Glen Goins Just Funkin for fun
A tribute to a talent that was gone way too soon.
In 1976, Parliament/Funkadelic released The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. One of the singles on the album was Funkin for Fun. The song was written by George Clinton, Gary Scheider and Glen Goins and Goins sang lead. The song can be interpreted in several ways, with most people think it's someone striking out on their own in the world. Others, however, believe the recording to be prophetic as the lead singer died only 2 years later.
Glenn Lamonte Goins was born on January 2, 1954, and passed away on July 29, 1978. In addition to singing he was also a guitarist for Parliament-Funkadelic. Goins was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1997 along with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.
Goins was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. He came from a family of talented musicians and was a master vocalist. He had a powerful, haunting gospel flavored voice. He is best known for "calling in the Mothership" during the P-Funk live shows.
It is Goins who sings, "Swing down sweet chariot. stop and let me ride, over and over. Glen Goins was prominent on the albums, Mothership Connection (1975), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), and Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977). He also played on the Funkadelic albums during this time period as well. Goins sang lead vocals on "Bop Gun" as well as the remake of "Fantasy is Reality".
I got to go, got to leave
Something's missing, that I need
I need to find
Whatever it is that's burdening in my mind
I know mother will understand, yeah
I know she knows that I'm still the same man
They say bring up a child in the way he shall go
And he shall not depart
And I know when they said it, it turns my heart, yeah
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Don't worry
Don't worry 'bout me
I'm just funkin' around for fun
When you see my mother
Tell her don't worry 'bout me
I'm just funkin' around for fun
Oh, nothing could compare
To mother, nah, nah, nah
Because I know she cared, yeah
I got to find my own way around
Hey, hey, I got to get down, yeah
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Guy, guy, guy, guy
Don't worry
Don't worry 'bout me
I'm just funkin' around for fun
Don't worry 'bout me
I'm just funkin' around for fun
When you see my mother
Hey, if you have a chance to see my father, my brother
Just tell 'em, that everything's alright
Hey, anytime
You find people assemble in the same place
Funkin' around, everything's alright
Hey, hey
I don't think you heard me, say what
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
Let's funk around
Hey, funk me, baby
Let's funk around
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm all right
Just funkin' around for fun
Having a good time
I'm funking around for fun
I'm having a good, good, good, good time, yeah
Playing my guitar
Funking around for fun
Giving up the P.Funk
Ahh, the bomb
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
If you see my mother
Tell her I'm alright
Just funkin' around for fun
In 1977, Goins was one of the first of many musicians to defect from Parliament-Funkadelic in reaction to what has been referred to as gross mismanagement by George Clinton, the founder of both groups. Goins formed his own funk band titled Quazar in 1978. The new group featured his younger brother Kevin Goins along with drummer Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey. Sadly, shortly after, in the same year, Goins died from Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was only 24 years old. Glen Goins has been described as an " insanely talented self-taught musician, lead guitarist and vocalist".
He passed away just 10 days before Quasar's first album was to be released. This is why some say that the lyrics "If you see my mother, tell her I'm alright" are prophetic. They believe the artist somehow knew he would not live long and wanted his mother to be at peace. No one will ever know for sure, but one thing is certain. The music legacy left by the talented young man will last until the end of time.
About the Creator
Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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