Description
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino is a psychedelic funk and R&B song by American artist, actor, and writer Donald Glover, released under his musical name Childish Gambino. The track was released on 17 November 2016 as the second single from his third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”, through Glassnote Records. It was written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Gary Cooper, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton, and produced by Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson.
Musically, “Redbone” is built around a warm, retro sound inspired by 1970s funk, soul, and psychedelic R&B. The main instruments include drums, slap bass, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and layered vocals. According to the article, Childish Gambino provides lead and backing vocals and drums, while Ludwig Göransson plays Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and additional vocals.
The song’s sound is especially recognizable because of its slow groove, falsetto-style vocal delivery, vintage keyboard textures, and funky bassline. The intro is dominated by a recurring slap bass part and guitar melody, while the track gradually adds keyboards, synths, and layered textures. “Redbone” is also based on “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band, connecting it directly to the funk tradition of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.
“Redbone” became a sleeper hit. It first entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 75 in late 2016, later re-entered the chart, and eventually peaked at No. 12 in 2017. It also became Childish Gambino’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart. The song received three nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, and won Best Traditional R&B Performance.
One major curiosity about “Redbone” is its connection to cinema. The song plays during the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s 2017 film Get Out, where its repeated warning to “stay woke” became closely tied to the film’s themes of awareness, danger, and racial tension.
Another interesting detail is that “Redbone” became a major internet meme in 2017, with users creating remixes that imagined the song playing in different locations or situations. Donald Glover even acknowledged the meme during a concert before performing the song. It was also used in a 2018 Apple ad for the iPhone X’s Animoji feature.
Lyrics
Daylight
I wake up feelin' like you won't play right
I used to know, but now that shit don't feel right
It made me put away my pride
So long
You made a nigga wait for some so long
You make it hard for boy like that to go on
I'm wishin' I could make this mine, oh
If you want it, yeah
You can have it, oh
If you need it, uh
We can make it, oh
If you want it
You can have it
But stay woke
Niggas creepin'
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin', uh
Now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
Too late
You wanna make it right, but now it's too late
My peanut butter chocolate cake with Kool-Aid
I'm tryin' not to waste my time
If you want it, oh
You can have it (you can have it)
If you need it (you better believe in something)
We can make it, oh
If you want it
You can have it, ah
But stay woke (stay woke)
Niggas creepin' (they be creepin')
They gon' find you (they gon' find you)
Gon' catch you sleepin' (gon' catch you sleepin', put your hands up now, baby)
Uh, now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
But stay woke (uh)
Niggas creepin' (they gon' find you)
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin', uh (gon' catch you, gon' catch you)
Now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
How'd it get so scandalous? Oh
How'd it get so scandalous? Oh
Oh, baby, you, how'd it get
How'd it get so scandalous?
How'd it get so scandalous?
But stay woke
But stay woke
Youtube video
Songs links
Specification
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino is a psychedelic funk and R&B song by American artist, actor, and writer Donald Glover, released under his musical name Childish Gambino. The track was released on 17 November 2016 as the second single from his third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”, through Glassnote Records. It was written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Gary Cooper, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton, and produced by Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson.
Musically, “Redbone” is built around a warm, retro sound inspired by 1970s funk, soul, and psychedelic R&B. The main instruments include drums, slap bass, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and layered vocals. According to the article, Childish Gambino provides lead and backing vocals and drums, while Ludwig Göransson plays Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and additional vocals.
The song’s sound is especially recognizable because of its slow groove, falsetto-style vocal delivery, vintage keyboard textures, and funky bassline. The intro is dominated by a recurring slap bass part and guitar melody, while the track gradually adds keyboards, synths, and layered textures. “Redbone” is also based on “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band, connecting it directly to the funk tradition of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.
“Redbone” became a sleeper hit. It first entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 75 in late 2016, later re-entered the chart, and eventually peaked at No. 12 in 2017. It also became Childish Gambino’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart. The song received three nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, and won Best Traditional R&B Performance.
One major curiosity about “Redbone” is its connection to cinema. The song plays during the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s 2017 film Get Out, where its repeated warning to “stay woke” became closely tied to the film’s themes of awareness, danger, and racial tension.
Another interesting detail is that “Redbone” became a major internet meme in 2017, with users creating remixes that imagined the song playing in different locations or situations. Donald Glover even acknowledged the meme during a concert before performing the song. It was also used in a 2018 Apple ad for the iPhone X’s Animoji feature.
Specification
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino is a psychedelic funk and R&B song by American artist, actor, and writer Donald Glover, released under his musical name Childish Gambino. The track was released on 17 November 2016 as the second single from his third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”, through Glassnote Records. It was written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Gary Cooper, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton, and produced by Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson.
Musically, “Redbone” is built around a warm, retro sound inspired by 1970s funk, soul, and psychedelic R&B. The main instruments include drums, slap bass, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and layered vocals. According to the article, Childish Gambino provides lead and backing vocals and drums, while Ludwig Göransson plays Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and additional vocals.
The song’s sound is especially recognizable because of its slow groove, falsetto-style vocal delivery, vintage keyboard textures, and funky bassline. The intro is dominated by a recurring slap bass part and guitar melody, while the track gradually adds keyboards, synths, and layered textures. “Redbone” is also based on “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band, connecting it directly to the funk tradition of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.
“Redbone” became a sleeper hit. It first entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 75 in late 2016, later re-entered the chart, and eventually peaked at No. 12 in 2017. It also became Childish Gambino’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart. The song received three nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, and won Best Traditional R&B Performance.
One major curiosity about “Redbone” is its connection to cinema. The song plays during the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s 2017 film Get Out, where its repeated warning to “stay woke” became closely tied to the film’s themes of awareness, danger, and racial tension.
Another interesting detail is that “Redbone” became a major internet meme in 2017, with users creating remixes that imagined the song playing in different locations or situations. Donald Glover even acknowledged the meme during a concert before performing the song. It was also used in a 2018 Apple ad for the iPhone X’s Animoji feature.
Specification
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino is a psychedelic funk and R&B song by American artist, actor, and writer Donald Glover, released under his musical name Childish Gambino. The track was released on 17 November 2016 as the second single from his third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”, through Glassnote Records. It was written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Gary Cooper, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton, and produced by Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson.
Musically, “Redbone” is built around a warm, retro sound inspired by 1970s funk, soul, and psychedelic R&B. The main instruments include drums, slap bass, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and layered vocals. According to the article, Childish Gambino provides lead and backing vocals and drums, while Ludwig Göransson plays Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Mellotron, Clavinet, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and additional vocals.
The song’s sound is especially recognizable because of its slow groove, falsetto-style vocal delivery, vintage keyboard textures, and funky bassline. The intro is dominated by a recurring slap bass part and guitar melody, while the track gradually adds keyboards, synths, and layered textures. “Redbone” is also based on “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band, connecting it directly to the funk tradition of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.
“Redbone” became a sleeper hit. It first entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 75 in late 2016, later re-entered the chart, and eventually peaked at No. 12 in 2017. It also became Childish Gambino’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart. The song received three nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, and won Best Traditional R&B Performance.
One major curiosity about “Redbone” is its connection to cinema. The song plays during the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s 2017 film Get Out, where its repeated warning to “stay woke” became closely tied to the film’s themes of awareness, danger, and racial tension.
Another interesting detail is that “Redbone” became a major internet meme in 2017, with users creating remixes that imagined the song playing in different locations or situations. Donald Glover even acknowledged the meme during a concert before performing the song. It was also used in a 2018 Apple ad for the iPhone X’s Animoji feature.
