Released: December 18, 1990

Songwriter: Freedom Williams Robert Clivillés

Producer: Clivillés & Cole

[Intro: Freedom Williams]
Things that make you go, hmm

[Verse 1: Freedom Williams]
I was at the crib, sittin' by the fireplace
Drinkin' cocoa on the bear skin rug
The door bell rang, who could it be?
Thought to myself then started to shrug
Got to the door, ding dong, "Who is it?"
My girl's best friend had paid me a visit
Sly as can be tight dress and all
She knew that I was faithful, I really didn't have the gall
I tried to chill, she made the move
Now, I know my girlfriend wouldn't approve
I didn't realize my girl was settin' me up
Yo, my girlfriend didn't trust me, no
Yeah, but she lost control, I wouldn't take the bait
I said, "Chill baby, baby chill baby, baby wait"
My girl bust in, caught us creatin' a boom
She said, "Girlfriend?!"

[Chorus: Martha Wash]
Things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm, hey
Things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm
It's the things that make you go, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 2: Freedom Williams]
Here's how it started, just an example
Of how another brother can trample
Ruin your life, sleep with your wife
Watch your behind there was a friend of mine
Named Jay, would come over late at night and say, "Hey
I'll watch the fight", I thought it was alright
'Cause me and Jay we were really really tight
So damned close we had the same blood type
Months went by and my wife got big
We were havin' a child and I got another gig
So I let Jay move into the crib and chill
He had his own room and helped pay the bills
The time had come baby doll to conceive
It looked like Jay and I couldn't believe
Before my eyes in the delivery room

[Chorus: Martha Wash]
The things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
The things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
The things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm
Robi-Rob, break it down

[Breakdown: Martha Wash]
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me

Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me

[Verse 3: Freedom Williams]
Seventeen and I was havin' a ball
Eleventh grade and yo, I knew it all
I fell in love for the very first time
With this girl she really blew my mind
Innocence and whole lotta class
Style that could give you whiplash
She said, "Hello" and my heartbeat stopped
She was the world and I was on top
Time went by, she filled my universe
We made love, she said I was the first
My boy kept tellin' me, yo, I don't know
I think your girl's been playin' tic tac toe
I'll ask my girl I know she only loves me
Wasn't I the one who took your virginity?
The look on her face read sorrow and gloom
She said, "Yeah, why do you guys always ask that?"

[Chorus: Martha Wash]
Things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm
The things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm

[Verse 4: Freedom Williams]
Hey ladies, have you ever had a man
Go away for business, come back with a tan
Comes home late at night from work
You cooked him dinner now you feel like a jerk
Sayin' he didn't have time to eat
And he's not even hungry, he wants to go to sleep
To the bedroom he said his head hurts
You're only makin' love in radical spurts
Mysterious calls and the phone goes click
You say to yourself, "I'm gonna hit him with a brick
Ain't no way he could be cheatin' on me
I wonder who bought him those B.V.D.'s
Dressed to a T to hang with the fellas
Out with the guys and I'm gettin' jealous
Comin' home late smellin' like perfume, fume

[Chorus: Martha Wash]
Things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, oh, oh, yeah
The things that make you go, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm

[Chorus: Martha Wash]
Things that make you go, hmm
Hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
Hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm
Things that make you go, hmm
It's the things that make you go, hmm, hmm, hmm...

C+C Music Factory

David Cole and Robert Civilles met while both working at a New York underground club. Before forming C & C Music Factory, they were primarily remixers, co-writers, producers and artist managers – having worked with Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Fleetwood Mac, Grace Jones, Seduction and others.

Cole & Civilles decided to launch their own music project with an ever-changing cast of vocalists. When an artist they were managing turned down the song “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”, the duo decided to use it as their first single. They recruited a janitor from Quad Recording Studio who was learning to become an assistant engineer named Freedom Williams to perform the raps, and hired ex-Weather Girls singer Martha Wash for the female vocals – but credited them to Zelma Davis. Davis also appeared in the song’s video. Wash later sued for being uncredited in the song and its video.

The song became an international smash, reaching the top 5 in nine countries (taking the top position in five of them). Their debut album was released a month after the single and it reached #2 in the US, #8 in the UK and the top 30 in six other countries.