Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Song Lyrics / Artist Information / Chart History

  • Originally performed by Wild Cherry
  • The band consisted of Rob Parissi (vocals / guitar), Mark Avsec (keyboards), Bryan Bassett (guitar), Allen Wentz (bass), & Ronald Beitle (drums)
  • The band was formed by Parissi in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, getting the name for the band off a box of cough drops
  • "Play That Funky Music" was released in 1976, a  number one smash hit on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts, 
  • The single as well as Wild Cherry's self-titled debut album went platinum
  • The band was named Best Pop Group of the Year in 1976 by Billboard Magazine
  • They also received an American Music Award for Top R&B Single of the Year, and a pair of Grammy nominations for Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo
  • They never scored another hit again, making them one of the great "one hit wonders" bands of all time

A sample of this song as performed by Oracle is available by clicking on either of the links below.  The RealAudio file will stream to your computer rather quickly assuming you have the RealAudio player installed.  The MP3 file must download completely first, but is of a higher audio quality.
   
Streaming RealAudio Download MP3

 

 

Purchase the song Play That Funky Music" from Amazon.com

Song Lyrics - Play That Funky Music

Hey...do it now
Yeah hey

Once I was a boogie singer
Playin' in a rock & roll band
I never had no problems, yeah
Burnin' down the one night stands
And everything around me, yeah
Got to start to feelin' so low
And I decided quickly (yes, I did)
To disco down and check out the show

Yeah, 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 that boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die

Well, 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 fightin'
Loosin' every step of the way (Yeah, what'd you do?)
I said, "I must go back there" (Got to go back)
And check to see if things still the same

Yeah, 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 that boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die
(Yeah) Wow, till you die

(Come on...play some electrified funky music)

[Hey, wait a minute] Now first it wasn't easy
Changin' rock & roll and minds
And things were getting shaky
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
Oh, but now its so much better [It's so much better]
I'm funkin 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 that 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) Got to keep on playin funky music
(Play that funky music) Pl--AY that funky music

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

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Note that the lyrics posted here are those as interpreted and performed by The Oracle Band. In a few cases we have taken some liberties with the lyrics to make them more appropriate for tasteful gatherings. Their use here is intended as an aid for people in selecting music for their wedding reception or private party, and may not be reproduced for any commercial, for-profit use.

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