Now, I lay me down to sleep
Ooh, I just can't find a beat
Flash light (ohh, I will never dance!)
Flash light
Flash light
Flash light
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Oh, it's no use!
Flash light
Red light
Neon light
Ooh, stop light
Now I lay me down to sleep
I guess I'll go count the sheep
Oh, but I will never dance
(Oh, don't make me do it)
(Dance, sucker! ooh ha ha!)
(Oww! Get him!)
Most of all he needs the funk (shine it)
Help him find the funk (ha, funk it!)
Most of all he needs the funk
Help him find the funk (get him)
Most of all he needs the funk (I know we can get him)
Help him find the funk (ho!)
Most of all he needs the funk (ha, don't!)
Help him find the funk (I know you will! Dance, sucker!)
Most of all he needs the funk (Shine the spotlight on him!)
Help him find the funk (Oh funk me!)
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (Dance, Nose! You know you on my funk street?)
Oh, funk me!
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (get on down, Nose! I like it! Dance, then!)
Flash light
Flash light (oh ho ho!)
Spot light
Neon light (neon light)
Street light (street light)
Oh ho, ha ha!
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Shinin' on the funk
Shinin' on the funk
Most of all he need the funk
Help him find the funk
Most of all he need the funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Help him find the funk
Most of all he need the funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Help him find the funk
Most of all he need the funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Help him find the funk
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Oh
Flash light (flash light, flash light)
Flash light (flash light, flash light)
Flash light (oh, flash light)
Flash light (oh, flash light)
Spot light (spot light)
Neon light (ooooh, neon light)
Flash light (ooh, flash light ho!)
Stop light (stop light)
Now I lay me down to sleep
I guess I'll go count the sheep
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da (oh)
Shake your funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Shake your funk (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da)
Shake your rump (Ha da da dee da hada hada da da) (ho!)
I think I found the funk
Flash light (flash light)
Day light (day light)
Spot light (spot light)
Red light (Ohhh, hooo, red light!)
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Ha da da dee da hada hada da da
Everybody's got a little light under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
Under the sun
About This Song
"Flashlight" is Parliament's hypnotic exploration of spiritual and musical awakening, disguised as a deceptively simple plea for illumination. The song's protagonist finds himself unable to sleep or dance, trapped in a state of restless searching until he discovers "the funk"-which serves as both a musical genre and a metaphysical force of liberation and authenticity. George Clinton's production creates a mesmerizing sonic landscape built around Bernie Worrell's iconic synthesizer bassline, which pulses like a heartbeat throughout the track, while layered vocals chant the title phrase with an almost religious fervor. The "flashlight" becomes a symbol for consciousness, enlightenment, and the transformative power of music to guide souls out of darkness and into rhythmic transcendence. Musically, the song represents P-Funk at its most minimalist yet powerful, stripping away excess to focus on an irresistible groove that seems to emerge from some primal source. The track's genius lies in how it makes the search for funk feel both urgent and inevitable, with the repeated mantras creating a trance-like state that mirrors the spiritual quest described in the lyrics. Its influence on hip-hop, electronic music, and funk cannot be overstated, as countless artists have sampled its distinctive bassline, recognizing its power to instantly transport listeners into a state of rhythmic communion. The song ultimately argues that funk-and by extension, authentic self-expression-is not just entertainment but a fundamental human need, a light to guide us through the darkness of conformity and spiritual emptiness.
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