Released: July 29, 1981

Songwriter: Dez Dickerson Prince

Producer: Prince

[Verse 1]
I got a penthouse in Manhattan
Two more in Malibu
I bought a '87's Cadillac Seville, girl
I got a Mazarati too
I wear diamonds on my fingers
I got a couple on my toes
I wear the finest perfume money can buy
It keeps me smellin' like a rose

[Pre-Chorus]
If you wonder how I do it
There's just one simple rule

[Chorus]
I'm just cool, oh, oh, honey
Baby, can't you see?
Girl, I'm so cool
Ain't nobody bad like me

[Refrain]
C-O-O-L
What's that spell?
C-O-O-L

[Verse 2]
I might dine in San Francisco
Dance all night in Rome
I go any freakin' place I want to
And my Lear jet brings me home
I got ladies by the dozens
I got money by the ton
Just ain't nobody better
Heaven knows that I'm the one

[Pre-Chorus]
And it's all because of something
That I didn't learn in school

[Chorus]
I'm just cool, cool, cool, cool
Honey, baby, can't you see?
Girl, I'm so cool, cool, cool, cool
Ain't nobody bad like me?

[Refrain]
Sing it, baby
C-O-O-L
What's that spell?
C-O-O-L

[Interlude]
That spells cool
Cool, cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool, cool
What time is it?
Cool

[Verse 3]
Listen baby, it takes a lot of lovin'
And a little money to be a friend of mine
But baby, if you know how to shake that thing
I'll try to squeeze a little time
'Cause I make love, love every mornin'
To who's ever by my side
'Cause you might say that I'm a nymphomaniac
But it keeps me satisfied

[Pre-Chorus]
When I look into the mirror
It just tells me something I already know

[Chorus]
I'm so cool, cool, cool, cool
Honey, baby, can't you see?
Girl, I'm so cool, cool, cool, cool
Ain't nobody bad like me?

[Refrain]
Sing it
C-O-O-L
What's that spell?
C-O-O-L
What time is it?
Four
Cool!
(Well, I'm so cool)
Cool!
(Girl, I'm so cool)
Cool!
Cool!
Band?!

[Instrumental Solos]

[Refrain]
C-O-O-L
C-O-O-L

[Interlude]
Cool, that's right
I'm cooler than Santa Claus, baby
Oh, um hum, ain't nobody bad like me
Somebody pinch me, I must be dreamin'
(I know that's right)
'Cause there ain't nobody bad like me
What time is it?
Is it time to get my hair done yet?
I said, what time is it?

Time to just walk and shake my head
I'm cool till I'm dead
Enough has been said
Come on baby, let's go to bed

Everybody, walk, shake my head
Cool till I'm dead
Enough has been said, let's go to bed

[Pre-Chorus]
When I look into the mirror
It just tells me something I already know

[Chorus]
I'm so cool, there ain't nobody bad like me?
I'm so cool, I said, ain't nobody bad like me?
All together now

[Refrain]
C-O-O-L
(What's that spell?)
C-O-O-L

[Outro]
Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Band? Yes
Anybody hot? No
You know why? Why?
'Cause we're cool, cool

Yes, no, why? Cool
Yes, no, why? Cool
Yes, no, why? Cool
Oh, I'm so cool

​The Time

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.