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.
I Can Move You
Parliament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can move you if you let me
Ahh, gettin' in touch with you
I can move you if you let me
Ahh, takin' a position
I can move you if you let me
Ahh, trying communication
I can move you if you let me
Lots of verbal foreplay
Lady, I've got to dig my tone and timing
Two were somewhere, sharing fantasies,
Normal and otherwise
I got to have it
I can move you if you let me
Avoiding sexy doubletalk
I can move you if you let me
Telling me with techniques
I can move you if you let me
Burning like a fever
I can move you if you let me
Whoo!
Digging on the fire
My imagination is boosting my anticipation
I've got to hold, I've to hold on
Until we're somewhere
Sharing fantasies
Normal and otherwise
I can move you if you let me
Ahhh, yeah
I can move you if you let me
Ooohh
I can move you if you let me
Ahh, gettin' in touch with you girl
I can move you if you let me
Hey, taking a position
I can move you if you if you let me
Yeah lord, I'm diggin' on the fire
I can move you if you let me
Yeah, yeah, I'm diggin on the fire, diggin on the fire
I can move you if you if you let me
Double talk
I can move you if you let me
technique
I can move you if you if you let me
Diggin on the fire
I can move you if you let me
The lyrics of Parliament's song "I Can Move You" are about the power of communication and the ability to influence someone's feelings and actions. The main message is that the singer can move his listener if she allows him to, and he will use his verbal skills and techniques to understand her signals and get in touch with her.
The opening lines, "Oooh I can move you if you let me, Ahh gettin' in touch with you," suggest a seductive tone and the desire for intimacy. The singer is trying to connect with the listener and establish a position of influence, as he follows her signals and interprets her nonverbal communication. He acknowledges that he needs to be skillful and precise with his words and timing, as he wants to avoid any misunderstandings or doubletalk.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes his burning desire and imagination, as he tries to boost his anticipation and hold on until they can share their fantasies. The repetition of the line "I can move you if you let me" reinforces the idea that the singer has the power to affect the listener's emotions and behavior, but he also needs her consent and willingness to be moved.
Overall, "I Can Move You" is a sensual and playful song that explores the dynamics of communication and persuasion in a romantic context.
Line by Line Meaning
Oooh
Expressing excitement and anticipation
I can move you if you let me Ahh, gettin' in touch with you
I have the potential to connect with and influence you, if you're open to it
I can move you if you let me Ahh, takin' a position
I have a clear perspective or stance, and I'm ready to share it with you
I can move you if you let me Ahh, trying communication
I'm attempting to express my ideas and feelings to you in a way that will resonate
I can move you if you let me I'm checking out your signals
I'm observing your behavior and reactions to see if you're receptive to what I have to say
Lots of verbal foreplay Lady, I've got to dig my tone and timing
I'm engaging in playful conversation, but also paying attention to how I come across
Two were somewhere, sharing fantasies, Normal and otherwise
We're exploring our imaginations and sharing our deepest desires
I got to have it I can move you if you let me
I'm determined to make a connection with you, if you're willing
Avoiding sexy doubletalk I can move you if you let me
I'm being straightforward and honest in my communication with you
Telling me with techniques I can move you if you let me
I'm using effective methods to convey my message and win you over
Burning like a fever I can move you if you let me
My passion and intensity are palpable, and I can use them to influence you
Whoo! Digging on the fire
Expressing enthusiasm for our interaction and chemistry
My imagination is boosting my anticipation
I'm imagining all the possibilities and getting excited for what could happen
I've got to hold, I've to hold on Until we're somewhere Sharing fantasies Normal and otherwise
I'm eager to hold on to this connection and explore our fantasies together
Ahhh, yeah I can move you if you let me Ooohh
Continuing to express confidence in my ability to influence you
Hey, taking a position I can move you if you let me
Restating my firm belief that I can sway your thoughts and feelings
Yeah lord, I'm diggin' on the fire
Affirming my enjoyment and excitement about our chemistry
Yeah, yeah, I'm diggin on the fire, diggin on the fire
Repeating my enthusiasm for our connection
Double talk I can move you if you let me
Echoing the need for honest, straightforward communication to make a connection
technique I can move you if you if you let me
Reaffirming my use of effective methods to sway your thoughts and feelings
Diggin on the fire I can move you if you let me
Stating once again how much I'm enjoying our chemistry and my ability to influence you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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