Parliament was originally The Parliaments, a doo-wop group based out of George Clinton's Plainfield, New Jersey barber shop. The name was soon abandoned due to legal issues with Revilot and Atlantic Records, and most of the same people recorded under the name Funkadelic, which consisted of The Parliaments' backing musicians. Billy "Bass" Nelson is credited with creating the name Funkadelic. He also switched from 6-string guitar to bass, creating room for his childhood friend Eddie Hazel to join the group. Soon, Parliament was created in addition to Funkadelic and the two bands consisted of essentially the same people, though both released albums under their respective names.
The legal problems with the name "The Parliaments" were resolved in 1970, and Clinton signed all of Funkadelic to Invictus Records under the name Parliament, releasing Osmium ("The Breakdown" reached #30 on the R&B charts in 1971) but the name Parliament was then abandoned for some time, as Funkadelic was much more successful.
In the early 1970s, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins and Catfish Collins joined Funkadelic, which released five albums by 1974. With only moderate success, Funkadelic signed with Casablanca Records as Parliament, releasing "Up for the Down Stroke" (off the album of the same name) which reached #10 on the R&B charts but peaked at #63 Pop. The song was the biggest hit of P Funk's career. 1975 saw the release of Chocolate City, which also enjoyed moderate success; the title track reached #24.
With the ensuing albums, Parliament became one of the most respected bands on the 1970s, and are now recognized as one of the forefathers of funk music. Of particular interest are the spacey themes of Starchild, Sir Nose and other recurring characters from multiple albums.
Of particular note is the landmark album Mothership Connection, an amalgam of many '70s themes and the tight "popular" funk sound which was both more commercially viable (particularly in the black community) and more readily emulated by the numerous artists capitalizing on the popularity of funk's mainstream cousin: disco. Artists such as the BeeGees, the Commodores and Kool and the Gang repackaged many of Parliament's innovations into radio-ready pop hits and upon the mass acceptance of disco culture as portrayed in Saturday Night Fever, millions of suburban Americans were able to boogie-oogie-oogie safely protected from exposure to the urban dance scene's multi-ethnic, sexually diverse and cocaine-fueled celebration.
In the early 1980s, with legal difficulties arising from the multiple names used by multiple groups, as well as a shakeup at Casablanca Records, George Clinton dissolved Parliament and Funkadelic as recording and touring entities. Parliament/Funkadelic morphed into P-Funk. New audiences were fueled in the '90s due to extensive sampling by hip hop DJs and producers, including beats used in The Chronic and Cypress Hill's debut album.
A variety of bands evolved in their own right out of the main two bands - they included Bootsy's Rubber Band, The Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet, Mutiny, The Horny Horns, and Quazar.
George Clinton subsequently worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Reformed in January 2018, the first new Parliament release in 38 years was "I'm Gon Make U Sick O'Me", which features the rapper Scarface. A new Parliament album, Medicaid Fraud Dogg, was released in May 2018.
Agony Of DeFeet
Parliament Lyrics
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Said, I 'mo take my shoes off and kick up my heels
Just watch me ya'll, um huh
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off and kick up my heels
Now here I go, okay, hah
I got some ground work to do
Heel and toe
And just like the grinner I need just a little more foot, hah
Tryin' to put a size twelve foot
In a size eight shoe
(You know that won't do)
It's like putting on a five dollar hat
On a nickel head
(It's about that hat rack)
Now promenade and do-si-do
Take your partner across the floor
Foot stompin' time
Heel and toe, sidesteppin'
Ho
I 'mo take my shoes off
(Got to take my shoes)
And kick up my heels
Hey, watch me ya'll hear I go
Hey
I 'mo take my shoes off
And kick up my heels
Not with your smelly feet
See ya, bye
Party time
Step on it
Come on
Give up a dime
(Lord)
Cool
(Come on)
Hey
It's party time
Step on it
Come on
Give up a dime
Party time
Come on ya'll
He's got more socks than the ogre there in the corner
I believe it is, it's a toe jam
Are you any kin to Dr. Scholl's?
You've got some funny looking toes
You've got some funny looking toes
(Where'd you get that toe from?)
Are your toenails over-grown?
'Cause ya see I got ptomaine
And I'm gonna turn it loose on the dance floor
And I'm gonna spread my groove all over you
I got a big blue
Heh, yeah
I'm gonna take my shoes off
(Yeah)
I got to take my shoes off
(Yeah)
I'm gonna take my shoes off
I got to take my shoes off
I'm gonna take my shoes off, I got to take my shoes off
Party time
Step on it
Come on
Pick up a dime
Cool, hey
It's party time
Step on it
Come on
Pick up a dime
Party time
Yo, high toe silver, away
Lookin' for athletic feet
This is a toe jam session
(Ha ha hah)
I 'mo take my shoes off
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I 'mo take my shoes off
And kick up my heels
(I've got to take my shoes off)
Now watch it, now here I go
Here I go ya'll, look at me, ha ha
I'm gonna take my shoes off
And kick up my heels
(I've got to take my shoes off)
Oh, no, not this smelly feet
I'm gonna take my shoes off
(Ho, ho)
I've got to take my shoes off
(Yeah, whoo, ooo)
The foot stranger here
I'm looking for toe-jam
Come on Pronto
(Yeah)
I'm gonna take my shoes off
(Got to take my shoes off)
To kick up my heels
Now just watch me ya'll now, here I go, whoa
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off
(Got to take my shoes off)
Kick up my heels?
(I got to take my shoes off)
Come on Donny, come on Donny
Yeah, wooo
I'm gonna take my shoes off
And kick up my heels
(I 'mo take my shoes off)
It's about that mo' better
(I got to take my shoes off)
(I 'mo take my shoes off)
(I got to take my shoes off)
Yeah, hoo
(I 'mo take my shoes off)
I got my shoes off
(I got to take my shoes off)
I got my shoes off
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off
(Ha ha ha ha)
The lyrics of Parliament's "Agony of Defeet" are a playful and light-hearted commentary on the importance of having comfortable shoes that fit properly. The singer is expressing the agony of trying to cram a size twelve foot into a size eight shoe and likening it to trying to put a five dollar hat on a nickel head. Despite the difficulties, the singer is determined to kick up their heels and do some foot stomping. The song has a clear message that it's important to invest in good footwear for dancing and having a good time.
The song is playful and humorous, but it also has some underlying meaning. The "agony of defeet" can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle to fit into societal norms and expectations. The pressure to conform can be uncomfortable and painful, much like trying to force a foot into an ill-fitting shoe. The singer is encouraging listeners to embrace their individuality and not be afraid to kick off their shoes and dance to their own beat.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh oh, I'm man, get off my foot, ha ha
I am a man, please get off my foot, ha ha
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off and kick up my heels
I will take my shoes off and dance
Now here I go, okay, hah
Now I am ready to dance
I got some ground work to do
I have some dancing to do
And I need a little support
I need some help with my dance moves
Heel and toe
Dance moves involving the heel and toe
And just like the grinner I need just a little more foot, hah
I need some more space to dance, just like the grinner
Tryin' to put a size twelve foot In a size eight shoe
Trying to fit a large foot into a small shoe
(You know that won't do) It's like putting on a five dollar hat On a nickel head (It's about that hat rack)
It won't work, it's like putting a cheap hat on a small head, it's all about the hat rack
Now promenade and do-si-do Take your partner across the floor Foot stompin' time Heel and toe, sidesteppin'
Dance moves involving promenade, do-si-do, foot stomping, heel, toe, and side stepping
I 'mo take my shoes off (Got to take my shoes) And kick up my heels Hey, watch me ya'll hear I go
I will take my shoes off and dance, watch me go
Not with your smelly feet See ya, bye
Not with your stinky feet, goodbye
Come on Give up a dime (Lord) Cool (Come on) Hey
An invitation to join the party and give some money, cool and hey
He's got more socks than the ogre there in the corner I believe it is, it's a toe jam Are you any kin to Dr. Scholl's? You've got some funny looking toes You've got some funny looking toes (Where'd you get that toe from?)
A comment on someone's funny looking toes, asking if they are related to Dr. Scholl's, and where they got their toes from
Are your toenails over-grown? 'Cause ya see I got ptomaine And I'm gonna turn it loose on the dance floor And I'm gonna spread my groove all over you I got a big blue Heh, yeah
Asking if someone's toenails are overgrown, because of the risk of spreading ptomaine, and expressing a desire to spread the groove on the dance floor
I'm gonna take my shoes off And kick up my heels
I will take my shoes off and dance
Oh, no, not this smelly feet
Not willing to dance with smelly feet
Yo, high toe silver, away Lookin' for athletic feet This is a toe jam session (Ha ha hah) I 'mo take my shoes off
Looking for athletic feet to join the toe jam session, and taking off shoes to dance
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off (Got to take my shoes off) Kick up my heels? (I got to take my shoes off) Come on Donny, come on Donny Yeah, wooo
Taking off shoes to dance and encouraging Donny to join the dance
It's about that mo' better
It's all about being better
I got my shoes off
I took my shoes off
Said, I 'mo take my shoes off (Got to take my shoes off) And kick up my heels
Saying again that I will take my shoes off to dance
(Ha ha ha ha)
Laughing
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Donna Lynn Clinton, Donnie Ray Sterling, Ronald Dunbar, George Clinton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind