Zapp is best known for its 1980 funk hit More Bounce to the Ounce (produced by Bootsy Collins). The group recorded five albums as 'Zapp' & Roger recorded five others under his own name.
Roger & Zapp are known for the distinctive synthesized sound produced by recording vocals through a Talk box fed by an electonic synthesizer. Roger's voice can be heard on the Dr. Dre-produced 1996 Tupac Shakur hit "California Love". Roger also appeared on songs by Johnny Gill, Keith Sweat, Eric Benet and H-Town amongst others.
On Sunday, April 25, 1999, Roger Troutman was found shot and critically wounded outside a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio; he died during surgery at a local hospital. Roger's brother Larry was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a single gunshot wound to the head. It is likely that a personal dispute had developed between the two brothers; as far as can be determined, Larry shot Roger, then shot himself.
Freedom
Zapp Lyrics
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If I got a Ham Hock and a pot of beans
2, 3 quarters in my pocket, a real clean place to go
I need to be off of work, with 4
I don′t wanna get drunk, cause I don't want show my behind
But I need one pint of wine
You got to uh!
Free, free freedom
Shu, do wop bop
Free, free freedom
Gimme, gimme
Free, free freedom
Spot-n-do bop
Free, free freedom
Shu, do wup bop
Free, free freedom
Gimme, gimme
Free, free freedom
Spot-n-do bop
Ma, my lets just get in
So I turn down the lights, turn up my music
And let my lady take my mind
All my troubles, all my troubles yeah
To me this is freedom, and you ain′t nowhere
Oh no, no, you get yourself some
You got to uh!
Free, free freedom
Shu, do wup bop
Free, free freedom
Gimme, gimme
Free, free freedom
Spot-n-do bop
Free, free freedom
Shu, do wup bop
Free, free freedom
Gimme, gimme
Free, free freedom
Spot-n-do bop
Zapp's song "Freedom" is about the desire for freedom in various aspects of life. The lyrics describe a person who wants to take a break from work and have a simple meal of ham hock and beans, with a little bit of money in their pocket and a clean place to go. The person wants to relax and enjoy a pint of wine without getting drunk and making a fool of themselves. This represents the desire to have the freedom to enjoy life's simple pleasures without any negative consequences.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "free, free freedom" with various vocalizations such as "shu, do wop bop" and "spot-n-do bop". This chorus represents the desire for complete freedom in every aspect of life, including personal, financial, and societal freedom. The line "all my troubles, yeah, to me this is freedom, and you ain't nowhere" represents the idea that true freedom is being able to escape the stresses and troubles of everyday life, and being able to fully enjoy the moment.
Overall, the song "Freedom" conveys a message of the desire for simple pleasures, lack of stress, and complete freedom in all aspects of life. It encourages listeners to take a step back from everyday life and experience true freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to uh!
You have got to do it!
If I got a Ham Hock and a pot of beans
2, 3 quarters in my pocket, a real clean place to go
If I have food, some money in my pocket, and a clean place to rest
I need to be off of work, with 4
I don′t wanna get drunk, cause I don't want show my behind
But I need one pint of wine
I need to be off work at 4, I don't want to get drunk and make a fool of myself, but I need one pint of wine
Free, free freedom
Shu, do wop bop
Freedom, freedom, let's celebrate with joy
Gimme, gimme
Free, free freedom
Spot-n-do bop
Give me, give me, freedom with good music
Ma, my lets just get in
So I turn down the lights, turn up my music
And let my lady take my mind
All my troubles, all my troubles yeah
To me this is freedom, and you ain′t nowhere
Oh no, no, you get yourself some
Let's go inside and set the mood, let the music and my lover clear my mind of all troubles. This is what freedom means to me, and you should experience it too
Writer(s): Roger Troutman
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.