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.
Colour Me Funky
Parliament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even the bang remains the same
(in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
We still needs to funk
(in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo-woo
Nothing has changed (nothing has changed)
(in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
(in the pocket, right smack there in the socket)
Colored by the way you've been treated in a situation that comes to mind
Nothing has changed except for you and I
Oh, no no no
Please don't let the lights that blind
Change the way you see me
Don't let it change the way you see me
There's a lot of time to move from town to town
Lots of time to move from town to town
Very seldom, I can settle down
And I can't settle down
No, no
(right smack dab in the socket)
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Gots to have the bomb (got to have the funk)
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
We need the funk, colour me funky
Gots to have the bomb
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Gots to have the bomb (got to have the funk)
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Gots to have the bomb (colour me funky, we need the funk)
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Gots to have the bomb
Shine your light, shine your light on your funk
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
Gots to have the bomb (to have the funk, heyheyhey)
We need the bomb
Gots to have the bomb (heyheyhey)
Haaii, ohhh
Oh, this jam is (join the band)
Sweeter than the jam (join the band)
Granny used to can (join the band)
Oh back, way back!
Way back, ooh, in them good old days
Y'all know what I'm talking about
Ain't a damn thing changed
Join the fun
Dad-gum, dad-gum, baba
(x3)
Nothing has changed
Even the bang remains the same, hey
We still need the funk
Got to have the funk
Nothing has changed (nothing has changed)
Or is the way you perceive me
Colored by the way you've been treated in a situation that comes to mind
Oh, no
Nothing has changed
Except for you and I
Please don't let the lights that blind
Change the way you see me (don't you change the way you see me)
There's a lot of time
To go from town to town
And we'll be bringing the funk around
And you know I can't settle down
Giving up the funk (calling the mothership, calling the mothership) (x2)
We have just finished ???(giving up the funk)
???booty patrol
????
I wants the bomb, I want the P.Funk
I wants my funk uncut, heh heh!
You are in free space
And by the time you get to Venus
You should be funky!
???
You have the freedom to be funky!
We need the funk
Say, we need the funk
We need the funk
Go ahead, Garry! (calling the mothership)
We need the funk
ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (coming for you)
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (yes he is)
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (he's coming for you, and you
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (he's coming for you)
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (yes he is) (x2)
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (x3)
"Colour Me Funky" by Parliament is a funky song that encourages listeners to embrace the funk and not let anyone's perception of them change the way they see themselves. The opening lines "Nothing has changed, even the bang remains the same" suggest that despite the passage of time, the need for funk has remained constant. The song emphasizes the importance of the funk, comparing it to a bomb that is necessary to have. The lyrics "we need the bomb, we need the funk" and the repetition of "gots to have the bomb" further emphasize the significance of funk music.
The song also touches on the idea that one's perception of another person can be colored by their own experiences. The lyrics "or is the way you perceive me, colored by the way you've been treated in a situation that comes to mind" question whether the way someone sees another person is influenced by their past experiences. The song encourages listeners to not let the "lights that blind" change the way they see others or themselves.
The lyrics also express a longing for belonging and stability. The lines "there's a lot of time to move from town to town, very seldom I can settle down, and I can't settle down" convey a sense of restlessness and the desire for rooting in place. However, the song ultimately encourages listeners to keep moving and bringing the funk with them.
Overall, "Colour Me Funky" is an upbeat and empowering song that celebrates the importance of funk music and encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and not let others' perceptions affect them.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing has changed (la, la, la)
Despite the passage of time, there has been no significant difference in our circumstance.
Even the bang remains the same
The critical essence, the core ingredient, of our current situation is still unchanged.
(in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
In a specifically strategic and secure location.
We still needs to funk
Our objective is to create an exciting, danceable musical experience.
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo-woo
A vocalization or vocal expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
Or is the way that you picture me
Is it possible that the mental image you have of me is distorted or biased?
Colored by the way you've been treated in a situation that comes to mind
Perhaps your perception of me has been influenced or affected by previous personal experience in a similar context.
Nothing has changed except for you and I
The only noticeable difference between then and now is the evolution of our individual selves.
Please don't let the lights that blind
Do not allow glamorous or superficial influences to impair your perspective or judgment.
Change the way you see me
Do not let external stimuli impact or alter your understanding of my persona or character.
There's a lot of time to move from town to town
We have a great deal of opportunity to travel frequently and extensively between different destinations.
Lots of time to move from town to town
We have a very high degree of mobility and flexibility between different places.
Very seldom, I can settle down
It is rare that I am able or willing to remain rooted or stationary in one location for an extended period of time.
No, no
An emphatic declaration or confirmation in the negative.
We need the bomb (in the pocket, right smack dab in the socket)
We require the explosive or exciting element in our artistic output, strategically positioned for maximum impact.
Gots to have the bomb (got to have the funk)
We absolutely must have the energetic and rhythmic aspects of our music in abundance.
We need the funk, colour me funky
Our desired sound and vibe is funky, lively, and full of groove.
Shine your light, shine your light on your funk
Expose the essence or nature of your musical output to the world to allow people to appreciate its brilliance.
Join the fun
Participate in the excitement and enjoyment of the performance.
Dad-gum, dad-gum, baba (x3)
A vocal expression, without specific meaning or context, used to emphasize or punctuate an argument or statement.
Giving up the funk (calling the mothership, calling the mothership) (x2)
Committing completely to a funky, danceable sound, with a nod to the interplanetary origins of the genre.
Uncle Jam's coming, coming for you (x12)
A playful and hyperbolic expression of anticipation and excitement for an upcoming performance or release by the artist and/or their associates.
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.