The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
This is some of the lingua franca of the funk business
And people come from miles around
With an almost religious devotion to get on down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
What up, everybody, so glad you're here
It's Coolio wit' the flow back in your ear
This ain't a fantastic voyage, but I'm still on a mission
To see if I can get your attention
Now I wants to drop some information
Just a little additive to your education
I live my life by the code of the funk
600 watt amps, 18's in the trunk
When I'm on the street, you gotta feel my beat, so
Throw your hands up if you're down with the C-
Double-O-L-I-O with the flow
I'm lookin' for the party, so let a nigga know
One, two, three, it's like A, B, C
If hip-hop didn't pay, I'd rap for free
Slide, slide, but that's that past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
If you got beef, then nigga, eat a pork chop
Once I get it goin', you know it don't stop
I break like anti-locks, panties drop
From hood to hood, block to block
Help, I need somebody
To get it goin' on in this party
Baby, you can do it, take your time, do it right
We can drink some yak and do it all damn night
My name ain't Wanda, but I'll rock your world
Get more bounce than a jheri curl
Too many looky loos be lookin' for clues
There's a party goin' on, now what'cha gonna do, so
Grab your partner, do-si-do
Now if you don't know who it is, it's Coolio
Slide, slide, but that's the past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Push, push, in the bush
But don't step on my toes 'cause you might get smushed
It's the brother from around the way
And what I say I bend a co'ner on three like Dr. Dre
Comin' at 'em with pattern an' a fresh pair of atoms
I hope he don't trip 'cause I don't want to have to gat 'em
So move your body, baby, drive the homies crazy
The way you shake that ass, it always amaze me
Ain't no party like a west coast party
'Cause a west coast party don't stop
So when you see a young nigga in a Chevy hittin' switches
Then you gotta give the nigga his props
I got size in my rise and the motion for your ocean
Coolio got the potion to get the party open
Slide, slide, but that's the past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
And people come from miles around
With an almost religious devotion to get on down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
What up, everybody, so glad you're here
It's Coolio wit' the flow back in your ear
This ain't a fantastic voyage, but I'm still on a mission
To see if I can get your attention
Now I wants to drop some information
Just a little additive to your education
I live my life by the code of the funk
600 watt amps, 18's in the trunk
When I'm on the street, you gotta feel my beat, so
Throw your hands up if you're down with the C-
Double-O-L-I-O with the flow
I'm lookin' for the party, so let a nigga know
One, two, three, it's like A, B, C
If hip-hop didn't pay, I'd rap for free
Slide, slide, but that's that past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
If you got beef, then nigga, eat a pork chop
Once I get it goin', you know it don't stop
I break like anti-locks, panties drop
From hood to hood, block to block
Help, I need somebody
To get it goin' on in this party
Baby, you can do it, take your time, do it right
We can drink some yak and do it all damn night
My name ain't Wanda, but I'll rock your world
Get more bounce than a jheri curl
Too many looky loos be lookin' for clues
There's a party goin' on, now what'cha gonna do, so
Grab your partner, do-si-do
Now if you don't know who it is, it's Coolio
Slide, slide, but that's the past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Push, push, in the bush
But don't step on my toes 'cause you might get smushed
It's the brother from around the way
And what I say I bend a co'ner on three like Dr. Dre
Comin' at 'em with pattern an' a fresh pair of atoms
I hope he don't trip 'cause I don't want to have to gat 'em
So move your body, baby, drive the homies crazy
The way you shake that ass, it always amaze me
Ain't no party like a west coast party
'Cause a west coast party don't stop
So when you see a young nigga in a Chevy hittin' switches
Then you gotta give the nigga his props
I got size in my rise and the motion for your ocean
Coolio got the potion to get the party open
Slide, slide, but that's the past
I got somethin' brand new for that ass
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
One, two, three, four
Get your woman on the floor
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Gotta, gotta get up to get down
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) Lyrics as written by Brian Thomas Higgins Miranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
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Great song!