Long came to Motown in 1963 from the Tri-Phi/Harvey label, owned by Berry Gordy, Jr.'s sister, Gwen, and her husband, Harvey Fuqua. His first release, 1964's "Devil With The Blue Dress" was the first recording issued on Motown's Soul label, a subsidiary designed for more blues-based artists such as Long. While this song never charted nationally, the song was later covered and made a hit by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels. His 1966 single "Function At The Junction" was his first popular hit, reaching #42 on the national R&B charts. Other single releases included "It's A Crying Shame" (1964), "Chantilly Lace" (1967), and "Night Fo' Last" (1968).
Long's biggest hit was "Here Comes The Judge" in 1968, which reached number-four on the R&B charts and number-eight on the pop charts. The song was inspired by a comic act, from "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in", about a judge by Pigmeat Markham, whose own "Here Comes The Judge" (a totally different song) charted two weeks after Long's did in June 1968, and became a Top 20 hit. Long's 1969 singles included "I Had A Dream" and "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". He released one album during his lifetime, 1968's Here Comes the Judge.
Long played many instruments, including piano, organ, drums, harmonica, and trumpet. He acted as an MC for many of the Motortown Revue shows and tours, and co-wrote several of his tunes ("Devil With The Blue Dress," "Function At The Junction," and "Here Comes The Judge."). Long was the only Motown artist besides Smokey Robinson who was allowed to produce his own recordings in the 1960s. Marvin Gaye, in David Ritz's biography Divided Soul: The Life & Times of Marvin Gaye,, described Shorty Long as "this beautiful cat who had two hits, and then got ignored by Motown." Gaye claimed he "fought for guys like Shorty" while at Motown, since no one ever pushed for these artists. When Holland-Dozier-Holland came to Gaye with a tune, he stated, "Why are you going to produce me? Why don't you produce Shorty Long?"
Shorty Long died on June 29, 1969 in a boating accident on the Detroit River in Michigan. Stevie Wonder played the harmonica at his burial, and placed it on his casket afterwards. Motown issued Long's final album, The Prime of Shorty Long, shortly after his passing.
2) Shorty Long is an east-coast rapper. Bronx, N.Y. native originally known as 'Shorty Longstroke,' Shorty was discovered by Lord Finesse in the early 1990s and given his first taste of wax in 1994 with the single "Shorty's Doin'" which Finesse produced. Shorty soon fell out of favor with Finesse, and although he managed to release a few more independently-produced tracks, the call of obscurity soon beckoned.
Function At The Junction
Shorty Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And baby you'd better come on right now
Because everybody's gonna be there
We got people comin' from everywhere
We got Ling Ting Tong from China
Long Tall Sally from Carolina
We got 007, the private eye,
Come one, come all, we gonna have a ball
down at the function at the junction
And baby you'd better come on right now
We serving egg foo yung and barbecue
having chicken dumplings and kidney stew
having heap big fun till the break of dawn
gonna shake a tailfeather shoot, it's gonna be a run
Hold a shotgun on the rooster, and dare him to crow
how could anybody sleep when they could get out on the floor
Tell him, tell them, tell one and tell 'em all.
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
Tell 'em that they'd better come on right now
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
Tell 'em that they'd better come on right now
Oh the soul brothers, Jitterbugs
Hip cats and fancy hats and
Pretty girls with pretty smiles
All decked out in the latest styles
and Farmer Jim and Guitar Slim and
Betty Boop and ooo-boop-e-doop
and Mohair Sam from Alabam
and Minnesota Fats from Hobo Flats
Breath-takin' Hip-shakin' give it now
Talkin' bout some fascinatin' demonstratin'
They all be gathering here, from far and near
for the Function at the Junction
Brother, you'd better come on right now
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
Sister, you'd better come on right now
Talkin' 'bout a function at the junction
Everybody you'd better come on right now
Shorty Long's "Function At The Junction" is an upbeat and charismatic song that invites listeners to come and party at a gathering or event that's about to take place. The song sets the stage for a lively celebration that is meant to bring people together from all walks of life, with lyrics that describe a wide range of characters who will be in attendance.
The opening lines of the song convey the urgency of the situation, with the singer proclaiming that they are getting ready for the function at the junction and that their partner had better come on right now. The reason for this urgency is that everyone is going to be there, including people from all over the world, such as Ling Ting Tong from China, Long Tall Sally from Carolina, and 007 from "I Spy."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting ready for the function at the junction
I'm preparing for the event at the meeting point
And baby you'd better come on right now
Hurry up and join me soon
Because everybody's gonna be there
Everyone will be present at the venue
We got people comin' from everywhere
People are arriving from different places
We got Ling Ting Tong from China
Ling Ting Tong is attending from China
Long Tall Sally from Carolina
Long Tall Sally is coming from Carolina
We got 007, the private eye,
007, the detective, is invited
And he's bringin' all the guys from "I Spy"
He is bringing his friends from the show 'I Spy'
Come one, come all, we gonna have a ball
Everyone is welcomed to have fun
down at the function at the junction
At the event taking place at the meeting point
We serving egg foo yung and barbecue
We're providing egg foo yung and barbecue dishes
having chicken dumplings and kidney stew
Also serving chicken dumplings and kidney stew
having heap big fun till the break of dawn
We're going to have lots of fun until daybreak
gonna shake a tailfeather shoot, it's gonna be a run
We'll dance and enjoy ourselves a lot
Hold a shotgun on the rooster, and dare him to crow
We'll challenge the rooster and encourage him to sing
how could anybody sleep when they could get out on the floor
It's hard to resist dancing when the music is playing
Tell him, tell them, tell one and tell 'em all.
Spread the word and tell everyone you know
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
Inform them about the event at the meeting point
Tell 'em that they'd better come on right now
Advise them to join me as soon as possible
Oh the soul brothers, Jitterbugs
Various dance groups are going to attend
Hip cats and fancy hats and
Cool and stylish people will be there
Pretty girls with pretty smiles
Attractive females with lovely smiles will attend
All decked out in the latest styles
Wearing the latest and trendiest outfits
and Farmer Jim and Guitar Slim and
Even Farmer Jim and Guitar Slim are invited
Betty Boop and ooo-boop-e-doop
The famous character Betty Boop will attend
and Mohair Sam from Alabam
Mohair Sam from Alabama will participate
and Minnesota Fats from Hobo Flats
Minnesota Fats from Hobo Flats will also be there
Breath-takin' Hip-shakin' give it now
We'll dance energetically and impressively
Talkin' bout some fascinatin' demonstratin'
Referring to the amazing dance moves we'll showcase
They all be gathering here, from far and near
Everyone is coming together from different distances
Brother, you'd better come on right now
Brother, you should come join us right away
Sister, you'd better come on right now
Sister, you should also hurry up and join us
Talkin' 'bout a function at the junction
We refer to the event at the meeting point
Everybody you'd better come on right now
Everyone should come without any delay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, FREDERICK LONG, FREDERICK EARL LONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LESLEY A. LOVE
I RECALL WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS SONG AT ANNA'S JOYCE
AND BESSIE RENT PARTIES WAY
BACK IN THE DAY, ME, MY BROTHER AND SISTER USE TO
SNEAK OUT OR CRACK OUR
BEDROOMS WHEN ANNA COULDN'T
FIND A BABYSITTER AND THE MUSIC WAS FUN TO LISTEN ALL
NIGHT LONG AND THE MUSIC JUST
LIVED ON FOREVER IN MY MEMORY.
blrandolph
After all these years, I still can't sit down when I hear FUNCTION AT THE JUNCTION! Love that song!!!
Karen Chandler
Yes!! You just be ready get down! 😎😁👌🏾
Michelle Jones
I have to get up too!!!! Really love this cut!!!! 😅 whew!!! 💝♾!
Deborah McCoy
…….Me Neither; Something About That Beat!!!
Stephen Long
Damned right bro......
Stephen Long
If you can SIT THRU THIS SONG..... SOMETHING IS WROONGGGGGG WIT CHA
Michael Dix
This needs to be played today at barbecues and family gatherings
Lisbeth Harrell
Absolutely.
Gwendolyn Coggs
It’s why I came to get it 😂❤
Michael Dix
@Gwendolyn Coggs lol 🤣 no doubt