Please Don't Judge Me Too Strong

A live version of Cosmic Slop by Funkadelic shuffled on to my playlist, a song I haven't listened to in nearly five years, according to my Apple Music app.

This particularly fine take features on the 1976 album Hardcore Jollies, but came my way via Mojo magazine's rather excellent 2020 freebie CD Heavy Soul Vol. 2: Mojo Presents 15 Hits Of Psychedelic Funk, Black Rock And Cosmic Slop... (from 77p on Discogs, if you're tempted).

I had a look on YouTube to see if there may be a clip of this or another live version to post here. And I found what I was looking for. But I found more. Much more.

There's a mad, bad and dangerous to know promo video for the original 1973 single release, which is pretty much the band running and dancing around New York, but is just brilliantly compelling viewing. 

And then there's this blistering live version from 1979, which just makes me wish I was in crowd experiencing the energy, the sound, the infectious insanity of the whole thing. 

All of which may distract from the lyrics, which are far deeper and personal that you'd assume from a superficial listen. 

What a band. Funkadelic and/or Parliament live in concert back in the day is one for the time travel bucket list. 

Ah hear my mother call

I was one of five born to my mother
An older sister and three young brothers
We've seen it hard, we've seen it kind of rough
But always with a smile, she was sure to try to hide
The fact from us that life was really tough

I can hear my mother call
I can hear my mother call (Ah)
Late at night I hear her call
Oh lord, lord I hear her call
She said, "Father, father it's for the kids (Ah)
Any and every thing I did
Please, please don't judge me too strong
Lord knows I meant no wrong
Lord knows I meant no wrong"

Then the devil sang
"Would you like to dance with me? We're doin' the cosmic slop"

She was well known through the ghetto
Tricks would come and then they'd go
The neighbors would talk and call her Jezebel
But always with a smile, she was sure to try to hide
The fact from us that she was catching hell, hey!

Hear my mother call
I can hear my mother call
Late at night I hear her call
Oh lord, lord I hear her call
She says, "Father, father it's for the kids
Any and every thing I did
Please, please don't judge me too strong
Lord knows I meant no wrong
Lord!

Hear my mother call (Ah)
Hear my mother call
She says, "Father, father it's for the kids
Any and every thing I did
Please, please don't judge me too strong
Hear my mother call
Hear my mother call
I can hear my mother call
Hey!
I can hear my mother call (ooh-ah-ooh)
Mother, mother

Late at night
Calling me
Mother
I can hear my
I can hear my mother calling me
Late at night I hear my mother
Hey!