Hello!

I'm not sure if that is the right forum / section to ask.

What does Prince say in this live performance of Come On?

-> https://youtu.be/97GfaiaoIrI?t=218

"That's a funky black man right there! Changing keys (...)"

I don't understand the next part of the sentence.

And then this phrase here: https://youtu.be/97GfaiaoIrI?t=260

"Funky black people in the place..."

What does he say next?

I understand something with "white face", but I'm really not sure...

Can anybody help?

Thank you!

[Edited 6/15/20 15:19pm]

[Edited 6/15/20 15:20pm]

I hear "Changin' keys on ya, and doin' things."

Something about "might have a white bass."

I think the first part is "Changin' keys on ya, and doin' things", like TrivialPursuit said.

I think the second part is:

"Funky black people in the place...

Funky black people in the place...

You even might have a white face

But dig the funk, funk,

Black people in the place..."

It kinda makes sense, as there are hardly any black people in the club where this performance takes place.

Great performance by the way, I have played this video many times, funky as hell!

"You might have a white face"... I think the other posts cracked it already....seemed like he said it almost by accident to try to make up for calling out Black people in the place when there weren't any, and tried to save it and kinda gave up.

Thank you, and what does "Changin' keys on ya, and doing' things" actually mean?

[Edited 6/16/20 6:34am]

patchab said:

Thank you, and what does "Changin' keys on ya, and doing' things" actually mean?

It's not that deep. It's about being funky.

patchab said:

Thank you, and what does "Changin' keys on ya, and doing' things" actually mean?

[Edited 6/16/20 6:34am]

There's a tradition in music from the Blues where the band leader talks to the band (or the audience).

His insructions to the band or comment to them, or narrating what they're hearing...it can be a joke, or just to sound cool in place of lyrics, or actual instructions. Prince does all of the above in live shows.

You've heard it in James Brown lyrics but another example is "Give the drummer some more" by Little Hooks https://www.youtube.com/w...0cdzOIqdpg The lyrics are going through his band and saying "give them some" (time to be the focus).

[Edited 6/16/20 10:31am]

[Edited 6/16/20 10:35am]

patchab said:

Thank you, and what does "Changin' keys on ya, and doing' things" actually mean?

[Edited 6/16/20 6:34am]

'Changing keys' means that Scott was not just playing a simple one note (or one chord) funky rhythm but that he is changing keys (as in musical keys) while laying down his funky guitar patterns.

'Doing things' likely refers to little embellishments Scott plays to fill out the basic chord pattern.

funkaholic1972 said:

patchab said:

Thank you, and what does "Changin' keys on ya, and doing' things" actually mean?

[Edited 6/16/20 6:34am]

'Changing keys' means that Scott was not just playing a simple one note (or one chord) funky rhythm but that he is changing keys (as in musical keys) while laying down his funky guitar patterns.

'Doing things' likely refers to little embellishments Scott plays to fill out the basic chord pattern.

Thank you very much!