The Meaning Of "Your Bad Self", "Out Of Sight", "Oowee, You're Killin Me", And Certain Other Lyrics In James Brown's 1968 Anthem "Say it Loud- I'm Black and Proud"

Harley Ambrose, April 19, 2019

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of James Brown's  anthem "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud" and presents explanations about the lyrics for that song.

This post also presents my interpretation of certain lyrics in the context of  that song.

The content of this post is presented for linguistics and socio-cultural purposes. 

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to James Brown for his musical and cultural legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/08/memories-of-james-browns-1968-record.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Memories Of James Brown's 1968 Record "Say it Loud- I'm Black and Proud" ".

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ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN LYRICS IN JAMES BROWN'S "SAY IT LOUD: I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD"

These lyrics are given in order of their appearance in that song.  These are my interpretations of those lyrics. I'm interested in reading whether you agree or disagree with  my interpretations.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Click https://genius.com/James-brown-say-it-loud-im-black-and-im-proud-lyrics for the complete lyrics to "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud." (Part I)

1. Uh, with your bad self"

This is an informal African American expression of appreciation (exclamation) that means that the person is being or is doing something exceptionally well. "Bad" here means "good", "cool", "hip" etc,.

The meanings for the lyrics given in #3 below are other African American Vernacular English words and/or exclamations from the 1960s that also have the same or similar complementary meanings as "with your bad self".

Two 2000s versions of  "with your bad self" are "You're the bomb."  and "Do it! You're on fire!" 
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Here's a definition for "Get down with your bad self " from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get%20down%20with%20your%20bad%20self

"get on down with your bad self

this means to continue doing whatever u re doing cause its too cool and no one else can do it like you do

just get on down with your bad self!no one can stop you!

by QCCE April 2, 2018"

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Here's an example of that saying from the discussion thread of a 1970s Soul Train video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5_oM8rU1jk Soul Train Line Dance to Earth Wind & Fire's - Mighty Mighty, published by carwashlondon, Dec. 22, 2009

satonya444, 2012
"0:27-:31 Alright now...get down get down with your bad self!!"

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2. "We have been 'buked and we have been scorned

We've been treated bad, talked about as sure as you're born"

These lyrics are lifted from an African American Spiritual entitled "I've Been Buked and I've Been Scorned". 

" 'Buked" is an\old African American English shortened form of the English word "rebuked”. However, I don't believe that shortened form of that word is used anywhere else except in that Spiritual.

"Rebuke" means " to criticize sharply : Reprimand"
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebuke#:~:text=%3A%20to%20criticize%20sharply%20%3A%20reprimand,back%20or%20keep%20down%20%3A%20check

"Scorn" means 

1. open dislike and disrespect or mockery often mixed with indignation

2. an expression of contempt or derision 3

3. an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision : something contemptible
-https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorn

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3. "[Bridge]

Ooh-wee, give it to me
All right, you're out of sight
All night, so tough
You're tough and rough
Ooh-wee, uh, you're killing me"

a. In the context of this 1968 song, "Ooh Wee" is an exclamation meaning something like "Yeah!" or "Wow!

In the context of this 1968 song "give it to me" means "Give me what you're giving out: your energy, your vibe, your skill (in something like dancing)". For instance, a man watching a woman doing a sensual dance might shout "Give it to me" to the woman dancing.  However, that expression may just mean "Keep on dancing like you're doing". 

b. In the context of this 1968 song "you're out of sight" means "You're fantastic", "You're way above average," You're wonderful", "You're great" (and similar superlative statements).
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From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Out%20of%20sight
"Out of Sight

A slang term used to describe something positive, very good, cool, great or excellent.

 Also see: "outta sight".

 Synonyms:

 Great, cool, neat, the best, far out, excellent, stellar, nothing better.

1. John: Did you go to the concert last night? How was the band?

Adam: Yeah, they were out of sight!

2. Did you see that '70 Boss 302 Mustang that just drove by? Out of sight!

by cavanobrien August 7, 2014"

c. "All night, so tough
You're tough and rough"

In the context of this 1968 song "tough" and "rough" are positive adjectives in African American Vernacular English which have the same or similar meaning as "bad". A 2000s African American Vernacular English form of "rough" and "tough" is "hard".

d. "Ooh-wee, uh, you're killing me"

The lyrics "you're killing me" in James Brown's "Say it Loud- I'm Black and Proud"  doesn't have its literal meaning. 

Also, the words "You're killing me" doesn't have the contemporary (post 1993) slang meaning that has been given to the saying "You're killing me, Smalls"*. 

There's more than one African American Vernacular meaning for "killing me".

In the context of this 1968 song (especially given the other lyrics that are part of this song's bridge and some of the other verses in this song), I believe that "you're killing me" is similar to the idiom "You're killing it" which means "You are doing something very well". 

In this Jams Brown song, "you're killing me" could (also or alternatively) mean that the person who says those words is so excited by watching the dance movements that the person (who is "out of sight") is doing that he feels like he's dying. This meaning is similar to the English language idiom "to die laughing".   

That first meaning I gave of "killing" in James Brown's song "Say It Loud: I'm Black And I'm Proud" may have influenced the 2000s African American Vernacular English words "killing", "murdered, "slayed",all of which mean to "do something exceptionally well").

*Click https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/you-39-re-killin-me-smalls/#:~:text=What%20does%20You're%20killin,exasperation%20with%20someone%20or%20something for information about the saying "You're killing me, Smalls.

4. "[Verse 4]

We're people, we like the birds and the bees
We'd rather die on our feet
Than be living on our knees"

a. In the context of this 1968 song, "the birds and the bees" could mean "sex". However, my guess is that it has the more generalized reference for liking pleasurable things/having fun. 

b. In the context of this 1968 song, I believe that "We'd rather die on our feet than be living on our knees means "We'd rather die as proud people than live as people who have no self-respect.

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5. "You know we can do the boogaloo"

In the context of this 1968 song, the "boogaloo" is a Rock and roll/R&B dance from the 1960s. Here's some information about that dance:
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Boogaloo#:~:text=Boogaloo%20originated%20in%20New%20York,the%20American%20Bandstand%20television%20program.
"Boogaloo (shing-a-ling, popcorn music) is a musical genre of Latin music and dance that was very popular in the United States in the late 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans and Puerto Ricans. The style was a fusion of popular styles such as R&B, rock and roll and soul music with mambo and 'son montuno'. Boogaloo entered the mainstream through the American Bandstand television program."...

James Brown recorded the song "Boogaloo" in 1964. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PQIkV0XYdg for a YouTube song file of that song.
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Notice that that verse also mentions the R&B dance "The Camel Walk". Here's some information about the Camel Walk from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_Walk
..."1950s/1960s variant

The camel walk entered the 1950s and 1960s as a retro dance. However, unlike the group dance that it was in the 1920s, this version of the camel walk was more of a solo act. One notable performer of this dance was James Brown, who performed it when doing concerts and stage shows. Another performer of this dance was Arkansas Rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. Parts of the 1950s/1960s camel walk were used in Michael Jackson's version of the memorable moonwalk dance. He also used it in the 90s."...
Click https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/boogaloo/ for the politically far-right American subversive meaning of the word "boogaloo".

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

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