Shorty Long - "Function At The Junction" (1966 R&B Music, Lyrics, & Comments) complete 2026 reprint

 

Shorty Long - Topic, Jul 28, 2018

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

[...]

℗ A Motown Records Release; ℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.

Producer: Brian Holland

Producer: Lamont Dozier

Composer  Lyricist: Eddie Holland

Composer  Lyricist: Shorty Long
-snip-
Comment function deactivated-

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Edited by Azizi Powell

[This is a complete reprint of the 2024 pancocojams post with the same title. That post has no visitor comments as of the date and time of this 2026 publication.

For some unknown reason I thought of this song, found that pancocojams post, and returned to that YouTube video to add more comments to the comments that are included in this pancocojams post. Comments #91-#102 have been added to this post in 2026.

The 2024 post remains in this pancocojams blog and this complete reprint is published to increase the opportunities that people have to experience this song and read those comments.]

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This pancocojams post showcases Shorty Long's now classic 1966 Rhythm & Blues record "Function At The Junction".

The original version of "Function At The Junction" is showcased in this post along with an unofficial extended version of that record.

This pancocojams post also includes the lyrics for the 1966 "Function At The Junction" record along with a small number of comments from the discussion thread for the video of that record unofficial extended version.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, linguistic, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

I'm especially interested in comments about the dances that were performed for this record in the late 1960s as well as comments that mention roller skating to this record during the 1960s and beyond.

As is the case with most pancocojams selected comments compilations, it's not just what is said but how it is said, with special attention to the use of African American Vernacular English.

Thanks to Edward Holland and Shorty Long for composing this song and thanks to Shorty Long for recording this song and his other hit R&B song "Here Comes The Judge".  Thanks to The Funk Brothers (back up musicians) and all those who were associated with this record. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this videos on YouTube.   

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LYRICS- FUNCTION AT THE JUNCTION
(composed by Edward Holland & Shorty Long)

I'm getting ready for the function at the junction
And baby you better come on, now now
Because everybody's gonna be there
We've got people comin' from everywhere

We've got Ling Ting Tong from China
Long Tall Sally from Carolina
We've got 007, the private eye
And he's bringin' all the guys from I Spy

Come one, come all, we're gonna have a ball
Down at the function at the junction
And baby you better come on, now now

We're serving egg foo young and barbecue
Having chicken dumplings and kidney stew
Having heap big fun 'til the break of dawn
Gonna shake a tail feather, shoot him 'fore he run
Hold a shotgun on the rooster, and dare him to crow
Hotfoot anybody sleepin', make 'em get out on the floor

Tell him to tell them, to tell Paul to tell them all
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
And tell 'em that they'd better come on, now now
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction, baby
Tell 'em that they'd better come on, now now

All the soul brothers, jitterbuggers
Hip cats and fancy hats
And pretty girls with pretty smiles
All decked out in the latest styles
And Farmer Jim and Guitar Slim
And Betty Boop and "Oop-boop-be-doop"
Mohair Sam from Alabam'
And Minnesota Fats from Hobo Flats
Breath-takin', hip-shakin' cuties, now
Talkin' 'bout some fascinatin', devastatin' beauties, now

They'll all be gathering here, from far and near
For the function at the junction
And brother, you better come on, now now
Tell 'em 'bout the function at the junction
Sister, you better come on, now now

Talkin' 'bout a function at the junction
Everybody, you better come on, now
You ain't never seen the function at the junction
You ain't never...

Online Source - https://genius.com/Shorty-long-function-at-the-junction-lyrics

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Shorty Long Motown "Function At The Junction" My Extended Version!



mosogotam,  Aug 29, 2011

No copyright infringement intended. If felt, please comment below and I will remove this video. Thank you. Motown's late Shorty Long...a great talent...with us too briefly. My extended version of his wonderful hit...with an amazing backup by the Funk Brothers and the Andantes!

SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

From the discussion thread for Showcase Video #2 -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCNL_Fz58QU

2011

1.@simon4186
"I LOVE MOTOWN!"

****
2012

2. @bassbymichele
"Shorty and a friend sadly drowned when their boat capsized on the Detroit River in Michigan. Stevie Wonder played the harmonica at his burial, and placed it on his casket afterwards. He surely continues to live through his music and funk power! He was born on 20th may, just like me.."

**
3. @LindaGallowayMD
"This made me get up from my computer and dance! Definitely good memories. Heard this at many parties although I was only "2" when it came out (lol)."

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2013

4. @mosogotam
"Joanne....thank you for posting this.  To hear you talk about the Motown Revues and Shorty is quite wonderful....I didn't know that Shorty had been the MC for some of the revues.  Please check out my channel...it's full of Motown remixes that I have done...and still do!  Thanks so much!"

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2014

5. @ThaBrooklynHurricane2
"this was the ultimate cook out song!  Everybody was jammin this in Brooklyn at cook outs back in the day.  This is my memory of this awesome song.   I can still see my Daddy doin his little dance step.  anybody remember the dance called the Popcorn!"

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Reply
6. @loveyouall66
"THE POPCORN? WE DID ALL NIGHT LONG."

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Reply
7. @ThaBrooklynHurricane2
"that, too!  can't forget HOT PANTS, and we wore them and still kept it classy....can it be that it was all so simple then?   the way we were!!!  smh!

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Reply
8. @ThaBrooklynHurricane2, 2016
"Yessssss!  You, too, Hon!  We were so blessed to have it when it was all good!  And with what's going on in the world today, I'll stick with my memories, at least they are REAL."

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Reply
9. @harmonichebe, 2016
"i hear you, brooklyndot!!! i could listen to moso's music all day and all night!! function at the junction was one of the 5, and number 1, when i got to be the guest programmer one late night on KRTH in los angeles. still in brooklyn? i'm in north  maimi beach, and there is no oldeies station here, so i pedal on the bike to sirius, but even they play "you've lost that lovin feelin' every other day, just as aretha's 'respect' gets played every day there now! imagine a song list of 100 when ther are 10,000 songs woth playing!! be blessed

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Reply
10. @Dream-ex3nx, 2019
"BROOKLYNDOT DAVIS, i grew up durning these times. Yes, i remember doing the popcorn."

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Reply
11. @Dream-ex3nx, 2019
"Donald Robinson, yes james brown mother popcorn wasn't it a time to remember.

Dream"

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12. @TheAteeyah
"Yeah baby!!! My mommy,aunties,and uncles jam.They would tear the floor up to this.This is so funky."

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13. @CC-ti3ry
"Dang I miss old Motown....what fantastic music came from Hitsville, USA-- music sucks today."

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Reply
14. @bvwhite1858
"Yep! That was The Funk Brothers!!! They are the music behind Motown."

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2015

15.@sugarcrisp53
"Wow someone's been really busy, These are priceless, and the vintage photos alone are a welcome treat. I grew up on Motown and still at 60+ I still turn back to it often. Well done on the extended versions!"

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Reply
16. @mosogotam
"Pamela...thanks so much!!!"

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17. @louiecolon9494
"This was me when I was young. always looking for the Function at the Junction."

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18. @CheckMate657879
"Thanks for the memories.  To remember when these songs were played on the radio, at parties, and in our homes.  To remember when 45's were a great, big deal.  To remember everyone breaking to the dance floor to dance to this song.  To remember a time when we lived for the next record to be released from Motown.  How good the music sounded when it hit the air waves.   How good the music made us feel.  Everything was alright.  Uptight! (Stevie's meaning, of course.)"

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19. @ethelstevenslove2957
"Motown was 'HOT' back in the day.....That record company, the singers, producers, musicians, songwriters, arrangers, composers, kept the hits coming back in the day......."

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20. @bigeman25
"One of the most soulful songs ever , don't know how you did it but you made it better.

Shorty Long would have liked this!"

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21. @Nitetrainism
"This was one of my favorite Skating Songs."

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Reply
22. @sanidarryl7052, 2022
"Check, at this roller rink " The Heights located in Huber Heights ohio the old heads with those old Chicago Ball bearing skates use to skate a hole in the floor on this jam. Friday night  12am till 6am hard core roller skating nobody standing in one spot."

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23. @Honeycone28
"I love this song then and I love it now oh my goodness it is definitely one of those old school feet tapping finger snapping songs!"

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24. @MrManleyman3
"I was in a mood to reminiscence after speaking to my older sister (cousin) who I grew up with.  She now lives in Delaware since she retired 5 years ago.  I remember a party she had in my aunt's basement / rec-room - Jamaica Queens,  1965 I was 13 Y.O. that was the first time I heard Function at the Junction and learned a dance called "the goose and the Gander".

My big sister really knew how to dance: all the dances from the 60's 70's and 80's and she could Mambo (Latin we used to call it). just as good as the Latinos from the old neighborhood.  Funny how a song and a phone call can trigger a memory.  She also introduced me to my second wife in 1997 who I'm still married too.

Love you Sarah Jane"

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2016

25. @a.b.s_productions
"Lord, I remember sneaking to listen to my dad's 45 to this song. I was about 11 and I was like this is perhaps the greatest music ever made. So sad that Shorty Long died so young."

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26. @yolandarice1994
"awww sheeeiiit!!!! philly dog was the dance when this came out!!!! l.a. was rocking!!!! this is still the cut !!!! let's jam my people!!!! GREAT times.  :-)"

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Reply
27. @justme374
"I remember the Phiilly dog, after school dances, at empire junior high"

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2017

28. @rollerchickable
"I LOVE THIS SONG IT IS MY SKATING JAM RIP SHORTY LONG ,YOU ARE GONE BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU FOR SHARING, AND I LIKE YOUR EXTENDED VERSION. NOW THIS IS A BLAST FROM THE PAST FOR SURE."

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Reply
29. @sanidarryl7052, 2022
"This is an old school skate  jam hard core roller skating no standing in the way."

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Reply
30. @jeanetteivy5229, 2022
"Skating rink memories. Pimped out skates with tongue out covered in fur, sometimes metallic flakes. California !"

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31. @justme374
"Do remember the philly dog, i would jam to this in high school"

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Reply
32. @saundragordon-grant6088
"There were a lot of dances that went with this song.  I'm sure that I saw it somewhere.  I just loved good music!"

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33. @robertvelez8485
"The perfect July 4th song. Having a barbecue or cookout filled with spare ribs, corn on the cob, chicken wings, French fries, hot dogs and hamburgers! Now, I'm hungry!"

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34. @carrollbaxter2504
"back in the day when that song came on everybody got up and danced but mainly to sing this song I'm 66 and still moving to this song lo LL. this song is timeless"

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35. @blastoff2022
"This is SUCH a great song.  I gotta tell you- in the 60's we had a LOT of social problems----but DAMN~I remember going to high school in Brooklyn....and Sat. night was teen night.  We danced to this and other Motown classics....mixed crowd and we danced and danced and danced...and had such a good time."

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36. @stevenquinn4641
"Detroit was everything The sound unique Strong dynamic sexy funky music Way over the top The way it's supposed to be This strong music made troubles seem less than what they were Thanks for this song This music brings everything back What a time to be young The party never seemed to stop Another time The world is so different now"

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37. @marcuswilliams4188
"We used to skate of of that back in the "D" (Detroit).  Shorty was from the "D""

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Reply
38. @hassanabdullah5023, 2022
"Word graystone ballroom back in the day"

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Reply
39. @RolandSpikes-xe4uw, 2024
"Detroit at its best and still known all over the globe love my city 💗💗💗 bleed Detroit baddest band ..on the planet Roland spikes AKA Rashad Jamal Ali 😎"

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40. @CC-ti3ry
"Another incredible fantastic song...why oh why can't ANYONE write music THIS GOOD today????!!!!"

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Reply
41. @carolynntubman1461, 2018
"C C I hear ya"

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Reply
42. @patrickdullea6991, 2019
"@carolynntubman1461  : it was the golden age of raw talent and musicianship. The "beat box" killed it all. So now all we have is hipHop canned garbage.

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2018

43. @jerryj920
"May 20th: Happy birthday Soul-Funk Singer-songwriter Frederick Earl "Shorty" Long (1940-1969) Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Thank you and God bless. RIP. Thanks for the upload, mosogotam. Blessings"

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44. @shelleyponce7712
"When I say get ready because there is an up coming  "Function at the Junction", my family (now on its 3rd generation) knows it's going down!"

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45. @bobreda676
"oh, if I had only kept my 45 collection!  He died at age 29 but what a talent"

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46. @edwardwilliams2438
"Real lyrics....funky beat......good times had by all.  Block parties,cold Dr.Pepper,Banlon shirts,Belle Isle,bar-b-que...lots of dancing,...young and old..The Funk Bros...are jamming!!!!"

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47. @robertgoodman1867
"Where's my time machine?"

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2019

48. @narviawilliams2340
"💐❤💐I REMEMBER SHORTY LONG,  AND THIS SONG "FUNCTION AT THE JUNCTION"❤💐❤AND I REMEMBER "HERE COMES THE JUDGE"💐💐💐"

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49. @ganymeade5151
"Perfect song for doing The Stroll. The Bridge is fantastic is as the bad-ass piano."

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50. @Sepulchre_Gate
"This is one of those classics that somehow escaped the play list of the White Boy Radio station i used to listen to as a kid . Glad it finally caught up to me ."

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51. @paulturnet4572
"HOLD A SHOTGUN ON THE ROOSTER 🐓 AND DARE HIM TO CROW"... IN OTHER WORDS, ANY

ONE OR THING THAT THREATENS TO STOP THIS PARTY 🎉 IS FLIRTING WITH DANGER !! 😉"

**

52. @Judeaben
"such a great talent.

In the Alabama jazz Hall of Fame.

Gone much too fast. Didn' even make it to the '70s"

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2020

53. @alanspagnolia9474
"Ok, whom else remembers this song from the 1960's ??!!"

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54. @lindabrown2090
"Look at the Funk Brothers, they were the sound of Motown.🎹🎸🎺🎷🥁🎻🎹"

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55. @oldschoolmusic2710
"Ah sookie,sookie now! Here come da judge function at the junction"

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56. @fadetoblackalone
"Remember the TEXAS HOP my mom taught it to me.  It really works with this song!"

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57. @justme374
"Do remember the philly dog, i would jam to this in high school"

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Reply
58. @saundragordon-grant6088
"There were a lot of dances that went with this song.  I'm sure that I saw it somewhere.  I just loved good music!"

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59. @foxysil52
"Lol! I grew up to Shorty Long..love pur music. We're  the Baby boomers of the good ol' days.."

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60. @lindabrown2090
"This was one of our favorite dance song. We use to get down dancing at House Parties. This song brings back so many memories of the 60’s early 70’s. That’s when it was real music. “ Function At The Junction” it was a hit."

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Reply
61. @Muziekgenot, 2024
"That's right. I grew up during the sixties in a small provincial town. There was little to do. So we were dependant on houseparties. On thursday we started to ask ''is there a  houseparty anywere', and we got tips from our frieds. So more thans once I found myself at some house party in district I was was never before and in de house of someone I dit know at all. But all that didn't matter. Is was the sixties and it was de best music ever made."

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62. @richardclippardjr3472
"My mom & dad used to play this song at birthday partys you know the ones where you had to go to BED the good old days "

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63. @roderickjones1283
"James Jamerson killed it at the end with that bass!!! BEST PLAYER EVER!"

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64. @ronlawray1563
"As good as it STILL sounds, most people won't believe this came out between 1965 and 1968...

Motown's house band, The Funk Brothers, the best....."

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Reply
65. @fed3rd
"@harmonichebe  BEST dance song EVER written!!!!!  (Skate on)"

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66. @eddyg2745
"Garfield Junior High School, Berkeley, CA 1965!  This song was a standard at all of our dances in the gym.  We also loved to dance to "Cool Jerk" by the Capitols (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27PydomerjM) , on both songs the players were Motown's Funk Brothers with James Jamerson laying down the bass line."

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2021

67. @olliesdollies7832
"Man, this was my JAMMM!  Love that ole school rap sung, to music!"

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68. @gilloera8912
"I had a record player, looked like a suitcase, it opened up

And the speakers were on the side.  My mom kept tellin me "Keep it down, the neighbors!" "

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69. @Sweetpjoe
"This song reminds me of my roller skating days from the late 60’s and early 70’s. When they dropped the needle on this jam the place went wild."

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Reply
70. @sanidarryl7052, 2022
"Yes,at this roller rink in Ohio " The Heights " every friday from 12am to 6am old heads use to kill this on on everybody skate."

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71. @sabrinabryant3597
"Was just minding my own business and this song hit me in my spirit like so. When this plague (COVID-19) has passed, somebody somewhere BETTER play this here 🙏💜🕺💃🌌"

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72. @bettyharrison6852
"When music was worth listening to and you could not sit down on these kind of jams the floor would be rockin'"

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73. @phillycheez6288
"Too bad these photos are not in the Motown Museum!😔😒"

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74. @laudellgatlin-bey2758
"The bop was the dance back in the day."

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75. @darrylslaughter649
"Here that  real bass,at this rink " Huber Heights " Chuck Jackson would play this and if you wanted to see some old heads  show out on a pair of roller skates those old chicago  ball bearing skates killing it hard core roller skating no standing on the floor in the way"

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76. @reggiekendrick6580
"Wow! That powerful guitar bass line is the hook to this wonderful song. It sets groove is for all other instruments and vocals to complete this masterpiece. The Motown Sound!!!"

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2022

77. @jeanetteivy5229
"Memories of teen house parties. Colored lights. Red, blue and green in Los Angeles. Dance called the Philly dog!"

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78. @jamesprevard6555
"If u were in HS. at the time u were getting it down after school on this joint...esp.friday night socials!"

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79. @sanidarryl7052
"Yes  big shout out to all the old head Roller Skaters use to kill  it every  1972-1973friday 12am till 6am at " The Height's striding like crazy hard core roller skating no standing in one spot"

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80. @janaepittman5589
"I, still skate ⛸ to this tune in 2022"

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81. @paulgreen6921
"Yeah, back in the day everyone would stop whatever they were doing to do the “duck” as hard as was humanly possible. You know what I’m sayin’?     PWG"

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82. @colbertprince525
"This jam was # 1 back in the day on Woodward Ave, the Famous  Arcadia a.k.a. the Cade if you weren't  a good skater you would get off the floor when < function> short term for Function at the junction came on! It got kind of wild because they would announce  Open House, and that means  to skate at your  own RISK! and that got really  dangerous most of the times!✌"

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83. @allisonyoung4285
"This was the song and when he said function that is what it was. Dance function!💃😎"

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84. @mitchparel18
"One of my favorite Motown songs.im talking all time.it helps me to function.🍷😌😋 Let's give the Drummer some."

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2023

85. @cynthiar.5199
"This is a roller skater's NATIONAL ANTHEM!!"

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86. @annfelder3576
"This was my favorite song back then.  I was always singing and dancing whenever I heard it or played on my record player.  Thanks for the wonderful memories!"

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87. @annfelder3576
"This was my favorite song back then.  I was always singing and dancing whenever I heard it or played on my record player.  Thanks for the wonderful memories!"

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2024

88. @adriennerobinson1180
"I absolutely loved Shorty Long and this Classic,Wonderful Song,And here comes The Judge .The BEST! Miss those years and Shorty.❤❤❤❤❤SIP"

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89. @SweetpapaAbram
"Young people’s of today don’t have a clue of the things and music of yester year!!"

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90. @isaiahthompson2065
"THIS IS ANOTHER MOTOWN CLASSIC !  HE DID THAT !"

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91. @christinewilliams938
"Reminds me of roller skating at Fairview Gardens this was the Jam."

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2025

92.@mathmusic1490
"Such a catchy and happy soul song.   Thank you Shorty: Excellent!!   But.............which junction???  (Ha ha!)"

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93.@rogerradcliffe7367
"Shorty Long lived across the street from us growing up in Detroit…he’d walk his toy poodle around the block acknowledging us kids with a smile and a wave. Gone way too soon…"

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94.@oliviag9888
"Yes, I love this song. My sister and I would dance a hole in the rug 😂"

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95.@darrylslaughter649
"This cut and " Shotgun " by Jr. Walker    is some that early raw FUNK"

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96.@JoyceEllis-zw3fu
"This is still played at house parties. It gets everybody on the dance floor.  Does anyone remember :he Duck: by Jackie Lee"

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97. @lorrainebowens1446
"We used to the functon at the junction at the juke box in the sixties thank for this song❤❤❤"

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98. @sandradavis4551
"1960s, The Rollercade, Toledo Ohio. The place everyone went for roller skating. EVERYBODY was on the floor when this song was played."

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2026

99. @sharonarriola2070
"I LOVE this song and Shorty Long. It's a classic and sounds as great today as it did way back when. It never gets old! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!"

**
100.@AlfredCleveland-c7d
"One of the Funniest tracks  to ever come out of Motown  Shorty and the Funk Brothers How could you not get a hit with the funkiest men in Detroit. My late Father Al Cleveland was a writer producer for Motown Records he cowrote Marvin Gaye what's going on and Smokey Baby Baby don't Cry ,I Second that Emotion among others so I spent a lot of time when I was a kid in the studio grooving. Love and Respect. Daryl Cleveland"

**
101. @raystrong2823
""Function At The Junction"!!  Man memories. I was in 4th grade when this hit!  St. Louis, MO was lit (for a 4th grader watching older folks get down at backyard bbq's and music. Watching daddy & ma dancing with friends and aunts & uncles.  Yea...great times back in the day!"

**
102. @fredlawson9394
"No school like the old school R&B..🎹🎷🎺🪘🎶🎵🎼"

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Three YouTube Examples Of Stevie Wonder Performing His Song "Higher Ground" In 1974, 1995, & 2026

Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (1974)

Musikladen, Oct 20, 2020  BREMEN

...Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. A prominent figure in popular music during the second half of the 20th century, Wonder is one of the most successful songwriters and musicians. A virtual one-man band, his use of synthesizers and further electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive the genre into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive, consistent socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Wonder is often hailed as a "genius", and has been credited as a pioneer and influence to musicians of various genres including rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk and jazz.

Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy known as Little Stevie Wonder, leading him to sign with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11. In 1963, the single "Fingertips" was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when Wonder was 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s. His "classic period" began in 1972 with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featuring "Superstition", which is one of the most distinctive and famous examples of the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard. His works Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for the most Album of the Year wins, with three. He is also the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1_uU9eIZRo

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube videos of Rhythm & Blues superstar Stevie Wonder performing his song "Higher Ground". That song was first released in 1973.

This post also includes the lyrics for that song.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
 
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LYRICS- HIGHER GROUND

[Verse 1]

People, keep on learning

Soldiers, keep on warring

World, keep on turning

'Cause it won't be too long

 

[Verse 2]

Powers keep on lying

While your people keep on dying

World keep on turning

'Cause it won't be too long

 

[Chorus]

I'm so darn glad He let me try it again

'Cause my last time on Earth, I lived a whole world of sin

I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then

Going to keep on trying

'Til I reach my highest ground

 

[Verse 3]

Teachers, keep on teaching

Preachers, keep on preaching

World, keep on turning

'Cause it won't be too long

Oh no

 

[Verse 4]

Lovers, keep on loving

Believers, keep on believing

Sleepers, just stop sleeping

'Cause it won't be too long

Oh no

 

[Chorus]
I'm so glad that He let me try it again

'Cause my last time on Earth, I lived a whole world of sin

I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then

Going to keep on trying

'Til I reach my highest ground

Woo

[Outro]

'Til I reach my highest ground

No one's gonna bring me down

Oh no

'Til I reach my highest ground

Don't you let nobody bring you down (They'll sho' 'nuff try)

God is gonna show you highest ground

He's the only friend you'll have around

'Cause the rest of the world will bring you down

https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-higher-ground-lyrics

This song was first released in 1973.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT STEVIE WONDER'S SONG "HIGHER GROUND"
by MichaelBrian and MCSMeister, 2017
From https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-higher-ground-lyrics
"Despite some misconceptions, “Higher Ground” was released before Stevie Wonder’s near-fatal car accident. However, one could be forgiven for this mistake: in the song, Wonder speaks of his gratitude for being given another shot at life.

Though raised a Christian, Wonder has spoken of the benefits of other religious practices as well (i.e. transcendental meditation). Here his message is reminiscent of the Buddhist concepts of the Samsara (the endless cycle of errors around him), Karma (his desire to improve the world), and an eventual Nirvana (the highest of spiritual grounds).'

****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLE  #2 - Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (Live in London, 1995)

arXter, Dec 30, 2008

Stevie gives a rare studio concert at London's Teddington Studios following the release of his 'Conversation Peace' album. A sensual ride for an intimate audience of less than 200 fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws86GIm_jS0

****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLE #3 - WATCH: Stevie Wonder sings 'Higher Ground' with Jennifer Hudson, Common, John Legend 

ABC 7 Chicago, Jun 18, 2026

Jennifer Hudson, Bruce Springsteen, Common, John Legend, Eddie Vedder joined Steve Wonder for a special rendition of 'Higher Ground' at the grand opening show for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois (June 18, 2026). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DaQyvBRqL8

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

"Sophisticated Lady" Foot Stomping Cheers (examples and their R&B, Blues, & Other Influences)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- April 24, 2026

This pancocojams post presents examples of the foot stomping cheer "Sophisticated Lady".

Addendum #1 of this post presents a YouTube video example of Natalie Cole's 1976 R&B song "Sophisticated Lady" and an excerpt of the lyrics for that song.

 Addendum #2 of this post focuses on the inclusion of "number verses" in some Sophisticated Lady" foot stomping cheers and traces the inspiration for those verses to the 1934 Blues song "Kokomo Blues" and the 1936 Blues song "Sweet Home Chicago".

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the creativity of all of those who are mentioned and/or quoted in this post. Thanks to the contributors of examples of these foot stomping cheers. Thanks also to the publishers of these YouTube video or audio files.

****
EXAMPLES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS' "SOPHISTICATED LADY" FOOT STOMPING CHEERS

SOPHISTICATED LADY (Version #1)
All -Sophisticated lady,
who rocks?
Sophisticated lady,
who rocks?

[...]
-collected by Tazi Powell, 1980s from girls at Lillian Taylor camp, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
-snip- 
Sometime in the early 1990s* my daughter Tazi shared the beginning words and verses (soloists' lines) to a cheer called "Sophisticated Lady" that she vaguely recalled hearing other Black girls chant in the mid or late 1980s. She said that the girls might have said the word "suffocated" instead of the word "sophisticated". My daughter also vaguely remembers the girls saying something about "I got hips on me" and "you better not kiss my man" but doesn't remember how the cheer went. 

These girls attended the summer camp that my daughter also attended in 1985 or 1986. Black children from various Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods attended that camp. My daughter said that she and her friends (in the Pittsburgh neighborhood where we live/d) never "did" this cheer. Unfortunately, I don't have any information about the rest of that cheer and how this cheer was performed. 

*The early 1990s was when I began to formally write down the cheers that my daughter and her friends chanted as well as the cheers my daughter or I observed or audiotaped or otherwise collected.

This is the only part of this cheer that my daughter remembers. Following the usual pattern for foot stomping cheers, one girl probably gave her name or nickname and chanted other lines.

****
SUFFOCATED LADY (Version #2 of "Sophisticated Lady")
Suffocated lady, Suffocated la-dy(this is said twice), then the first girl would sing
I'm a bad bad girl from a bad bad town, it take a thousand n%$%@ just to hold me down, if you don't like my apples don't you pick em (not them) off my tree cause I'm after you're lover and he's after me. (this is repeated until every girl in the circle gets her turn)

-cbwells26; (African American female, FT. Worth, TX , Tarrant), http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=4123&page=4, remember when”, 01-02-2001
-snip-
"Suffocated" is a folk processed for of "sophisticated"

This example has "the n word" given as an n and randomly typed symbols.

This example is an adaptation of the floating verse "If you don't like my apples [or "peaches"} don't shake my tree" that is found in a number of Blues songs.

Versions of the lines "I'm a bad bad girl from a bad bad town, it take a thousand n%$%@ just to hold me down" lines that precede that "If you don't like my apples" verse are found a number of Black children's recreational rhymes and chants (and in different genres of Black secular music). Here's an excerpt of a children's rhyme that I included in
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/06/childrens-examples-of-ah-beep-beep.html "Children's example of rhymes that include the phrase "a beep beep":
"I''m sweet, I'm kind.

I'm soul sister number nine.

Don't like my apples,

Don't shake my tree.

I'm a Castle Square Black.

Don't miss with me."

-John Langstaff and Carol Langstaff, editors: Shimmy Shimmy Coke -Ca-Pop!: A Collection Of City Children's Street Games And Rhymes (New York, Doubleday & Company, 1973, p. 57)

For more information and examples about "if you don't like my apples" songs and rhymes, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/05/partial-chronology-of-songs-with-lyrics.html for the 2024 pancocojams post entitled "Partial Chronology Of Songs With The Lyrics "If You Don't Like My Peaches, Don't Shake My Tree" (Or Similar Lyrics) & The Meanings Of Those Lyrics".

****
SOPHISTICATED LADY (Version #3)
Sophisticated Lady
Sophisticated Lady, that me
Sophisticated Mama, that's you
Well, my name is _________ and I'm foxy fine
If you tip me over I will blow your mind

and that's all I remember from that one
- IHEARTWRITING, http://nothingliketheninetys.blogspot.com/2008/08/etet.html, August 3, 2008 “I Heart The 90s”
-snip-
I reformatted this example to add a space between the last line of this "cheer" and the contributor's comment.
 
This example was categorized as a hand game, but the "Well my name is" line suggests that it's actually a foot stomping cheer.

Some cheers were later performed as hand clap games (i.e. "Hollywood Swinging" and "Gigalo" to name two examples). Therefore it's possible that this version of "Sophisticated Lady" started out as a foot stomping cheer but eventually was performed as a hand clap game.

****
SOPHISTICATED LADY (Version #4)
All- Sophisticated lady

Oh, that's me.
Sophisticated lady

Oh, that's me. 

Sophisticated lady,
2 4 6 3
Soloist #1 (woman in video) -Well, my name is Essie 
And I'm five foot tall
[It appears that some words that were chanted here weren't said in this video.]
If you see my man
You betta not give him a call
I got hips to party 
And I love my man  (Crosses her arms over her chest in the American Sign Language sign for Love and the Wakanda Forever gesture) 
If ya try to hurt him
[This part is faster]
I would tip ya for your body [These words are recited while the woman leans forward in an aggressive stance and hits her hands on top of each other in imitation of hitting someone else. Her daughter (?) also imitates these motions. 
???
and don't forget I'll break your hiney ["Hiney" means =butt.]  
Heeey.

All -Sophisticated lady
Oh, that's me.
Sophisticated lady
Oh, that's me.
2 4 6 3
Soloist #2 [young girl in video] -Well, my name is KK
And I'm four feet tall
If you see my man
Don't you give him a call
I got hips to party (She swivels her hips while chanting this.)
And I love my man (Crosses her arms over her chest in the American Sign Language sign for Love and the Wakanda Forever gesture) 
If you try to hurt him 
[This part is chanted faster]
I would tip ya for your body
???
and don't forget I'll break your hiney [These words are recited while the girl leans forward in an aggressive stance and hits her hands on top of each other in imitation of hitting someone else. Her mother (?) also does these motions at the same time as her daughter.]  
Heeey
-Alexander approved, May 28, 2018; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdY3ekZxkOw&ab_channel=AlexanderApproved  

-snip-
This is my transcription of a YouTube video of  a cheer that a Black woman and a young girl (her daughter (?) chanted. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The woman and girl clap their hand and move back and forth while chanting. They also do a lot of imitative movements to match the words that they chant.

**
The original Black Panther movie was first released in the United States on February 16, 2018. Five months later this commenter included the iconic "Wakanda forever" words and gesture from that highly successful movie in this version of the Sophisticated Lady" foot stomping cheer. 

****

ADDENDUM #1- THE MAIN SOURCE FOR "SOPHISTICATED LADY" FOOT STOMPING CHEERS

Natalie Cole's 1976 song "Sophisticated Lady" is undoubtedly the source of the "Sophisticated Lady" foot stomping cheers.

Here's a 1990 video of Natalie Cole performing "Sophisticated Lady"

Natalie Cole | Sophisticated Lady | Live 1990

Black Music Archive LIVE!, Jan 31, 2022

****
Here's an excerpt of the lyrics for that songthat was written by Chuck Jackson
from https://genius.com/Natalie-cole-sophisticated-lady-shes-a-different-lady-lyrics

[Chorus]

(Sophisticated lady)

Sophisticated lady, yeah

(Sophisticated lady)

Oh

(Sophisticated lady)

That's her name

That's her name

(Sophisticated lady)

Whoa, whoa

Everybody knows how she got her name

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Whoa oh, oh, oh, oh" ...

****
ADDENDUM #2-  INSPIRATION FOR "ONE AND ONE MAKES TWO" AND SIMILAR WORDING IN SOME "SOPHISTICATED" (AND CERTAIN OTHER)  FOOT STOMPING CHEERS

The 1934 African American Blues "Kokomo Blues" is inspiration for these words and the words "One and one and one make three/you better watch your man/cause your man is watching me"  (or similar words) 

Here's a YouTube sound file of Kokomo Arnold singing that Blues song:

Old Original Kokomo Blues - Kokomo Arnold

CharlesDavidPollock, Feb 13, 2012

****
Click https://genius.com/Kokomo-arnold-old-original-kokomo-blues-lyrics for the lyrics for that song. Here's the first verse of that song

"One and one is two, mama

Two and two is four

You mess around here, pretty mama

You know you got to go

Cryin', oooh, baby don't you want to go

Back to the Eleven Light City

To sweet old Kokomo"...
-snip-
"Kokomo Blues" is the precursor for Robert Johnson's 1936 Blues song "Sweet Home Chicago". 
That seminal Blues song includes two number verses:

[Verse 3]

Now one and one is two, two and two is four

I'm heavy loaded baby, I'm booked, I gotta go

Cryin', baby, honey, don't you want to go

Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago

[Verse 4]

Now two and two is four, four and two is six

You goin' keep on monkeyin' 'round here friend-boy

You goin' get your business all in a trick"...

Click https://genius.com/Robert-johnson-sweet-home-chicago-lyrics for the complete lyrics for that song.

****
Historically Black Greek letter organizations changed "Kokomo Blues" and "Sweet Home Chicago" "number" lyrics to similar words such as "one and one and one make three/ you better watch your lover cause your lover's watching me". 

I've come across these lines or similar to lines in various historically Black Greek letter sororities, historically Black Greek letter fraternities, or little sister groups* chants such as those entitled "One And One And One Make Three" . Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-historically-black_53.html for a list of historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities chants that include those "number" examples and similar "number" examples.

Here's an example of a "One And One And One Makes Three" chant:

 

One and one and one makes three.
You better watch your man
cause your man is watchin me.

So if you came her with your man
you better hold him tight.
Cause you damn sure better believe
He’ll be leaving here with a Q Pearl tonight.
-a member of Q Pearl, 1990s {East Coast, USA}; posted by Azizi, 12/05;
also featured in Meharry College step show video, (with the name "AKA" substituted for "Q Pearl) late 1990s; transcribed and posted by Azizi, 12/2005.
-snip-
The source of the phrase "one and one and one makes three" is the song "Kokomo Blues". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/kokomo-blues-as-source-of-beatles-lyric.html for a pancocojams post about this song, the fraternity and sorority examples, and its use in a Beatles song.
-snip-

*Little sister groups" is an informal reference for college/university groups of women who were/are? unofficially (and some would say "illegally") affiliated with one of the five historically Black Greek letter fraternities that are members of the National Pan Hellenic Council (also known as "The Divine Nine").

****
DO YOU REMEMBER THE "SOPHISTICATED LADY" [or "SUFFOCATED LADY"] CHEER? 
 If so, for the folkloric record, please add the words to and information about the version of this cheer in the comment section below. Thanks!

****
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Visitor comments are welcome. 

The Gap Band - "Early In The Morning" (1982 R&B Hit Song Video, Information, & Lyrics)

The Gap Band, Feb 19, 2013

Official Music Video for Early In The Morning performed by The Gap Band. **** Edited by Azizi Powell, Pancocojams founder and editor This pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of the 1982 hit song "Early In The Morning" by the R&B, Funk music group The Gap Band. Information about The Gap Band and lyrics for their song "Early In The Morning" at song are also included in this pancocojams post. The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to The Gap Band for the musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/early-in-morning-soul-line-dances.html for the closely related pancococjams post "Early in the Morning" Soul Line Dances (videos, information, & comments).
**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAP BAND From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gap_Band "Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and Pine)[1][2] in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3]
[...]

The band reached a whole new level of fame in 1980 with the release of the number 1 R&B and number 16 Billboard 200 hit, The Gap Band III. That album had soul ballads such as the number 5 R&B song "Yearning for Your Love", and funk songs such as the R&B chart-topper "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and "Humpin'".[10] They repeated this formula on the number 1 R&B album Gap Band IV in 1982 (the first album released on Simmons' newly launched Total Experience Records), which resulted in three hit singles: "Early in the Morning" (number 1 R&B, number 13 Dance, number 24 Hot 100), "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (number 2 R&B, number 31 Hot 100, number 39 Dance), and "Outstanding" (number 1 R&B, number 24 Dance). It was during this time that former Brides of Funkenstein singer Dawn Silva joined them on tour. [...] Background information

Origin  Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

Genres Funk, boogie, R&B, soul

Years active     1967–2010"...

**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAP BAND'S 1982 HIT SONG "EARLY IN THE MORNING" From https://genius.com/The-gap-band-early-in-the-morning-lyrics " “Early In The Morning” is a 1982 hit song by The Gap Band. It topped the R&B chart for 3 weeks and is their highest-charting pop crossover hit, peaking at #24 that summer.

It was later covered by Robert Palmer in 1988 for his album Heavy Nova. Palmer released it as a single and it went even higher on the pop chart than the original – all the way to #19."
**** LYRICS = EARLY IN THE MORNING (The Gap Band)

[Intro]

Okay

[Verse 1]

Oh, I never knew I loved you 'til you left me

Oh, I never knew I cared 'til you were gone

I was young and foolish, I didn't know what I was doin'

I didn't know I'd lost you 'til you're gone

Oh, I never knew I loved you 'til you were gone

[Chorus]

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early (Early) in the morning

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

Gotta get up early in the morning (Gotta get up early in the morning)

To find me another lover

[Verse 2]

Now I gotta get up early every morning

'Cause the early bird always catches the worm

Now I gotta get up every morning

Gotta make up for the lesson I learned

Gotta find me a lover that won't run for cover

Gotta find me a lover that won't run to mother

[Chorus]

'Cause I gotta get up early in the morning

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

[Bridge]

I was young and foolish, I didn't know what I was doin'

I didn't know what I'd lost 'til you were gone

She had a pretty face that drove men wild

I even wanted her to have my child

[Chorus]

Early in the morning (Early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early, early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Early, early in the morning)

To find me another lover

So I gotta get up early in the morning (Get up early in the morning)

To find me another lover

[Instrumental Break]

[Outro]

Early in the morning

In the middle of the day, baby

Late at night, mama

Everything's gonna be alright

Early in the morning

In the middle of the day, baby

Late at night, baby

Everything will be alright

Early in the morning, hee

In the middle of the day, baby

Late at night, baby

Everything will be alright

Early in the morning, baby

In the middle of the day, baby

Late at night, mama

Everything will be alright, yeah

Early in the morning, baby

In the middle of the day, baby

Late at night, mama

Everything will be alright" Source - https://genius.com/The-gap-band-early-in-the-morning-lyrics

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.

Part II- Timeline For Sources Of The Tune And Some Lyrics For "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie", "ABC It's Easy As 1, 2, 3" & Similarly Titled Children's Rhymes

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about sources for the children's recreational rhymes  Rhymes "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie", "ABC It's Easy As Do Re Me", "Winston Tastes Good", & similarly titled rhymes.

This pancocojams post presents information about a short story that was written in 1938 by Richard Wright, and YouTube examples Of three music sources and a cigarette ad

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/part-i-short-story-excerpt-and-youtube.html for Part I of this three part pancocojams series. That post presents a timeline with additional information about the literary source, music sources, and the cigarette ad source for the "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie", "ABC It's Easy As 1, 2, 3", & similarly titled rhymes.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/part-iii-examples-of-ooh-ah-i-wanna.html for Part III of this three part pancocojams series. That post presents some examples of fhe children's recreational rhymes "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie", "ABC It's Easy As Do Re Me", "Winston Tastes Good", & similarly titled rhymes from the late 1960s to 2015. 

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights belong with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are showcased in this pancocojams post and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
SOURCE TIMELINE FOR "OOH AH! I WANNA PIECE OF PIE", "ABC. iT'S EASY AS 1,2,3", "WINSTON TASTES GOOD"  AND SIMILARLY TITLED CHILDREN'S RECREATIONAL RHYMES 

1938- Richard Wright "Big Boy Leaves Home" short story in his book "Uncle Tom's Children"

AI Overview
"Richard Wright's short story "Big Boy Leaves Home" is about a young Black boy whose youthful trip to a white-owned swimming hole results in a violent confrontation with the owner, the death of two friends, and his subsequent flight from a white mob. The story, which appears in the collection Uncle Tom's Children, is a powerful exploration of racial prejudice, violence, and survival in the Jim Crow South....

His protagonists, like “Big Boy,” struggle against overt racism and racist violence in their communities, ultimately facing crises".
-snip-
Here's the rhyme example from that short story: 
"Bye n bye
Ah wanna piece of pie
Pies too sweet
Ah wanna piece of meat
Meats too red
Ah wanna piece of bread
Breads too brown
Ah wanna go to town
Towns too far
Ah wanna ketch a car
Cars too fas
Ah fall n break mah ass
Ah'll understan it better bye n bye"
-snip-
This rhyme is composed of what I refer to as "trading verses". "Trading verses" is my term for verses in songs (such as "Hush Little Baby") and rhymes (such as "Ooh Ah! I Want A Piece Of Pie') when an item in a verse is found to be defective and is substituted for another item. However, that substituted item is also found to be defective and is also traded for another item. This pattern continues throughout the song or rhyme

****
1940-:"Jazz song "Eep, Ipe, Wanna Piece Of Pie" (Composed) By Jerry Blaine and Artie Dann (some sources add: Nick Catamas) and recorded by Jazz pianist and vocalist Fats Waller 

transcription by Jim Dixon, 21 March 2009 from https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=119521#2594206

EEP, IPE, WANNA PIECE OF PIE

Eep*, ipe*, wanna piece of pie.
Eep*, ipe*, wanna bowl of soup.
Eep*, ipe*, let your tongue turn.
Eep*, ipe*, easy to learn.
Eep*, ipe*, clock is on the wall.
Eep*, ipe*, sounds like doubletalk.
Eep*, ipe*, ippy ippy way.
Eep*, wop*, wop*, wop*, you do it all day."...
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fats_Waller for information about African American Jazz organist/pianist, composer, and vocalist Thomas Wright Fats Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943)  

 
****
1954/1955- Winston Cigarette Ad [date of first publication of "Winston Tastes Good" ad]

AI Overview
"The "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" slogan first appeared in print ads in September 1954. The first television ads and sponsorships for the slogan, which included the first Winston television ads, began in 1955.

Print: The first print ad for Winston cigarettes, using the slogan (with the addition of "real"), appeared in The Pittsburgh Press in September 1954. The phrase was then adapted to the now-famous wording for subsequent ads in magazines and other outlets.

Television: Television ads, along with sponsorships, began in 1955, when Winston became the sponsor for news and variety shows."
-snip-
Children's recreational rhymes that begin with this cigarette jingle use the same tune as the "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie" rhymes, the "ABC, It's Easy As 1,2,3" rhymes, and similarly titled children's rhymes that include the Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie trading verses.*. However, those examples are usually titled "Winston Tastes Good" or a similar title. I've also come across some rhyme in this sub-set that substitute the candy bar "Snickers" for the [brand name] Winston cigarettes i.e. "Snickers tastes good/like a candy bar should."  Based on my online searches, it appears that the "Winston Tastes Good" (or "Snickers Tastes Good" is a small sub-set of these "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie" rhymes. Examples of these rhymes are found in Part III of this pancocojams series.
-snip-
An example of the Winston Tastes Good" ad is given in Part I of this pancocojams series.  

****
1967- King Coleman- "The Boo Boo Song"
Here's my transcription of part of that song [beginning at 1:57 of the YouTube video that is showcased in Part I of this pancocojams series.]

[additional lyrics for that song at 1:57 [transcribed by Azizi Powell from that recording]

Eee eye I wanna a piece of pie

[female singers echo each line]

Pie too sweet, I wanna a piece of meat
The meat too tough I wanna ride a bus
The bus too full I wanna ride a bull
The bull won’t play, he had this to say
He said “ooh ahh ahh ooh aah ahh ooh aah ahh ooh ooh ooh
Come on baby, come on baby, show your daddy what you can do"...
-snip-
Thanks to GUEST, Fine Wine (2012) for referring to this video in the Mudcat thread Lyr Req: Oh my, I want a piece of pie http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26926
-snip-
Lines 1-4 of this song (or very similar versions of those lines) are almost always used in children's recreational rhyme versions of "Ooh Ah! I Wanna Piece Of Pie", "ABC It's Easy As 1, 2, 3", and similarly titles rhymes. However, the line that is usually given after "...I wanna ride a bull" in those children's rhymes is "Bull too black I want my money back"...
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Coleman for information about American rhythm and blues singer, musician, and radio disc jockey Carlton "King" Coleman (January 20, 1932 – September 11, 2010).

****
1970- The Jackson 5 - "ABC"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(The_Jackson_5_song)
"ABC" is a song by American pop band the Jackson 5. It was released as a single in 1970. The song replaced the Beatles' "Let It Be" on the number-one spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970, and was number one on the soul singles chart for four weeks. It is the title track to the group's second album and sold 2 million copies within the first week of its release in the US and more than 4 million copies worldwide"...
-snip-
It  appears to me that "ABC It's Easy As 1,2,3" (or "ABC, It's Easy As Do Re Me" appears to be a rather large sub-set of children's rhymes that include the "Ooh Ah! I Want A Piece Of Pie" trading rhymes.
The beginning line "ABC, it's easy as 1, 2, 3" is the only line in those "Ooh Ah! I Want A Piece Of Pie" that is from the Jackson 5's song. Another version of this line is "ABC, it's easy as "do re mi". Either version of that line is followed by another rhyming line such as "My daddy watches MTV." or "My mommy takes care of me." before those rhymes move to the "Ooh Ah! I want a piece of pie" trading rhymes.

These "ABC It's Easy As 1,2,3" (or "ABC It's Easy As Do, Re, Me")  rhymes use the same tune as the other rhymes in the "Ooh Ah! I Want A Piece Of Pie" family of children rhymes. The "ABC' version that I've come across don't include the "Winston Taste Good"...(or Snickers Tastes Good" lines" (or vice versa").

Examples of these rhymes are found in Part III of this pancocojams series.   

****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.