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)
There It Is
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, soul, soul
Need a taste
Mine is right, yeah
In the right place
You're doing your do
Give up trying
To run the game on me
Then dig it
From the real side
Stand, sure enough
To be satisfied
Meet be at the big house
Get down
Let everybody know
Let everybody know
My main squeeze
Just hit the town
Get up and do what, what you can
Get up and do what you can
For the world to see
Games don't mean
Nothing to me
You can't run a game on me
Don't need to thank me
Don't mean a thing
Hey, hit it, come on, uh
Playing in the car [?]
Wipe the sweat
Gonna have some fun
Time's getting short
We got to move
But in the meantime
Mama, we got to groove, hey
Long as you see
Can't run a game on me
Long as you see
Games don't mean a thing to me
Long as you see
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hit it
Hit it, hit it
Hit it, hit it, hit it
Well, then dig it
From the real side
Stand, sure enough
And be satisfied
Meet at the big house
Where we all get down
Let everybody know
The main man just hit the town
Got a mean man
We got a mean man
I wanna see the man scream
I got the mean man
The song "There It Is" by James Brown is an upbeat, lively track that encourages listeners to dance and have fun. The lyrics are focused on James Brown's confidence and self-assurance, and the way that he can't be manipulated or controlled by others. He declares that he can't be "run" or "played" by others, telling them to give up trying to manipulate him. He encourages listeners to join him in having fun and enjoying the moment, and to let go of any worries or concerns they may have.
Brown's lyrics are filled with slang and colloquial language, making them feel relatable and accessible to listeners. He repeats certain phrases throughout the song, such as "long as you see / can't run a game on me", which emphasizes his confidence and sense of control. He also uses repetition to encourage listeners to join in and "hit it", which feels like an invitation to dance and have fun.
Overall, "There It Is" is a song about confidence, joy, and independence. It encourages listeners to let go of any worries or concerns they have and to join James Brown in having a good time. Through his lyrics, Brown demonstrates his conviction that he cannot be controlled or manipulated by others, making the song feel powerful and uplifting.
Line by Line Meaning
Ow, there it is
The moment has arrived
Hey, soul, soul
Addressing the audience as soulful individuals
Need a taste
Looking for a sample of something good
Mine is right, yeah
James Brown is the right person for the job
In the right place
Everything is arranged properly
You're doing your do
You are minding your own business
Like you want to be
You are comfortable with your behavior
Give up trying
Stop attempting to manipulate me
To run the game on me
Trying to deceive and take advantage of me
Then dig it
Pay attention and listen carefully
From the real side
Recognize the true meaning
Stand, sure enough
Stay upright and don't falter
To be satisfied
To feel content and pleased
Meet be at the big house
Meet me at a lively venue
Get down
Dance and have fun
Let everybody know
Make sure everyone is aware
My main squeeze
My significant other or partner
Just hit the town
Has arrived in the area
Get up and do what, what you can
Try to do everything within your ability
For the world to see
To show everyone
Games don't mean
Deceptive tactics are ineffective
Nothing to me
I am not impressed
You can't run a game on me
I can't be fooled or tricked
Don't need to thank me
I don't need appreciation for this
Don't mean a thing
It has no significance
Hey, hit it, come on, uh
Start the music and get ready to groove
Playing in the car [?]
Driving around while listening to music
Wipe the sweat
Working hard and beginning to perspire
Gonna have some fun
Preparing to enjoy oneself
Time's getting short
There's not enough time left
We got to move
We must act now
But in the meantime
Until that happens
Mama, we got to groove, hey
We need to dance and have a good time
Hey, hey
An expression of excitement
Hit it
Start the music again
Hit it, hit it
Play the music more vigorously
Well, then dig it
Let me explain it to you
Where we all get down
Where everyone dances and has fun
The main man just hit the town
A very important person has just arrived
Got a mean man
I have a very tough guy with me
We got a mean man
My team is strong and resilient
I wanna see the man scream
I want to see someone respond emotionally
I got the mean man
I have someone who can handle anything
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN, ST. CLAIR PINCKNEY, ST. CLAIR PINCKNEY, JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scottrayford871
The man was incredible. Saw him live at the municipal auditorium, New Orleans, La. back in 1974. He was in his prime then. I was a little boy and never heard women scream like that before. Awesome!!
@a.b.sproductionsllc
I first discovered this song back in 2000, I was 12. My father had the 45 to this. I found it funny James Brown’s head was in the corner of the label with his Afro. I played the shit out of that 28 year old vinyl.
@ericrowell8722
My mother use to play this somg when it was relased and we would all be around the house dancing.. This song got one funky beat.
@sevinatenine4444
LET'S BE REAL YALL,JAMES BROWN WAS MAKING HIP HOP BEATS WAY BACK IN THE 1960'S.WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT YET BACK THEN.
@lloydmorris1492
James Brown is NOT getting his due RESPECT and RECOGNITION!..What an ENTERTAINER!..Those very fond memories..Peace and Love!
@tomrowan293
The King Was A Genius!
@martinboyd2188
No One BETTER Than JB My God Father of SOUL!
@kirkdilworth5778
James Brown and the J B,s one of the baddest entertainers and bands of all time. Outstanding musicians, always with a message to our people, to continue the fight. JB, Should have been President.
@jennieroberts7654
This was the jam back in the day. Afros bouncing and hips shaking in palazzo pants!
@user-tr8yw9xs4q
this is what it is, this is the very THING, this is the invention of James Brown, this is the musical revolution to the maximum extent of its manifestation, more syncopation, more pressure, more aggression , more groove! literally 10 years ago , in the 60s , it would have been impossible to even imagine such music !