going to get my groove on and show my energy
Gotta' get some money
Money is needed to keep the energy and passion going
And drive that funky soul.
That passion and energy is going to be channeled into grooving and driving
Fred, I need a one million
A large sum of money is needed to keep this passion and energy going
Two million, three million
Even more money would be helpful in sustaining this groove and energy
Brotha!
Let's work together to keep this energy and passion going
(Yeah)
Agreement and enthusiasm
Will one million be enough?
Is one million dollars enough to sustain this groove and energy?
(Better get two)
No, it's better to have more money to sustain this energy
Well since my man got three
If my friend has three million, I also want that much
Well man you better get three
You also need to get three million to sustain this passion and energy
You understand, can I use the three?
You understand why I need three million, can I have it?
Take 'em on home Fred
Let's take the money home and keep this passion and energy going
Get up get yourself together
Rise up and channel that energy into grooving
Woo!
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm
That is
That is how it's done
That is, what is that?
What exactly is happening here?
Raise up, raise up, raise
Continue to raise up and show your passion
Raise on up, get yourself together
Keep on rising and channeling your energy
You don't miss nothin' you never had
You don't miss what you've never experienced
But you miss so much you wish you could get, ha!
You miss out on so much by not joining in and experiencing this groove and energy
I guess you can out that together
You can figure out what you're missing by putting two and two together
It takes a man to find a woman
It takes someone with confidence and energy to find a partner
And takes a woman to find what a man used to be
A woman has the power to bring out the best in a man that he may have lost sight of
Get up, get on up
Rise up and keep on grooving
Everybody knows somebody
Everyone knows someone who can groove and show energy
Who can drive that funky soul?
Who has the passion and energy to drive and groove with the best of them?
Raise up, get yourself together
Keep on rising and showing your energy
And drive your funky soul
Keep on grooving and driving with that same energy and passion
Raise up, since we had it groovin'
Continue to rise up and show your passion since we already had it going strong
You know
You understand that we need to keep the energy and passion going
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES BROWN, FRED WESLEY, ST. CLAIR PICKNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind