The Time

Released: January 1, 1984

Songwriter: Jesse Johnson Morris Day Prince

Producer: Prince

[Verse 1: Morris Day and The Time]
I, I've been watching you
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Said I, I'm dangerous
Girl, I'd love to show ya
Know ya

[Chorus: Morris Day and The Time]
My jungle love, yeah
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Jungle love
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Girl, I'd love to show ya
Show ya

[Verse 2: Morris Day and The Time]
You, you've got a pretty car
I think I want to drive it
Drive it
I ain't playin' said I, drive a little dangerous
Take you to my crib, rip you off, huh
Jungle love
Look out!

[Chorus: Morris Day and The Time]
Oh
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Jungle love
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Girl, I'd love to show ya
Show ya

[Spoken Interlude: Morris Day and The Time]
Come on baby, where's your guts?
You wanna make love or what?
Oh-we-oh-we-oh

[Verse 3:Morris Day and The Time]
I, want to take you to my cage
Lock you up and hide the key
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
You, only get water, babe
Cause if you're hungry, take a bite of me
Oh-we-oh-we-oh

[Chorus: Morris Day and The Time]
My jungle love, yes
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Hey Jungle love, mmm
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Mmm, girl, I'd love to show ya
Show ya
Yeah, yeah Jungle love
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Jungle love
Oh-we-oh-we-ohGirl I, I think I
Show ya
Think I wanna file my nails

[Spoken Interlude: Morris Day and The Time]
Hey Jesse! N-N-Now Jerome!
Yes!
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Check it out!

[Musical Interlude]

[Refrain: The Time]
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Oh-we-oh-we-oh

[Keyboard Solo]

[Refrain: The Time]
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Oh-we-oh-we-oh

[Chorus: Morris Day and The Time]
Jungle love, yeah
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I think I wanna know ya
Know ya
Ohhhh, jungle love, yes
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Mmmm, girl, I'd love to show ya
Show ya
Uh-eh, now jungle love, well
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Mmm, I think I wanna, think I wanna
Know ya
Jellybean, uh!
Whooooo!
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Yeah-eh-ah-ah!

[Spoken: Morris Day and The Time]
Jesse!
Give me one of 'em sexy solos right here
Break it down
Yeassssss, huh!
Whoa! Eh! Ha! Nuh!
Get, get out of the way!
Muh-move over!
Yeaaaah!
Oh, jungle love, that's right
Can't nobody fuck with me
I got a bearskin rug
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
I got a fireplace too
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
And I'm all the way wild baby
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
All the things I could do to you
Oh-we-oh-we-oh
Hoooooo!
Hey-eh-eh-eh-eh!
Jungle love
Jungle love
Jungle love
Yes! Yes!

[Outro: Morris Day]
Ha ha!
Ah, that's it, that's it
Come on!
Huh ha ha huuuah
Shit!
Uh huah!

The Time grew from the seeds of the Minneapolis music scene in the early 1980’s, galvanized by the creative drive and commercial success of rock-soul juggernaut Prince. The band began as the fruit of a wager Prince made with band leader Morris Day over the song “Partyup” (originally by a band called Enterprise). After the song’s success, Prince agreed to help Morris put together a band.

The nucleus of The Time consisted of drummer Jellybean Johnson, keyboardists Jimmy Jam and Monte Moir, and bassist Terry Lewis, pulled from their local band Flyte Tyme. Guitar demigod Jesse Johnson endeavored to join Prince’s band, but that band didn’t need a guitarist, so he shuffled into The Time’s lineup. Jerome Benton was a promoter from the aforementioned band Enterprise, and was eventually brought on as a comic foil to Morris Day for their stage act.

The band’s debut self-titled album featured two Top 10 R&B hits with “Get It Up” and “Cool.” Their follow-up What Time Is It? delivered an even higher chart peak with “777-9311”. But the band truly hit their stride once featured in Prince’s blockbuster music film Purple Rain. Their songs “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” from the film would become huge R&B and dance hits and propel their third album Ice Cream Castle to #3 on the R&B charts.

more tracks from the album

Ice Cream Castle

From the album

Ice Cream Castle (1984)

The Time popular songs

Jungle Love​The Time

​The Time

Ice Cream Castle

Jungle LoveThe Time

The Time