Play That Funky Music, White Boy

Words & Music:

Wild Cherry

 

Bm6    C#m6  Cm6  [vamp riff - use when in doubt...]

 

Bm6                 C#m6  Cm6  Bm6                        C#m6  Cm6

Once I was a boogie singer---, playin' in a rock and roll band.

I never had no problems, burnin' down the one night stands.

And everything around me got to start to feelin' so low.

And I decided quickly to disco down and check out the show.

 

CHORUS:

                Bm6

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

Bm6                                       Cm6       C#m6

And just when it hit me, somebody turned around and shouted:

Dm6                     Em6  Ebm6

"Play that funky music, white boy-------!

Play that funky music right!

Play that funky music, white boy!

Bm6           Bb         E7        G     D      Bm6     C#m6  Cm6

Lay down that boogie and play that funky music 'til you die!

'Til you die, oh 'til you die!"

 

I tried to understand this.  I thought they were out of their minds.

How could I be so foolish to not see I was the one behind?

So still I kept on fighting, losing every step of the way.

I said I must go back there and check to see if things still the same.

 

CHORUS:

 

Now first it wasn't easy, changin' rock-and-rollin' minds.

And things were getting shaky, I thought I'd have to leave it behind.

But now it's so much better, I'm funking out in every way.

But I'll never lose that feelin' of how I learned my lesson that day.

 

CHORUS:

               G7

They shouted, "Play that funky music!  Play that funky music!

Play that funky music!  Gotta keep on playin' funky music!

A7

Play that funky music!" [repeat and out]





Back to the Songbook Index.

This page's content is copyrighted ©1977-2008 by Kristin C. Hall. Please drop me a line (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") if you wish to use it or link to it or correct it! Please send comments, suggestions, fixes and general mischievious mayhem to the web diva via the above email address. (sorry, spambots have forced me to remove my automatic mail link.) Many thanks...and enjoy!

Note to lawyers and any other litigious-minded folk:
I am not trying to screw anyone out of royalties, etc. I have posted these only as a helpful resources for teachers, camp counselors and people who like to "sing along with Mitch", if you will. If you do not want your work posted to these pages, please just email me (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") and I shall remove it.