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 Production
Parliament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
To the attainment of the PFunk
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 of Parliament/Funkadelic's song "Children of Production" express the idea that humans have been intentionally created by a higher power, referred to as "Dr. Funkenstein," to overcome the limitations of their condition. The lyrics emphasize the idea that the clones are a flawless testimony to P.Funk, a musical genre that combines elements of funk, rock, and soul music. The clones are endowed with the ability to create a true groove that is deeper than the notion that "the world was flat when it was round."
The lyrics suggest that the clones represent a biological timebomb, representing a potential for change, growth, and revolution. They are exploding in a timezone, while almost everyone else is out of time, seemingly stuck in their old ways of thinking and being. The clones are thus presented as agents of change, designed to blow the cobwebs out of people's minds, and to help them break free from the limitations of their condition.
Overall, the lyrics of "Children of Production" express the idea that humans have been created with a purpose, to overcome the limitations of their condition, and to bring about social and cultural change. They highlight the power of music and art to help people break free from their constraints and to realize their potential.
Line by Line Meaning
We are children of production
We were created through intentional production
Produced in conjunction
Created collaboratively
With the urgency of our Dr Funkenstein
Through the careful guidance of our mentor, Dr Funkenstein
In his wisdom he forenotioned
Dr Funkenstein saw the future consequences of your current condition
The shortcomings of your condition
The flaws of your current state
So, we the Clones, were designed
As a response, we Clones were created
We're gonna blow the cobwebs out your mind
We will introduce new and challenging ideas
We're a flawless testimony
We are a perfect example
To the attainment of the P.Funk
Of achieving the P.Funk sound and culture
Endowed with conceivement of true groove
Given the ability to understand and embody true groove music
We are deeper than abortion
Our significance goes beyond the controversial topic of abortion
Deeper than the notion
Deeper than just a thought or idea
That the world was flat when it was round
Challenging the conventional wisdom of the past
We're a biological timebomb
We are a force that will have a significant impact
Exploding in a timezone
Revealing ourselves and our impact on the world
And almost everyone is out of time
Leaving little time for people to catch up
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bootsy William Collins, George Bernard Worrell, George Jr. Clinton
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💪