History
The group's music and unusual costuming (large Afros and white makeup) typified the then-popular trend of "psychedelic soul". A number of their singles became minor hits, and many of them were also songs for Whitfield's main act The Temptations, among them "You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Their single Top 40 hit in the United States was the ominous "Smiling Faces Sometimes", also originally recorded by The Temptations, which hit #3 on the US pop charts in 1971.
The Undisputed Truth, along with Rose Royce and Willie Hutch, followed Whitfield during his exodus from Motown to set up Whitfield Records in 1975. At this time, Calvin and Joyce left the group, and Harris was joined by new members Taka Boom, Tyrone "Lil Ty" Barkley, and Calvin "Dhaak" Stephenson. The group's costuming and style changed as well, becoming even more unusual and Funkadelic-influenced. However, the group had little success at the new label, and faded into obscurity after two more albums, although they charted in the UK in 1977 (#43) with the disco single "You + Me = Love" from the album Method to the Madness.
(from the Wikipedia Page)
feelin' alright
The Undisputed Truth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every night I have the strangest dreams
Imprisoned by the way it could have been
Left here on my own or so it seems
I've got to leave before I start to scream
Someone locked the door and turned the key
You feeling alright?
You feeling alright?
I'm feeling that good myself
Boy you sure took me for a ride
And even now I sit and I wonder why
That when I think of you I stop myself fron crying
I just can't waste my time
I must keep tryin'
I've got to stop believing all your lies
Cause there's to much to do before I die
You feeling alright?
I'm not feeling too good myself
You feeling alright?
I'm feeling that good myself
Don't you get too lost in all I say
But at the time you know
I really felt that way
But that was then and now you know it's today
I can't escape I guess I'm here to stay
'Till someone comes along to take my place
With a different name and a different face
You feeling alright?
I'm not feeling too good myself
You feeling alright?
I'm feeling that good myself
The Undisputed Truth's song, "Feelin' Alright", is a poignant reflection on the struggles of being trapped in a situation that is not working out. The opening lyrics express the central idea, as the singer longs for a "change of scene" and feels imprisoned by the "way it could have been." It seems as though the singer is stuck in a pattern of negative thinking, as they have "strangest dreams" each night and are afraid they will "start to scream." This sense of being trapped is amplified by the line "Someone locked the door and turned the key," indicating that the singer feels powerless to escape on their own.
The chorus of the song incorporates a repetition of the question "You feeling alright?" which is answered in a way that suggests neither the singer nor the person they are addressing are truly feeling well. This could be interpreted as a coded conversation between two people who are struggling in different ways, but ultimately united in their shared sense of malaise.
The second verse of the song addresses the betrayal that the singer feels at the hands of another person, who has "taken me for a ride" and caused them to "wonder why" they ever trusted them. The singer reflects on their own internal struggle as they fight not to cry and must "keep trying" in order to move forward. The second half of the verse introduces a more positive note, as the singer acknowledges that they need to "stop believing all your lies" and focus on what they need to do before they die.
Overall, "Feelin' Alright" is a powerful song that grapples with themes of depression, disillusionment, and empowerment. It offers a window into the inner world of someone who is struggling to break free from a difficult situation and find their own path forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems I've got to have a change of scene
I feel like I need to change my surroundings and find a new environment.
Every night I have the strangest dreams
I have been having unusual dreams every night, which could be a result of my current state of mind.
Imprisoned by the way it could have been
I feel confined or trapped by the possibilities of how things could have gone, but did not.
Left here on my own or so it seems
I am left alone, at least that's how it appears to me.
I've got to leave before I start to scream
I need to go away before the situation becomes unbearable and I cannot control my emotions.
Someone locked the door and turned the key
It feels like someone has deliberately locked me in and left me with no way out.
You feeling alright?
Asking someone how they are feeling, perhaps as a way of checking in on them or trying to start a conversation.
I'm not feeling too good myself
Admitting that one's own feelings are not great, which could suggest a shared sense of struggle between the people in the conversation.
Boy you sure took me for a ride
You really fooled me and played games with me.
And even now I sit and I wonder why
Even at this moment, I question why I let things go as far as they did.
That when I think of you I stop myself from crying
Being reminded of you emotionally affects me to the point of tears, but I try to hold them back.
I just can't waste my time
I cannot spend any more time investing in this situation, relationship, or person.
I must keep tryin'
Despite the difficulty, I feel the need to push forward and keep striving for a better outcome.
I've got to stop believing all your lies
I understand that I cannot continue to put my trust in the false promises or untruths you have told me.
Cause there's to much to do before I die
There is so much left for me to experience or achieve in my lifetime, and I cannot be held back by deceitful actions or words.
Don't you get too lost in all I say
Please do not become overwhelmed or confused by everything that I am expressing to you.
But at the time you know I really felt that way
I am acknowledging that my feelings and reactions may have been strongly influenced by past events, even if they do not entirely make sense in the present moment.
But that was then and now you know it's today
Although the past may have played a role in my emotions, I am grounding myself in the present reality and recognizing that things may have changed since then.
I can't escape I guess I'm here to stay
It seems like I am stuck in this situation or place, unable to easily leave or move on.
'Till someone comes along to take my place
I am open to the possibility of someone new or different coming into my life and helping me move on or change things for the better.
With a different name and a different face
I am imagining this potential new person being drastically different from those I have known in the past, hoping that this will lead to a positive outcome.
Contributed by Peyton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.