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 Misjudged You
Parliament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just because you accepted
The moment that I asked you to be my girl
Sha la la la (x2)
I didn't believe that you could fall in love at first sight
I didn't think that you were a very nice girl
But I was wrong (that was wrong)
Oooh, I was wrong (so, so wrong)
I misjudged you, ooh (misjudged you, baby)
You didn't hesitate
Because you didn't want to wait
You didn't know if I would ever ask you again
Sha la la la (x2)
You should have played hard
Right from the start
Cause I condemned you for being so extreme
But that was wrong (that was wrong)
Ooh, that it was wrong (so, so wrong)
Ohh, it was wrong (that was wrong)
I misjudged you (ohh, baby, I misjudged you baby)
So now I'm begging
For the love I once denied
Darling, I'm sorry
Arrest these tears that are falling in my eyes
So if you give me one more chance
I promise I will never doubt you again
Sha la la la (x2)
I want you to say each and every day
Remind me dear
Don't care where or when
That I wronged you (that was wrong)
Oooh, I wronged you (so, so wrong, ohh, baby, don't you know that)
I wronged you (that was wrong)
I misjudged you (hey baby, I misjudged, misjudged, I misjudged you)
I misjudged you (hey baby)
I misjudged you
I misjudged you, girl
The Parliament's song "I Misjudged You" tells a story of a man who misjudged the woman he fell in love with. At the beginning of the relationship, he was skeptical and didn't think that the woman was a nice and genuine person. He didn't believe that she could fall in love at first sight when he asked her to be his girl. He judged her incorrectly and didn't see her true character. However, he comes to realize that he was wrong, and he misjudged her. The man then apologizes and begs for her forgiveness. He promises that he will never doubt her again if given another chance.
This song carries a message of humility and redemption. It highlights the fact that people shouldn't rush to judge others and should take their time to understand them better. It also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in relationships, and how admitting one's mistake, and asking for forgiveness can lead to a stronger bond between people.
Line by Line Meaning
Sha la la la (x2)
Just a repeating musical phrase with no clear lyrical meaning
Just because you accepted
I assumed that you didn't have any other options, so you settled for me
The moment that I asked you to be my girl
When I finally mustered the courage to ask you out
I didn't believe that you could fall in love at first sight
I was skeptical that anyone could have feelings for me so quickly
I didn't think that you were a very nice girl
I judged you harshly based on superficial qualities
But I was wrong (that was wrong)
I now realize that my assumptions were unwarranted and unfair
Oooh, I was wrong (so, so wrong)
I'm deeply regretful and apologetic for my mistake
I was wrong (that was wrong)
Continuing to acknowledge my error and ignorance
I misjudged you, ooh (misjudged you, baby)
Summarizing the key message of the song - I didn't accurately perceive who you are as a person
You didn't hesitate
Contrary to my initial assumption, you were excited and happy to be with me
Because you didn't want to wait
You didn't want to miss out on an opportunity for love
You didn't know if I would ever ask you again
You thought this might be the only chance to express our romantic feelings
You should have played hard
I now realize that you were too quick to say yes and should have been more cautious
Right from the start
Immediately after I asked you out
Cause I condemned you for being so extreme
I criticized you for being too enthusiastic and committed to our relationship
So now I'm begging
I'm desperately asking for forgiveness and a second chance
For the love I once denied
I realize that I foolishly didn't appreciate or reciprocate your affections
Darling, I'm sorry
I'm expressing genuine remorse and contrition
Arrest these tears that are falling in my eyes
I'm crying because I'm ashamed of my past behavior and treatment of you
So if you give me one more chance
A desperate plea to rekindle our relationship
I promise I will never doubt you again
An assurance that I won't jump to conclusions or judge you unfairly
I want you to say each and every day
I'm requesting a constant reminder of my mistake to keep me honest and humble
Remind me dear
A term of endearment and affection
Don't care where or when
I don't want to avoid or ignore this reminder
That I wronged you (that was wrong)
To acknowledge and learn from my mistake
Oooh, I wronged you (so, so wrong, ohh, baby, don't you know that)
Repeating the importance and seriousness of my misjudgment
I wronged you (that was wrong)
Again, taking responsibility for my actions and asking for forgiveness
I misjudged you (hey baby, I misjudged, misjudged, I misjudged you)
Reiterating the key message of the song and emphasizing its significance
I misjudged you (hey baby)
A final apology and expression of regret
I misjudged you
Closing the song with the same powerful message - I didn't accurately perceive who you are as a person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERNIE HARRIS, GEORGE S CLINTON, HARRIS ERNIE, HASKIN CLARENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sasha James
I love this song more every time I listen to it😍
Dennisdread
I would LOVE to hear them do this song in concert today(2016).
Love it.
Keynote Music Entertainment and Production Company
Sounds like a good old MoTown song. Great song and Great arrangement.
Ric Hurricanrana
What a beautiful song!
Pee Funk
a Lost oldie gem!💯💯
Duane Marshall
Had this not been parliament and another group this would have been a hit from radio play buy this time they typecast it shows you their ability s they can do anything
Zach O
This sounds like soul music made in some kind of psychedelic dungeon :)
James Vickers
Never got much play..the P at its best..
Tariq El Azim
Tiki was my favorite P-Funk drummer, probably because I'm an old head and loved that old Westbound Funkadelic stuff. No disrespect to all those who partook of da funk
nicolas hrechko
Man this is one deep cut