WEBVTT

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Mary J Blige sings
no one will do.

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Now James Brown died, and
he went on tour kind of.

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One of the first places
he went to was The Apollo.

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And there was a
big thing that says

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you're not supposed to take a
picture of James Brown lying

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in state at The Apollo.

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This is the New York.

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That did not last long.

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The New York Post had
him on the front cover.

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But Harlem went wild.

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Black people who had not
been acting black for years

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went uptown and hung
out at The Apollo.

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They had fun.

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It was a moment.

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OK.

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"Mary J Blige sings 'No One Will
Do.'" James Brown's wax face

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graces the New York Post.

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Carnival starts in
Harlem two months early.

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All of Soul Nation steps
to the curb and kicks it.

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Say it loud.

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Oh verily, his brilliantine
hair, tight pants,

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and tiny dancing feet
laid out beautifully.

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The sullen city unsignified.

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Tears and dancing, like
church, girl, like church.

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Now, I have to explain this.

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James Brown was called
the ambassador of soul,

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and one of his various
wives took that seriously

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and tried to get many
parking tickets taken,

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because he was the ambassador.

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Yes, this ambassador of soul
has returned his credentials.

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No regrets.

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Godfather a misnomer, he was
here to represent Soul Nation.

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And like Cuba, Soul Nation
remains unrecognized.

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But folk visit
Soul Nation daily,

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crossing the border to that
shining party on the hill where

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folk are eating fried chicken,
drinking 7 and 7 and smoking

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Kool cigarettes while
disco balls swerve

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and curve the smoky air
like plump women having

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a really, really good time.

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This behavior continues to shock
citizens of Soul Less Nation.

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Busy as they are with their
markets, markers, and ministers

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without portfolio, they see
only the smiling countenances

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of miserable men and women.

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Oh, so folkloric in fake
fur floor length coats.

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That's hard to say.

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OK.

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Oh, so folkloric in fake
fur floor length coats,

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rhinestones, and hot pants.

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Soul Nation gives
up poly rhythyms

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and an occasional
orgasmic shriek.

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Get up off of that thing and
make yourself feel better.

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Get up off of that thing and
change the shape of weather.

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Because sometimes what you're
on ain't no good, no way.

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You really, really got
to get off of that thing.

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De man, de woman, dis Soul
Less Nation with the odd White

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man in charge.

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On a ranch, a barge, fishing,
whatever, violent death

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follows.

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Best to join the ambassador of
soul, who brought us the ache

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and art of Black America
claiming patriarchy of Funk,

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and feeling just about
as good as you can get.

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When you walk a walk
so defiant, everyone

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wants to sample your will.

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And this year, Mary J sings
about who will do and who

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won't.

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We of the folkloric know
that only the hardest working

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man will do.

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And even in repose, he's working
the room, lit like a Saint

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and made up better than any
well-off hooker, hands and feet

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hidden beneath tufted satin
so we can't see the wings.

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