George Clinton's Computer Games

A song full of quirky lyrics and great classic video game sounds

The Godfather of Funk brings us this week’s Weird Song with the title track of his debut solo album, Computer Games, from 1982. While many of his songs (including those from the Parliament, Funkadelic and P-Funk eras) are lyrically and musically unusual (and amazing), the first one for this list is Computer Games because, in addition to its odd lyrics, it has a nice groove and it’s full of great classic coin-op video game sounds. It’s best when listened to while holding the original LP cover in hand, because that album cover has excellent cartoon panels all over it and it’s fun to explore. I highly recommend listening to the entire album because it’s funktastic.

Around the time this album came out, Clinton contractually couldn’t use the name Parliament or Funkadelic on a recording, or so the story goes, so he released a banger of a solo album. This is the same album with Atomic Dog and Loopzilla, and it’s chock full of quirky and quintessential jams that Clinton is famous for. As for the song Computer Games, in part of it, Clinton speaks as Dracula in a fictitious game of the same name; at other times he’s just a game bragging about himself over a repeating groove.

Lyrics:

Hello, I'm the computer game Dracula
I like to suck necks
I am out in my brain because I can now insane
And I'm up to my jugular with derays
But I'm a winner

”I'm motherfunkenstein, and my son is crazy
I didn't teach him to suck no necks.”

Rockets and bombs blasting at my feet
Of course I can keep a beat
I'm your funky dancing computer game
And of course, I'm insane

May I invade your space?
How much money will you spend?
Do you ever really end?

I can out temp the tation
I can out Rick the James
I can out [?]
(playing those games)
I can out jig a lo

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I can out bug a bunny
I can out run the road
Splitting money
I can out heavy the load
I'm your computer game

Play me play me play me
Playing those games

I can out funk a delic
I can out parlia a mint
I can out rub a band

Of course I'm insane
I'm your computer game

But I betcha
I can out woody a pecker
I can out porky a pig
I can out wiggle a worm
I can out wobble a duck
I can out Easter an egg
I can out banana a split
I can out door a knob
I can out toilet a seat
I'm your computer game
Of course I'm insane

I can out dance a floor
I can out dance a floor
(playing those games)
I can out ask for more
I can out dance a floor

I'm your computer game
I can out dis the cord
Of course i'm insane
(playing those games)

But I betcha
I can out huckleberry a hound
I can out porky a pig
I can out woody a pecker
I can out mickey a mouse
I can out donald a duck
I can out wiggle a worm
I can out wiggle a worm
I'm your computer game

I can out drum a beat
I can out drum a beat
I can out drum a beat
I'm your computer game

I can out dance the floor
I can out dance the floor

I can out holler for more
I'm your computer game

I can out wiggle a worm
I can out mickey a mouse
I can out porky a pig
I can out huckleberry a hound
I can out cockle a do dle do

Playing those games
I can out D C
I can out De Troit
I can out los angeles
I can out New York, Pittsburg, Philly
I can out all of you

I can out video machine
I'm your computer game
I'm your computer game

Do you have change for a dollar?
I've been playing those games