Yeah, 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…
(hey,hey) till you die…yeah, yeah
Well, I tried to understand this…Yeah, huh, I thought that they were out of their minds
How could I be so foolish, [How could I]…tonight's the hours, the one behind
So still I kept on fightin'…Wow, 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 ev-er-y 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…Play that funky music
(Play that funky music) Pl--AY that funky music
(Play that funky music) Wanna take ya higha now…
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
Now there's a classic example of " safe reverse racism ".
I've always wondered how a cover of this song would go over if it was released with a small change...
" Play that funky music black boy " ( Comes off a little different this way.Not quite as cool .)