Genius Of Love
Tom Tom Club Lyrics


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What you gonna do when you get out of jail?
I'm gonna have some fun
What do you consider fun?
Fun, natural fun

I'm in heaven
With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
There's no beginning and there is no end
Time isn't present in that dimension
He'll take my arm
When we're walkin', rolling and rocking
It's one time I'm glad I'm not a man
Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping

I'm in heaven
With the maven of funk mutation
Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins
Raise expectations to a new intention
No one can sing
Quite like Smokey, Smokey Robinson
Wailin' and skankin' to Bob Marley
Reggae's expanding with Sly and Robbie

Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama

All the weekend
Boyfriend was missing
I surely miss him
The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
We went insane when we took cocaine

"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"

Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hip and a hippie-the-hop
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
James Brown, James Brown
James Brown, James Brown

If you see him
Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Well he's the genius of love
He's got a greater depth of feeling




Well he's the genius of love
He's so deep

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Tom Club's song "Genius of Love" are a celebration of fun, music, and love. The song opens with a playful conversation between two people. The first asks the other what they will do when they get out of jail, to which the second replies that they want to have fun. The first then asks what the other considers fun, and the reply is "Fun, natural fun." This exchange sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is all about having a good time.


The second verse describes a woman who is in love with her boyfriend. She describes herself as being in heaven with him and says that there is no beginning or end to their relationship. Time does not exist in their dimension. The couple enjoys walking, rolling, and rocking together. The woman is glad that she is not a man because she feels like she is dreaming, but she is not sleeping.


The third verse celebrates the "genius of love." The lyrics reference musicians like Bootsy Collins, Smokey Robinson, Bob Marley, and Sly and Robbie. The song pays homage to these artists for their contributions to music, and it also acknowledges the power of love to inspire creativity.


Overall, "Genius of Love" is an upbeat and joyful song that celebrates the pleasures of life, love, and music.


Line by Line Meaning

What you gonna do when you get out of jail?
What will be your plan when you are released from incarceration?


I'm gonna have some fun
I will indulge in enjoyable activities.


What do you consider fun?
What do you find pleasurable?


Fun, natural fun
Unadulterated enjoyment.


I'm in heaven
I am elated and content.


With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
In the company of my jolly beau.


There's no beginning and there is no end
The experience feels infinite and eternal.


Time isn't present in that dimension
The temporary man-made concept of time doesn't apply.


He'll take my arm
He will hold my hand.


When we're walkin', rolling and rocking
When we stroll along swaying and dancing to the music.


It's one time I'm glad I'm not a man
I am content being a woman in this moment.


Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping
This experience is surreal, but I am not unconscious.


With the maven of funk mutation
In the company of the master of innovative funk music.


Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins
Referring to Bootsy Collins and other musicians associated with George Clinton's P-Funk collective.


Raise expectations to a new intention
Sets the bar high for new musical ambitions.


No one can sing
No other individual has the same vocal abilities or talent as.


Quite like Smokey, Smokey Robinson
As Smokey Robinson, nobody else is capable of singing the same way.


Wailin' and skankin' to Bob Marley
Dancing passionately to the music of Bob Marley.


Reggae's expanding with Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie's music is vital to the growth and development of reggae music.


Oops! Your mama said uh
Exclamation of surprise or disbelief.


All the weekend
Throughout the entire weekend.


Boyfriend was missing
My partner was absent.


I surely miss him
I certainly longed for him.


The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
His embrace which enveloped me with warmth and affection.


We went insane when we took cocaine
We became erratic and unpredictable after consuming cocaine.


"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
Repetition of musician Hamilton Bohannon's name.


Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Dancing to the beat of music by rapper Kurtis Blow.


Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Why bother overthinking when enjoying the rhythm and flow of music is sufficient.


With a hippie-the-hip and a hippie-the-hop
Incorporating different styles of music and dance, specifically the hippie/hop culture.


"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
Continuing to repeat Hamilton Bohannon's name.


James Brown, James Brown
Referring to the soul legend James Brown.


If you see him
In case you run into him.


Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Inform him that he is an unhappy spouse.


He's got a greater depth of feeling
He feels more intensely and profound than most people.


He's so deep
He is incredibly introspective and complex.




Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tina Weymouth, Christopher Frantz, Adrian Belew, Steven J.C. Stanley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@acidbath9637

if you wanted to sing along:

What you gonna do when you get out of jail?
I'm gonna have some fun
What do you consider fun?
Fun, natural fun

I'm in Heaven
With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
There's no beginning and there is no end
Time isn't present in that dimension
You'll take my arm
When we're walkin', rolling and rocking
It is one time I'm glad I'm not a man
Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping
I'm in Heaven
With the maven of funk mutation
Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins
Raise expectations to a new intention
No one can sing
Quite like Smokey, Smokey Robinson
Wailin' and skankin' to Bob Marley
Reggae's expanding with Sly and Robbie

Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama

All the weekend
Boyfriend was missing
I surely miss him
The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
We went insane when we took cocaine

Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon

Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Who needs to think when your feet just go
With a hippie-the-hip and a hippie-the-hop
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
James Brown, James Brown
James Brown, James Brown
If you see him
Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Well he's the genius of love
He's got a greater depth of feeling
Well he's the genius of love
He's so deep



All comments from YouTube:

@gustavoceballos5327

The song is one of the most sampled rhythm tracks of the 1980s, particularly within the hip hop and R&B genre. Notable versions include Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde's "Genius Rap" in 1981; Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "It's Nasty" in 1982; Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" in 1995, and The X-Ecutioners' "Genius of Love 2002" in 2002.

Other artists have incorporated "Genius of Love" into their works, including Public Enemy's "Leave This Off Your Fuckin' Charts", Redman's "Brick City Mashin'", Cam'ron's "Me, My Moms & Jimmy", 2nd II None's "Niggaz Trippin'", Fresh Kid Ice's "Roll Call", 2Pac's "High Speed", Seagram's "I Don't Give a Fuck", Busta Rhymes' "One", Ant Banks' "Roll 'Em Phat", P.M. Dawn's "Gotta Be... Movin' On Up", Menajahtwa's "I Ain't Nasti", 50 Cent's "When I Get Out", Erick Sermon's "Genius E Dub", Mac Dre's "Chop that Ho", Dream Warriors' "And Now the Legacy Begins", T.I.'s "Down Like That", R.A. the Rugged Man's "Tom Thum", Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack", Ice Cube's "Bop Gun (One Nation)", Warren G's "What's Love Got to Do with It", the D-Influence Real Live Mix of Billie's "Girlfriend", Latto's "Big Energy", and Paramore's "Rose-Colored Boy", during their shows at the After Laughter Tour.

@3toobular

Add Ziggy Marley's - Walls Come Tumblin' Down 12" remix to the above list. And yep, it's been used a ton. Makes TTC rich.

@planescaped

I remember hearing Pastime Paradise first, and my ears doing a double take when Gangsters paradise came out.

@ericaarmstrong2791

Big Energy

@kale_nunn

@@ericaarmstrong2791 Yes because i just realized it LOL!

@TheFragrantGangsters

My man just straight up copy and pasted wikipedia

85 More Replies...

@SamBechara_

love this song <3

@Brooklynlikescandy

Same

@guiaviao

😎😎🕺🤩

@darlabingham7730

This is the clean ve Version from the 80s. The new one is called fantasy ... Something like 321 , beep, beep beep . The remix . I Love the beat to it but not the words. I can't listen to it around my Grandson's.... But then again ....They get on tiktok.

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