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)
Signs Of Christmas
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sock it
All the boys and girls
Playing in the snow
Well their eyes are lit
For santa's sure to know
They're hoping for a lot
Hoping for a lot
Of the things that he's got
Tell me what you see
(That's the sign of Christmas)
One more time
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Tell me tell me tell me
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Take it on down, down
Down, look here
Parking lots a jam
Shoppers are galore
Finding their new gifts
From their favorite store
All this love is shown
In the hearts of men
I repeat all this love is shown
In the hearts of men
Tell me tell me what you see
(That's the sign of Christmas)
I believe I see the same
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Whao tell me one more time
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Take it down, down
Sock it, sock it, look here
Molly wants a bike
Jimmy wants a kite that flies
Billy wants a sled, tell me what I said
Mother wants a bed
Daddy wants a boat, row it
Sister wants a coat
Now tell me one more time
Tell me what you see, repeat
(That's the sign of Christmas)
One more time
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Tell me tell me tell me tell me
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Take it on down
Wait
Look here
Part of being a man, look here
Very people pay
All their own regard
To their long dear friend
And their pretty pretty cars
Hoping for the best
Of the yule tide zest
Hoping for the best
Of that yule tide zest
Repeat tell me
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Can you re-repeat
(That's the sign of Christmas)
What do you see now
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Take it on, take it on
Take it on, take it on
Look here, one more time
Molly wants a bike
Jimmy wants a kite that flies
Billy wants a sled, do ya heat me
Mother wants a bed
Daddy wants a boat, now row it
Sister wants a coat, now show it
Tell me one more time
Look here, can you repeat
Now tell me
(That's the sign of Christmas)
Wait for me baby
(That's the sign of Christmas)
The song "Signs of Christmas" by James Brown is an upbeat and festive song about the various signs of Christmas observed by all around the world. The song starts by talking about children playing in the snow, eagerly waiting for Santa to bring them the gifts they desire. The lyrics express the hopeful anticipation of these children, representing the innocent and pure joy that is associated with the holiday season. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "That's the sign of Christmas", reminding us of the various symbols that appear during this time of year.
The second verse of the song is about the bustling holiday shopping season, where people are busy looking for gifts for their loved ones. The lyrics suggest that this is a time when love is demonstrated in people's hearts through their generosity and kindness towards each other. In the bridge, the song highlights the commercial aspect of Christmas, where people often lavish themselves with expensive gifts like cars and boats, hoping to get the most out of the holiday season.
Overall, "Signs of Christmas" is a song that celebrates the various aspects of Christmas, including the excitement and anticipation of presents, the love and kindness that people show towards each other, and the commercialism that is often associated with the holiday. The song is a joyful reminder of the spirit of Christmas and the various symbols that define it.
Line by Line Meaning
Sock it to me
Start the music and bring it full force
All the boys and girls Playing in the snow Well their eyes are lit For santa's sure to know They're hoping for a lot Of the things he's got Hoping for a lot Of the things that he's got
Children are outside playing in the snow, hoping that Santa will get them everything they want for Christmas
Tell me what you see (That's the sign of Christmas) One more time (That's the sign of Christmas) Tell me tell me tell me (That's the sign of Christmas)
The singer wants listeners to identify the different signs of Christmas and repeat them
Parking lots a jam Shoppers are galore Finding their new gifts From their favorite store All this love is shown In the hearts of men I repeat all this love is shown In the hearts of men
The stores are crowded with Christmas shoppers showing their love for others by finding gifts they will enjoy
Take it down, down Sock it, sock it, look here
Continue to jam with the music and pay attention to what's around you
Molly wants a bike Jimmy wants a kite that flies Billy wants a sled, tell me what I said Mother wants a bed Daddy wants a boat, row it Sister wants a coat Now tell me one more time
The family members each have specific gifts they want for Christmas, and the singer wants to make sure the listeners are paying attention
Part of being a man, look here Very people pay All their own regard To their long dear friend And their pretty pretty cars Hoping for the best Of the yule tide zest Hoping for the best Of that yule tide zest
During Christmas, people show love to their friends and family, but also value their material possessions
Repeat tell me (That's the sign of Christmas) Can you re-repeat (That's the sign of Christmas) What do you see now (That's the sign of Christmas)
The artist wants listeners to keep identifying the signs of Christmas and repeat them
Take it on, take it on Take it on, take it on Look here, one more time
Continue playing the music and pay attention to what's around us
Molly wants a bike Jimmy wants a kite that flies Billy wants a sled, do ya heat me Mother wants a bed Daddy wants a boat, now row it Sister wants a coat, now show it Tell me one more time Look here, can you repeat
The family members have specific gifts they want for Christmas, and the artist wants listeners to remember them and repeat them
Now tell me (That's the sign of Christmas) Wait for me baby (That's the sign of Christmas)
The singer asks listeners to wait for him and then to identify the signs of Christmas again
Contributed by Wyatt L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.