Jordan recorded as a solo artist with United Artists in 1976 and Boardwalk in 1982. He has also recorded with Eric Burdon. Jordan also made a record with two members of War, Harold Brown and B.B. Dickerson, "The Other Side of War Warms Your Heart" on Soufflé Records, which featured Bobby Womack on Guitar. He is the only current member of War remaining from the original lineup. His manager, Jerry Goldstein, kicked out the other four members in a protracted legal battle who now tour as the Lowrider Band. Jerry won the "War" but lost the battle, leaving Lonnie to fight a "War" with transplanted members instead of the originals.
Get Down
Lonnie Jordan Lyrics
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When that pretty little girl over there ain't for real
Tell me, sister, how do you feel
When that dandy haired brother ain't for real
You gotta get down, down
Down, down, down, down
You gotta get down, down
Tell me, people, how do you feel
When the president and the secretaries ain't real
Tell me, people, what you'd do
If the runnin' of the world is all left up to you
You gotta get down, down
Down, down, down, down
You gotta get down, down
Down, down, down, down
Early in the mornin'
Before you eat your breakfast
You gotta get down, you gotta get down
Early in the mornin'
Before you eat your breakfast
You gotta get down
The Super cool is your pleasure
And you wanna find somethin' better
You gotta get down
Super cool is your pleasure
Wanna find somethin' better
You gotta get down
?
?
You gotta get down
Police and the Justice
Laughin' while they bust us
You gotta get down
If you're running the country
Then you ain't runnin' it funky
You gotta get down, you gotta get down
If you're running the country
You ain't runnin' funky
You gotta get down
You gotta get down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down
You gotta get down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down
The lyrics to Lonnie Jordan's song "Get Down" are a call to action for people to wake up to the reality of the world around them. The song asks questions about the authenticity of the people and leaders in power, all while encouraging listeners to "get down" and take action. The repeated line "you gotta get down, down" can be interpreted as a call to not just sit back and let things happen, but to actively engage in creating a better world.
The song begins by asking how people feel when faced with individuals who are not genuine, particularly in romantic relationships. This is then expanded to include people in positions of power such as presidents and secretaries, questioning whether they are truly acting in the best interest of the people. Lonnie Jordan's lyrics encourage listeners to consider what they would do if they were the ones running the world.
In the chorus, Jordan repeats the lyrics "you gotta get down, down" over a funky, bass-driven rhythm. This repetition serves to emphasize the urgency of the message and encourage listeners to take action. The lyrics also mention "super cool" being a pleasure, but the need to "find something better" is urging us to go beyond purely surface-level enjoyment and engage in deeper, more meaningful ways of living.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me, brother, how do you feel
Asks the listener how they would feel in this situation
When that pretty little girl over there ain't for real
When the person who appears attractive and inviting is actually pretending
Tell me, sister, how do you feel
Asks the listener how they would feel in this situation
When that dandy haired brother ain't for real
When the person who has a good looks and style is actually not genuine
You gotta get down, down
You have to lower your expectations
Tell me, people, how do you feel
Asks the listeners how they feel in a similar situation
When the president and the secretaries ain't real
When the people leading the nation and their assistants are pretending
Tell me, people, what you'd do
Asks the listeners how they would react in this situation
If the runnin' of the world is all left up to you
When you would be in charge of things if everything was left up to you
Early in the mornin'
At the beginning of the day
Before you eat your breakfast
Before starting your routine
The Super cool is your pleasure
Being extraordinary is something you want
And you wanna find somethin' better
You strive to get something better
Police and the Justice
The authority that maintains law and order
Laughin' while they bust us
They disregard your rights and make fun of you while punishing you
If you're running the country
If you are at the helm of the nation
Then you ain't runnin' it funky
You are probably not handling things properly
You gotta get down
You have to step up your game
You gotta get down, down, down, down
You have to lower your expectations repeatedly
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Ray Simmons, Chris Brown, Faheem Nahir, Tramaine Micheal Winfrey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind