Part One
The Naked and Famous The Lyrics
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He ain't too hip, about that new breed babe
He ain't no drag
Papa's got a brand new bag
Come here mama, and dig this crazy scene
He's not too fancy, but his line is pretty clean
He ain't no drag
He's doing the Jerk
He's doing the Fly
Don't play him cheap 'cause you know he ain't shy
He's doing the Monkey, the Mashed Potatoes
Jump back Jack, See you later alligator
Come here sister
Papa's in the swing
He ain't too hip now
But I can dig that new breed babe
He ain't no drag
He's got a brand new bag
Oh papa! He's doing the Jerk
Papa, he's doing the Jerk
He's doing the twist, just like this
He's doing the Fly every day and every night
The thing's, like the Boomerang
Hey, come on
Hey! Hey, come on
Hey! Hey, he's put tight, out of sight
Come on. Hey! Hey!
The song 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag' by James Brown is a classic funk and soul track featuring lyrics that describe how Papa is not too old-fashioned, and is actually in the swing of things with the new and exciting new breeds. This song is an upbeat celebration of someone who is not afraid to embrace new things and move with the times. The lyrics create vivid imagery of someone showing off their dance moves - from doing the Jerk to the Fly, the Monkey and the Mashed Potatoes.
Line by Line Meaning
Come here sister, Papa's in the swing
The singer is telling their sister to come join them because their father is feeling good and is in a good mood.
He ain't too hip, about that new breed babe
The father is not familiar with the latest trends and fads.
He ain't no drag
The father is not boring or uninteresting.
Papa's got a brand new bag
The father is feeling refreshed and has a new way of doing things.
Come here mama, and dig this crazy scene
The artist is addressing their mother and asking her to check out what's happening around them.
He's not too fancy, but his line is pretty clean
The father may not have a sophisticated way of doing things, but his approach is still effective.
He ain't no drag
The father is still not boring or uninteresting.
Papa's got a brand new bag
The father is still feeling refreshed and has a new way of doing things.
He's doing the Jerk
The father is performing a popular dance move called 'The Jerk.'
He's doing the Fly
The father is also doing 'The Fly,' another popular dance move.
Don't play him cheap 'cause you know he ain't shy
The father is confident and won't tolerate being treated poorly by others.
He's doing the Monkey, the Mashed Potatoes
The father is also performing other dance moves like 'The Monkey' and 'The Mashed Potatoes.'
Jump back Jack, See you later alligator
The singer is using playful language to say goodbye to someone named Jack.
Oh papa! He's doing the Jerk
The singer is expressing excitement and admiration for their father's dancing skills.
Papa, he's doing the Jerk
Another person is pointing out the father's dancing skills to someone else.
He's doing the twist, just like this
The father is now doing 'The Twist,' another popular dance move.
He's doing the Fly every day and every night
The father is constantly performing 'The Fly' dance move.
The thing's, like the Boomerang
The dance moves are like a boomerang in that they keep coming back and being performed again.
Hey, come on
The singer is urging others to join in on the fun.
Hey! Hey, come on
The artist is continuing to invite others to join in.
Hey! Hey, he's put tight, out of sight
The father is doing a great job dancing and is impressing those around him.
Come on. Hey! Hey!
The artist is still encouraging others to participate.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind