Genius Of Love
Tom-Tom Lyrics


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What you gonna do when you get out of jail?
I'm gonna have some fun
What do you consider fun?
Fun, natural fun

I'm in heaven
With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
There's no beginning and there is no end
Time isn't present in that dimension
He'll take my arm
When we're walkin', rolling and rocking
It's one time I'm glad I'm not a man
Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping

I'm in heaven
With the maven of funk mutation
Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins
Raise expectations to a new intention
No one can sing
Quite like Smokey, Smokey Robinson
Wailin' and skankin' to Bob Marley
Reggae's expanding with Sly and Robbie

Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama said uh
Oops! Your mama

All the weekend
Boyfriend was missing
I surely miss him
The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
We went insane when we took cocaine

"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"

Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hip and a hippie-the-hop
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
Who needs to think when your feet just go
"Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon"
James Brown, James Brown
James Brown, James Brown

If you see him
Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Well he's the genius of love
He's got a greater depth of feeling




Well he's the genius of love
He's so deep

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Tom-Tom's song Genius Of Love, "What you gonna do when you get out of jail? I'm gonna have some fun. What do you consider fun? Fun, natural fun," is an exchange between two people, one of whom is about to get out of jail and is ready to have some simple and pure fun. The lyrics establish a contrast between the confined and oppressive nature of jail and the carefree mood of the song. The following lines mention being in heaven with the "laughing boyfriend" who takes the singer's arm while they walk and roll and rock, suggesting a harmonious and playful relationship. The lyrics create an impression of a surreal and timeless state of mind where time is irrelevant, and everything is happening naturally and spontaneously.


The lyrics also mention various music icons who are celebrated for their artistry and unconventional approach, such as Bootsy Collins, Smokey Robinson, Bob Marley, and Sly and Robbie. The song makes a nod to the limitless potential of funk and reggae music and their ability to expand and evolve perpetually. The line about cocaine use suggests a time of instability and recklessness in the singer's life. The mention of Kurtis Blow and James Brown draws attention to the power of dance and how music can inspire movement and physical expression. The song concludes with the plea to "remind him (the unhappy boyfriend)," who is referred to as "the genius of love," suggesting that this person has a unique and profound understanding of love that is worth acknowledging and cherishing.


Line by Line Meaning

What you gonna do when you get out of jail?
What do you plan to do after your release from jail?


I'm gonna have some fun
I intend to enjoy myself


What do you consider fun?
What activities do you find entertaining?


Fun, natural fun
Having a good time without pretense or artifice


I'm in heaven
I am experiencing extreme happiness


With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
In the company of my significant other who makes me happy


There's no beginning and there is no end
Our relationship is eternal


Time isn't present in that dimension
Our love is transcendent of time and space


He'll take my arm
My boyfriend will hold my arm


When we're walkin', rolling and rocking
As we stroll, we move in time with the music and dance a little


It's one time I'm glad I'm not a man
As a woman, I am glad to experience this kind of joy


Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping
I feel like I am experiencing a dream, but I am fully awake


With the maven of funk mutation
In the company of an expert in funk music


Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins
Musicians associated with George Clinton, including Bootsy Collins


Raise expectations to a new intention
Increase the expectations of what music can be


No one can sing
Few people can perform vocally


Quite like Smokey, Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson is a uniquely talented singer


Wailin' and shakin' to Bob Marley
Enthusiastically dancing to the music of Bob Marley


Reggae's expanding with Sly and Robbie
The musical genre of reggae is growing and evolving with the contributions of artists like Sly and Robbie


All the weekend
Throughout the weekend


Boyfriend was missing
My significant other was absent


I surely miss him
I am deeply saddened by his absence


The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
The loving way he embraces me


We went insane when we took cocaine.
We acted recklessly under the influence of cocaine


Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Dancing in synchrony to a song by Kurtis Blow


Who needs to think when your feet just go
Why bother rationalizing when you can just dance?


With a hiditihi and a hipitiho
With joyous, nonsensical chanting


James Brown, James Brown
Referencing James Brown, a renowned musician with a unique blend of funk and soul


If you see him
If you encounter my significant other


Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Kindly notify him of his negative attitude


Well he's the genius of love
He is an expert in the art of love


He's got a greater depth of feeling
He has a greater capacity for experiencing deep love


He's so deep.
He is an incredibly thoughtful and caring partner




Lyrics ยฉ Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tina Weymouth, Christopher Frantz, Adrian Belew, Steven J.C. Stanley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@hamsterdiving7593

I was still a newlywed in 1981, living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in an apartment complex that was rather dull and ordinary...

One Saturday, while trying to be a good wife at the age of 20 (๐Ÿคฏ) and perform some housecleaning, I turned on the newly created MTV channel on the newly created cable TV, and witnessed a revelation: Tom Tom Club's Genius Of Love music video...

I'd never seen anything like it.
I was mesmerized and didn't get much cleaning done. I also realized as time went on that there was a great big wide world out there that I wanted to experience that my staid, safe, stockbroker husband wasn't into

I realized I was too young to have gotten married and we sadly split up in 1983.
It's safe to say that Genius Of Love was my gateway to independence and it's been a favorite of mine ever since...
โค



All comments from YouTube:

@notrlybad

Who's here in 2024?

@uwutakke3964

Mayyyy

@Mercedes65

โค

@txenfu

๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿฝ

@user-it8gt1le1m

โค๐ŸŽ‰

@1poopiebritches1

โœ‹

14 More Replies...

@Mikemikemike13579

This song is almost 40 years old... and still sounds like it could play with today's music.

@iamboomer.4673

No.......................m

@gratefulape12

Because for a couple of decades, pop music has been eating itself.

@leilanilamour5173

Be sure to be obnoxious and bump it extra-loud when driving through your neighborhood lol. I donโ€™t think anyone would mind ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–

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