Kansas City
James Brown & The Famous Flames Lyrics


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Goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
Goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
They got some crazy little boxes there, I'm gonna get me one

Look it here, I'll be standing on the corner of twelfth street and vine
I'll be standing on the corner of twelfth street and vine
With my Kansas City, baby, and a taste of [Incomprehensible] wine
Well, I might take a train or I believe I'd drive a plane
If I have to walk, I'm goin' there just the same

Way down to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
They got some crazy little boxes there, I'm gonna get me one

And if I have to stay with my baby, I believe I'm gonna die
Gotta find a new woman and that's the reason why

I'm gone, Kansas City here I come
They got some crazy little boxes there, I'm gonna get me one

Said that I'm goin', said that I'm there




Can't save the pain, the heart can't bare the strain
Said that I'm there, oh no, oh no, no no and no no, no

Overall Meaning

James Brown wrote and recorded "Kansas City" in 1959, and it was later covered by many artists, including The Beatles. The song is about going to Kansas City to find love and fun, but also about the little guitar amplifiers that were made there. In the first verse, Brown sings, "They got some crazy little boxes there, I'm gonna get me one." This is a reference to the small guitar amplifiers that were made in Kansas City, which were revolutionary because they were the first amplifiers to incorporate a spring reverb tank, creating a unique and distinctive sound.


The second verse of the song is about standing on the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine, a famous intersection in the heart of the jazz district of Kansas City. Brown sings, "With my Kansas City, baby, and a taste of [Incomprehensible] wine." The wine he is referring to is likely either a sweet port or a type of fortified wine that was popular in the region at the time.


The final verse of the song is about the pain of heartbreak, and how Brown believes he can find a new woman if he goes to Kansas City. This is a common theme in blues and R&B music of the time, and it reflects the social and economic conditions of black Americans during the mid-20th century. Overall, the song is a celebration of the fun and excitement of Kansas City, but it also reflects the hardships that many black Americans faced during this time period.


Line by Line Meaning

Goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
I'm heading over to Kansas City right now.


They got some crazy little boxes there, I'm gonna get me one
I plan to get one of the unique boxes they have in Kansas City.


Look it here, I'll be standing on the corner of twelfth street and vine
You will find me standing at the corner of 12th street and vine.


With my Kansas City, baby, and a taste of [Incomprehensible] wine
I'll be with my lover from Kansas City, enjoying some wine and the local scene.


Well, I might take a train or I believe I'd drive a plane
I may take various modes of transportation to get to Kansas City.


If I have to walk, I'm goin' there just the same
Even if I have to walk, I'm still going to Kansas City.


And if I have to stay with my baby, I believe I'm gonna die
If I have to stay away from my lover, I'll feel really bad and sad.


Gotta find a new woman and that's the reason why
I need to have someone else to fill the void left by my Kansas City lover.


Said that I'm goin', said that I'm there
I repeated that I'm going to Kansas City frequently.


Can't save the pain, the heart can't bare the strain
I can't ignore the pain and sadness that I feel in my heart.


Said that I'm there, oh no, oh no, no no and no no, no
I'm determined to go to Kansas City, no matter what.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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