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.
Fantasy Is Reality
Parliament Lyrics
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Whoa whoa whoa yeah
Ummmm ummmmm whoa whoa whoa
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
That's the only way
My mind is mine and mine
My mind will always stay
No way of life no man made
Law is gonna take it away
I see the light and taste
The blood of your song
It tells me to carry on and it
Tells me to come on home
Ummmm ummmmm whoa whoa whoa
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
My mind is mine and mine
My mind will always stay
No way of life no man made
Law is gonna take it away
I see the light and taste
The blood of your song
It tells me to carry on and it
Tells me to come on home
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
I see the light and taste
The blood of your song
It tells me to carry on and it
Tells me to come on home
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
Ummmm ummmmm whoa whoa whoa
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
Fantasy is reality in the world today
Whoa whoa whoa
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Keeps me hanging in there
That's the only way
Fantasy is reality in the world today
I'll keep hanging in there
That's the only way
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
The lyrics to Parliament's song "Fantasy Is Reality" convey a message about the power of imagination and the importance of holding on to one's own beliefs and values in a world that may try to suppress or change them. The repeated line "Fantasy is reality in the world today" suggests that what we imagine or dream can have a profound impact on our reality. Despite the challenges and difficulties of life, the singer vows to persevere and "keep hanging in there" because that's the only way to navigate through the world.
The mention of the singer's Grandaddy and their recollections of what he used to say adds a personal touch to the song. It implies that the wisdom and advice passed down through generations provide the strength and guidance needed to stay resilient. The lyrics suggest that the singer's mind is their own and will always remain independent, unaffected by external influences or man-made laws that may attempt to control or suppress their individuality.
The line "I see the light and taste the blood of your song" can be interpreted as finding hope and inspiration in the music itself. It tells the singer to carry on and come home, possibly referring to finding solace and inner peace through the power of music.
Overall, "Fantasy Is Reality" encourages listeners to maintain their sense of self and to rely on their own imagination and beliefs to navigate through the challenges of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Fantasy is reality in the world today
In the current state of the world, imagination and dreams have become our reality.
I'll keep hanging in there
I will persist and endure despite challenges and difficulties.
That's the only way
There is no alternative or better option.
Recollections of what Grandaddy used to say
Memories of the wisdom my grandfather shared.
Keeps me hanging in there
Those memories provide me with strength and motivation to persevere.
My mind is mine and mine
I have control over my own thoughts and beliefs.
My mind will always stay
My mental strength will remain steadfast.
No way of life no man made Law is gonna take it away
No societal norms or regulations can diminish my inner strength and identity.
I see the light and taste The blood of your song
I have a clear understanding and deep connection with the essence of your artistry.
It tells me to carry on and it Tells me to come on home
Your music encourages me to persevere and reminds me of my true place of belonging.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: George Bernard Worrell, George Jr. Clinton, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind