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)
Stop!
Kool & The Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm weaker than I used to be
I wear my heart out on my sleeve
And I forget the rest of me
Yes there's times I've been afraid
And there's no harm in that I pray
Cuz I'm more frightened everyday
But you gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes I know
But you gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes I know
All the times I've given in
You fit me like a second skin
And one by one I will begin
To wear you on the days I'm feeling thin
But you gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes I know
But you gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes
You gotta give it up
To get off sometimes I know
You'd better stop, stop, stop
Using me up
You'd better stop
Cuz I've had enough
And I'm ready to forget the reasons
That keep me here
You'd better stop, stop, stop
Using me up
You'd better stop
Cuz I've had enough
And I'm ready to forget the reasons
That keep me here
The lyrics to Kool & The Gang's song "Stop!" express vulnerability and a need for self-preservation, yet they also suggest the necessity of sacrifice to move forward. The opening lines "Yes it's true that I believe I'm weaker than I used to be" and "I wear my heart out on my sleeve and forget the rest of me" disclose a kind of fragility that most people can relate to. These lyrics reveal the artist's willingness to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with the audience.
The artist also confesses to being fearful, but they realize that there is no harm in acknowledging that fear. They go on to admit that they are becoming more frightened every day, that someone or something might take away the hope they have left. Nevertheless, the refrain emphasizes the importance of letting go to move forward. The repetition of "You gotta give it up to get off sometimes" suggests that it is necessary to sacrifice something to gain something in return. The phrase "using me up" in the final lines implies that there has been some parasitic relationship that has been draining the artist, and that they are now ready to move beyond it.
Overall, "Stop!" conveys a powerful message about the importance of acknowledging one's own limitations and vulnerabilities, while also recognizing the need to make sacrifices to achieve one's goals. It is a song that inspires reflection, and encourages listeners to examine their own lives and the relationships they value.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes it's true that I believe
I acknowledge that my belief is truthful
I'm weaker than I used to be
I am not as strong as I was in the past
I wear my heart out on my sleeve
I am vulnerable and openly display my emotions
And I forget the rest of me
I focus solely on my emotions and neglect other aspects of myself
Yes there's times I've been afraid
I have experienced fear in the past
And there's no harm in that I pray
I hope that feeling afraid will not result in any negative consequences
Cuz I'm more frightened everyday
I am becoming increasingly scared
Someone will take the hope I have away
I fear losing my sense of hope
All the times I've given in
I have submitted to others in the past
You fit me like a second skin
You have become a natural part of my everyday life
And one by one I will begin
I will gradually change my behavior
To wear you on the days I'm feeling thin
I will depend on you during my times of weakness
You'd better stop, stop, stop Using me up
Stop taking advantage of me and draining me of my energy
You'd better stop Cuz I've had enough
I cannot take it anymore and need you to stop
And I'm ready to forget the reasons That keep me here
I am prepared to let go of the reasons that keep me in this situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL DOUCETTE, ROB THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind