On December 10, 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b.1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group.
The reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone; Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gorden, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, lead vocals.
The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings afterwards, including on Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul album, and changed direction in the 1970s to have a successful funk music career. Lloyd Smith joined the Bar-Kays in 1973. They continued to score hits on R&B charts well into the 1980s and lately have incorporated contemporary rap & remix elements into their continuing career and have performed all over the world.
Let's Have Some Fun
The Bar-Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh ye ye ye eh
DJ Bobby oh yeh
Mr 2Kay oh
We just wanna Have Some Fun eh
Oh ye ye ye ye yeah
We just wanna feel alright
Say we just want to Have Some Fun hey
We just love to feel alright hey
Pop some bottles oh
Pop the bottle ah
Ah ah ah ah aha
Call the ladies oh
Call the ladies oh
Ohh oha iyeh
Pop some bottles oh ohh
Pop some bottles eh ah
Call the ladies oh ohh
Call the ladies oh
Uh ehh
We dey spray money
Like E Money
And we dey shoot money
Like E Money
DJ Bobby
Kani rikota rikota
Wo n kota rikota
Rikota wo n kota
Rikota
Ih ye eh ehh ah ihh
I don’t care I don’t care
Wetin you think
I don’t care I don’t care
Wetin you talk
I don’t care I don’t care
Wetin you feel
Your opinions no dey pay bills ohh eh
Your opinions no be bank alert
Ah ah ahha
Nwanne so if you get money
Enjoy yourself oh
We just wanna Have Some Fun eh
We just wanna feel alright
Say we just want to Have Some Fun hey
We just love to feel alright hey
Pop some bottles oh
Pop the bottle
Ah ah ah ah ah
Call the ladies oh
Call the ladies oh
Iyeh
Pop some bottles oh ohh
Pop some bottles eh ah
Call the ladies oh ohh
Call the ladies oh
We dey spray money
Like E Money
And we dey shoot money
Like E Money
DJ Bobby
Kani rikota rikota
Wo n kota rikota
Rikota wo n kota
Rikota
Ih ye eh ehh ah ehh
And if you see me dey bubble
No dey murmur
And if you see me dey celebrate
No dey murmur
Cos’ I don hustle oh
I don hustle
Now I can’t shout
Na my money go make noise
We just wanna Have Some Fun, eh
Ah ya ya ya ya ya
We just wanna feel alright
Eh eh eh ehha
Say we just want to Have Some Fun hey
We just love to feel alright hey
Pop some bottles oh
Pop the bottle
Call the ladies oh
Call the ladies oh
Iyeh
Pop some bottles oh ohh
Pop some bottles eh ah
Call the ladies oh ohh
Call the ladies oh
We dey spray money
Like E Money
And we dey shoot money
Like E Money
DJ Bobby
Kani rikota rikota
Wo n kota rikota
Rikota wo n kota
Rikota
Ih ye eh ehh
Barango Doppy on the mix
The Bar-Kays's song Let's Have Some Fun is an upbeat party anthem with a catchy beat that urges listeners to let loose and have a good time. The lyrics are all about enjoying one's self and living in the moment. The song opens with a shoutout to DJ Bobby, the "party machine," who sets the tone for the rest of the track. The verses repeat the main message of the song, that the group just wants to have fun and feel good, which they do by popping bottles and calling on the ladies to join in. The chorus is easy to sing-along with and is complemented by sharp instrumentation and background vocals.
One interpretation of the song is that it speaks to the pressure of living up to societal expectations and the desire to let go and enjoy oneself. The idea of "spraying money" like "E Money" could represent living lavishly and embracing one's financial success without fear of judgement. The repetition of "I don't care" could also signify a rejection of others' opinions and the decision to live life on one's own terms. The song ultimately embodies a carefree attitude and invites listeners to join in on the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
DJ Bobby the party machine
Introducing the DJ who is responsible for the party
We just wanna Have Some Fun eh
All we want to do is have a good time and enjoy ourselves
Pop some bottles oh
Open some bottles of alcohol to celebrate the occasion
Call the ladies oh
Invite the women present to join in the fun
We dey spray money
We are throwing money around as a sign of wealth and success
I don’t care I don’t care, Wetin you think
I am not bothered about your opinion or what you think of me
Your opinions no dey pay bills ohh eh
Your opinions have no effect on my financial status
If you see me dey bubble, No dey murmur
If you see me celebrating, don't complain
Cos’ I don hustle oh, I don hustle
Because I have worked hard to get to where I am now
Barango Doppy on the mix
References the person responsible for mixing the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roslynmccoy9115
I was 13years old in 1977 when this song came out love all of the bar-kays music i am 59 years young and still listing to the bar-kays in 2024
@JuneBaby01
1977, the year that i turned 20, a time of sex, drugs, and funk, and the Bar-kays were just so, so...so, so...Funky...i would trade my left pinky finger in exchange for (what we used to call) a plate of Hash[hashish]), a bottle of Wine, a blacklight, and a Bar-kays lp right now...off and in my own, serving in the military in Darmstadt Germany, having the time of my life, and songs and groups like the Bar-kays were part of the soundtrack and fabric of an incredible era...the mid and late 70's, man, what a time to be young, what an era of life to come of age in...i wouldn't trade it for anything...actually, i wish i could go back and live it again...exactly as it was then!!!
@cmwillisful
Riding the school bus in 77...kids were acting up in the back...bus driver pulled over to the side of the road and refused to move until kids stopped acting a fool. Girl in the back had a boom box and was singing this song. Lol
@silverfoxx8115
Makes me weep for today's generation, they will never know what its like to go some where to listen to and dance to good old fashion down to earth music with out all the drama!
@charlescaldwell2913
You got right. They are messed up down the line. Our fault!!!
@cassandrarichardson5509
Thank you Jesus, for music, and now let's have some fun!!!
@JudahYapha
So glad it to have seen Bar kays live in concert, i was in my teens at the time. Most don't overstand they were live ,had live band and would break out in solo's, God bless this music is truly unsung everything was organic for the times. Thankyou.
@reeseowens2182
I haven't heard this in decades, I was watching a 70's documentary this song was featured on the show which brought me here and I listened to this song 5 times in a row...
This is one of my favorites from the Bar Kay's 🎶
@dreameryoung38
Found the greatest hits in the library and I'm jamming the heck out of this one
@reeseowens2182
@@dreameryoung38 let's dance.... LOL