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)
Kools Back Again
Kool & the Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm worried because you ain't treatin' me right
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I spoke to your mum and I spoke to your dad
They said I was crazy, made me feel sad
Come back again
Feelin' so sad, so lonely too
You don't know how it is to feel sad and lonely an' blue
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I spoke to your dad and I spoke to your mum
They said go away boy and leave us alone
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I really don't know what to do
Everything you say just make me feel blue
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I went to the dance, but I went all alone
I watched you dancin' then I followed you home
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I'm mopin' around streets late at night
Worried because you ain't treatin' me right
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I really don't know what to do
Everything you say just make me feel blue
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
Come back again
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
In Kool & The Gang's "Kool's Back Again," the singer expresses his despair over a relationship that has gone bad. He wanders the streets at night, feeling sad and lonely, because he feels that his partner is not treating him well. He seeks the approval of his partner's parents, but they do not see him as a good match for their child. Despite this, he cannot shake his love for the partner, and he is desperate for them to come back again. The song is an emotional plea for a second chance at love, expressing the pain and heartache of lost love.
The overall theme of the song is angst over lost love, a universal subject of most blues music. The singer failed to connect with his love interest and is left with nothing but hurt and loneliness. Despite this, he continues to hope and long for the opportunity to express his love once again. The lyrics, delivered with a soulful vocal performance and a powerful horn section, create an atmosphere of yearning, sadness, and soulful introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm mopin' around streets late at night
I'm wandering the streets at night feeling sad and alone
I'm worried because you ain't treatin' me right
I'm concerned because you're not treating me well in our relationship
Come back again
Please come back to me and our relationship
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I am deeply in love with you and can't imagine being without you
I spoke to your mum and I spoke to your dad
I've talked to your parents about our relationship
They said I was crazy, made me feel sad
They called me crazy and it hurt my feelings
Feelin' so sad, so lonely too
I'm feeling incredibly sad and lonely
You don't know how it is to feel sad and lonely an' blue
You can't understand how it feels to be as sad and lonely as I am
I spoke to your dad and I spoke to your mum
I've talked to your parents again
They said go away boy and leave us alone
They told me to go away and stop bothering them
I really don't know what to do
I'm at a loss for what to do in our relationship
Everything you say just make me feel blue
When you talk to me, it just makes me feel sad
I went to the dance, but I went all alone
I went to the dance by myself
I watched you dancin' then I followed you home
I watched you dance and then followed you home
Come back again
Please come back to me and our relationship
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I am deeply in love with you and can't imagine being without you
I really don't know what to do
I'm at a loss for what to do in our relationship
Everything you say just make me feel blue
When you talk to me, it just makes me feel sad
Come back again
Please come back to me and our relationship
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I am deeply in love with you and can't imagine being without you
Come back again
Please come back to me and our relationship
I'm just crazy 'bout you babe
I am deeply in love with you and can't imagine being without you
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: R. WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind