play that funky music

This one hit wonder named after a box of cough drops laid down the boogie and had everyone dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'. Wild Cherry had had a few unsuccessful self-released local singles and, after quitting and trying to run a steakhouse, lead singer Rob Parissi returned to the music business and built a loyal following in Pittsburg. Their fans kept requesting more danceable songs, and, one night between sets at 2001 Club, drummer Ron Beitle jokingly echoed the requests with the familiar catchphrase: "Play That Funky Music, White Boy!" Parissi got a pen and drink order pad from the bartender and wrote the song in five minutes. When they went to record the song, their engineer Ken Hamann was so impressed he got them in touch with Sweet City Records. The band deliberately pursued a disco sound in the studio with session horn players and the bass and drums mixed up front. Parissi had used the bassline from the Ohio Players' 'Fire' as a template for the new song. 'Play That Funky Music' became an instant classic, topping Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles charts, selling more than two million copies, and earning the band several awards.

http://robparissi.com/

Hey, do it now

Yeah, hey

Hey, Once I was a funky singer

Playin' in a Rock and Roll Band

I never had no problems, yeah

Burnin' down one night stands

And everything around me, yeah

Got to stop to feelin' so low And I decided quickly (Yes I did)

To disco down and check out the show

Yeah, they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'

And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right

Play that funky music white boy

Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die

Till you die

Oh ya, ya

I tried to understand this

I thought that they were out of their minds

How could I be so foolish (How could I)

To not see I was the one behind

So still I kept on fighting

Well, loosing every step of the way

I said, I must go back there (I got to go back)

And check to see if things still the same

Yeah they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'

And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right

Play that funky music white boy

Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die

Till you die, ya

Till you die

(Gonna play that electified funky music, yeah)

(Hey, wait a minute)

Now first it wasn't easy

Changin' Rock and Roll and minds

And things were getting shaky

I thought I'd have to leave it behind

But now its so much better (it's so much better)

I'm funking out in every way

But I'll never lose that feelin' (no I won't)

Of how I learned my lesson that day

When they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'

And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right

Play that funky music white boy

Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die

Till you die

Oh' till you die

They shouted play that funky music

(Play that funky music)

Play that funky music

(You Gotta keep on playin' funky music)

Play that funky music

(Play that funky music)

Play that funky music

(Come and take you higher, ya)

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right, ya

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right

Play that funky music white boy

Play that funky music right