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The Bird​The Time

Released: July 2, 1984

Songwriter: Jesse Johnson Morris Day Prince

Producer: Morris Day Prince

[Intro]
Hold on, hold on, why y'all beatin' on shit, what's that mean?
Hold up, do y'all wanna learn a new dance?
Are you qualified to learn one?
That's what I thought
Who can dance out there?
Okay, we gonna try a new dance
And if I don't see everybody doin' it, I don't wanna see you no more
Jellybean, are we ready?
Y'all better do this one
What time is it? Alright
Y'all got ten seconds
To get to the dance floor...and...squawk!

[Verse 1]
America, have you heard?
I got a brand new dance and it's called "The Bird"
You don't need no finesse or no personality
You just need two arms and an attitude
And everybody sing with me, come on now

[Chorus]
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa

[Verse 2]
Brothers, don't be cool
Women like it sometimes when you act a fool
Sisters, don't be shy
Let your body get loose, you ain't too fat to fly
Come on now

[Chorus]
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa
Y'all sing it with me, just like this
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa

[Break]
Yes, hold on now, this dance ain't for everybody
Just the sexy people
White folks, you're much too tight
You gotta shake your head like the black folks
You might get some tonight, look out

[Verse 3]
America, have you heard?
Got a sexy new dance it's called "The Bird"
You don't need no finesse or no personality
You just need two arms and attitude
And everybody sing with me, come on now

[Chorus]
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa, come on
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa, everybody
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa, come on
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa

[Bridge]
Alright, when the horns blow
I want everybody on the floor
You know this groove is sexy
You ain't got no excuse no more
Jerome, I wanna show 'em where we live
Siamese twins joined at the suit
Fellas, give me something to fly with, squawk!

[Instrumental break]

The Wright brothers can't fuck with that
Jerome, bring me my hat
Did I mess my hair up?
Fellas, y'all play something
I'mma go over here and talk to this girl

[Instrumental break]

I pledge allegiance to the time
Can y'all sing that? Sing it
I said, I pledge allegiance to the time

[Chorus]
Squawk! Squawk! Squawk! Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa
Squawk! Hallelujah! Whoa

[Outro]
Fellas? Yeah
What's the word? Squawk!
When you wanna get some
What'd you do? Do "The Bird"

Fellas? Yeah
What's the word? Squawk!
When you wanna get some
What'd you do? Do "The Bird"

America? Yeah
What's the word? Squawk!
When you wanna get some
What'd you do? Do "The Bird"
Take it home! Squawk!

Squawk!
Chili sauce

It's the last call for alcohol
If you ain't got what you want
You got to get the hell outta here
Thank you!

​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.

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