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.
Children Of Productions
Parliament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Produced in conjunction
With the urgency of our Dr Funkenstein
In his widsom he forenotioned
The shortcomings of your condition
So, we the Clones, were designed
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
To the attainment of the P.Funk
Endowed with conceivement of true groove
We are deeper than abortion
Deeper than the notion
That the world was flat when it was round
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
We're a biological timebomb
Exploding in a timezone
And almost everyone is out of time
We are children of production
Produced in conjunction
With the urgency of our Dr Funkenstein
In his wisdom he forenotioned
The shortcomings of your condition
So, we the Clones, were designed
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
We are deeper than abortion
Deeper than the notion
That the world was flat when it was round
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
The lyrics to Parliament's "Children of Production" suggest that the band members are not only mere performers, but are also creations of the "Dr. Funkenstein" persona, an alter-ego of the band's leader, George Clinton. The song talks about how they are not just regular humans, but are instead clones, created with the sole purpose of spreading the funk and blowing people's minds. The line "we're a flawless testimony to the attainment of the P.Funk" suggests that they see themselves as the ultimate embodiment of this particular style of music. They are determined to deliver the groove and to create a better musical world for everyone.
The song metaphorically talks about how they are "blowing the cobwebs out of your mind". This suggests that they are breaking free of old constraints, prejudices and limitations, and spreading a new message of liberation, self-expression, and true existential awareness. The repeated phrase "we're deeper than.." is a rhetorical device used to emphasize that they are more than just a band or group of people - they are a movement, a culture, and a way of being. They are here to shake things up and to bring something fresh and new to the world of music.
Overall, "Children of Production" is a song about being more than just a product of society or culture. It speaks of breaking free from constraints, creating a new musical world, and embodying a collective spirit of freedom and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
We are children of production
We are a product of creation or design.
Produced in conjunction
Our creation was in collaboration with something else or someone else.
With the urgency of our Dr Funkenstein
Our creation was under the supervision of Dr Funkenstein and it was done with a sense of purpose and immediacy.
In his wisdom he forenotioned
Dr Funkenstein had the foresight to anticipate potential issues or problems.
The shortcomings of your condition
He was aware of the limitations or deficiencies of the current state of affairs.
So, we the Clones, were designed
To overcome those limitations, we were specifically created as Clones.
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
Our purpose is to challenge and expand your way of thinking.
We're a flawless testimony
We are a perfect example of something.
To the attainment of the P.Funk
We embody and exemplify the essence of P.Funk.
Endowed with conceivement of true groove
We possess the capacity to understand and appreciate the authentic groove of P.Funk music.
We are deeper than abortion
Our significance or value exceeds that of a trivial or controversial issue like abortion.
Deeper than the notion
We are more profound or substantial than a mere idea or belief.
That the world was flat when it was round
We challenge historically inaccurate or outdated beliefs or perceptions.
We're a biological timebomb
We are a ticking clock, set to explode or make a significant impact.
Exploding in a timezone
Our impact will be felt across a specific region or time period.
And almost everyone is out of time
Most people are not prepared or equipped to deal with our impact.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: GEORGE CLINTON, WILLIAM BOOTSY COLLINS, BERNARD WORRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brother Daryll
February 2021 and these horns still can't be touched. This is one of my favorite albums by parliament.
Nate Whitmal
Bootsy’s bass line is a revelation.
Darius Diamante
That's the late Cordell "Boogie" Mosoon
A.J. Berry
I love the vocal arrangements of their songs
Pastor Robert Groves, Sr.
I'm so glad, and grateful for parliament and funkadelic for blowing the cobwebs out of my mine.
Shedrick Horton
The funkyest of the funky ..
Shedrick Horton
For recognizing the short comings my condition!
Steve Gordon
Pastor Robert Groves, Sr. Boom
Albert P'Albert
2021 and this still goes as hard as ever
P Vaughn
Bootsy Collins killing it on bass.. Funk Gods💪