The band's first taste of mainstream success came with the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the lineup. Their most successful albums of this period include Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US No. 1 "Celebration", "Get Down on It", "Joanna", "Misled", and "Cherish". The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014.
Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received their first-time nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the United States. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool_&_the_Gang
Discography
Kool and the Gang (1969)
Music Is the Message (1972)
Good Times (1972)
Wild and Peaceful (1973)
Light of Worlds (1974)
Spirit of the Boogie (1975)
Love & Understanding (1976)
Open Sesame (1976)
The Force (1977)
Everybody's Dancin' (1978)
Ladies' Night (1979)
Celebrate! (1980)
Something Special (1981)
As One (1982)
In the Heart (1983)
Emergency (1984)
Forever (1986)
Sweat (1989)
Unite (1992)
State of Affairs (1996)
Gangland (2001)
The Hits: Reloaded (2004)
Still Kool (2007)
Kool for the Holidays (2013)
Perfect Union (2021)
People Just Wanna Have Fun (2023)
Kool & The Gang
Kool & The Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me
what you gonna do? Do you want to get down?
What you gonna do? You want to get down?
What you gonna do? You want to get down? - Tell me.
Get down on it
get down on it
Get down on it
get down on it
come on and
Get down on it
get down on it
Get down on it
get down on it.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want do dance
By standing on the wall?
Get your back up off the wall
tell me.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want to dance
By standing on the wall. Get your back up off the wall
'Cause I heard all the people sayin':
Get down on it
come on and
Get down on it - if you really want it
Get down on it - you gotta feel it
Get down on it - get down on it
get down on it
Come on and get down on it
baby
baby
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it.
I say people - what? What you gonna do?
You've gotta get on the groove
If you want your body to move
tell me
baby.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want to dance
By standing on the wall? Get your back up off the wall. - Tell me.
How you gonna do it if you really won't take a chance
By standing on the wall? Get your back up off the wall.
'Cause I heard all the people sayin':
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - when we're dancin' - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - come on and
Get down on it - baby
baby
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it.
What you gonna do? - Do you want to get down?
What you gonna do? - Get your back up off the wall.
Dance
come on get our back up off the wall.
Dance
come on!
Get down on it - come on and
Get down on it - if you really want it.
Get down on it - you gotta feel it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - come on and
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - and while you're dancin'
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - you move me baby
when you move
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get your back up off the wall
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get down on it
Get down on it - get your back up the wall
The lyrics of Kool & the Gang's song "Get Down On It" are an invitation to dance and let loose. The repetition of the questions "What you gonna do?" and "Do you want to get down?" serve as an encouragement to the listener to let go of their inhibitions and join the groove. The song acknowledges that some may feel self-conscious or hesitant when it comes to dancing, but the answer is simple: get your back up off the wall and let yourself go. The song sets a fun and energetic tone, with an upbeat tempo and catchy melody that makes it impossible not to move along with the music.
Line by Line Meaning
What you gonna do? You want to get down?
Asking the listener what they plan to do, if they want to dance.
Tell me what you gonna do? Do you want to get down?
Asking the listener to clarify their plans to dance.
What you gonna do? You want to get down?
Reiterating the question of whether the listener wants to dance.
What you gonna do? You want to get down? - Tell me.
One more time, asking the listener to explain their intentions to dance.
Get down on it
Encouraging the listener to start dancing.
get down on it
Repeating the previous line.
Get down on it
Continuing to encourage the listener to dance.
get down on it
Repeating the previous line.
come on and
Asking the listener to take action.
Get down on it
Encouraging the listener again to start dancing.
get down on it
Repeating the previous line.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want do dance
Questioning the listener's ability to dance if they do not want to.
By standing on the wall?
Asking if the listener plans to simply stand against the wall.
Get your back up off the wall
Encouraging the listener to stop hanging against the wall.
tell me.
Asking the listener to respond.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want to dance
Reiterating the previous question.
By standing on the wall. Get your back up off the wall
Reiterating the instruction to stop hanging against the wall.
'Cause I heard all the people sayin':
Explaining that everyone else is encouraging the listener to dance.
Get down on it
Encouraging the listener yet again to start dancing.
come on and
Asking the listener to take action.
Get down on it - if you really want it
Encouraging the listener to dance if it is something they truly want.
Get down on it - you gotta feel it
Suggesting that dancing is about feeling the music.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener to dance with repetition.
Get down on it
Encouraging the listener to dance again.
Get down on it - come on and
Continuing to encourage the listener to start dancing.
baby
Term of endearment and encouragement.
baby
Term of endearment and encouragement.
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it.
Repeating the encouragement to dance.
I say people - what? What you gonna do?
Addressing a group of people and asking what they will do.
You've gotta get on the groove
Encouraging listeners to find the rhythm and start dancing.
If you want your body to move
Explaining that movement and dancing are tied together.
tell me baby.
Asking listeners to respond.
How you gonna do it if you really don't want to dance
Reiterating the previous question.
By standing on the wall? Get your back up off the wall.
Reiterating the encouragement to stop standing against the wall.
How you gonna do it if you really won't take a chance
Asking the listener how they will dance if they do not take a chance.
By standing on the wall? Get your back up off the wall.
Reiterating the encouragement to stop standing against the wall.
'Cause I heard all the people sayin':
Explaining that everyone else is encouraging the listener to dance.
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener again to dance.
Get down on it - when we're dancin' - get down on it
Encouraging the listener to dance during the song.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener again to dance.
Get down on it - come on and
Encouraging the listener to start dancing.
baby
Term of endearment and encouragement.
baby
Term of endearment and encouragement.
Get down on it - get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener yet again to dance.
What you gonna do? - Do you want to get down?
Asking the listener again what their plans are for dancing.
What you gonna do? - Get your back up off the wall.
Asking the listener to get off the wall.
Dance
Encouraging the listener to dance.
come on get our back up off the wall.
Encouraging the listener to stop standing against the wall.
Dance
Encouraging the listener to dance again.
come on!
Urging the listener to start dancing.
Get down on it - come on and
Encouraging the listener to start dancing again.
Get down on it - if you really want it.
Encouraging the listener to dance if it is something they truly want.
Get down on it - you gotta feel it
Suggesting that dancing is about feeling the music.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener again to dance.
Get down on it - come on and
Encouraging the listener to start dancing yet again.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener to dance again.
Get down on it - and while you're dancin'
Encouraging the listener to dance.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener yet again to dance.
Get down on it - get down on it
One more time, encouraging the listener to dance.
Get down on it - get down on it
Repeating the encouragement to dance.
Get down on it - get down on it
Reiterating the encouragement to dance.
Get down on it - get your back up off the wall
Encouraging the listener again to stop standing against the wall.
Get down on it - get down on it
Encouraging the listener to dance once again.
Get down on it - get down on it
Repeated encouragement to dance.
Get down on it - get your back up the wall
Encouraging the listener to get off the wall.
Contributed by Aria I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.