OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER The Avalon Funk All Stars vs. Rex [Intro – Spoken, Mark over a rubbery bass groove] Ladies and gentlemen… Before we begin… I’d like to thank the seventies. For everything I borrowed. And I’d like to thank Rex… For borrowing it back! You might think you have the funk, Rex… But it all started in Avalon! Hit it! [Verse 1 – Mark, rhythmic and playful] I had a pocket full of rhythms, Had a bassline full of soul, Took a little from the seventies, Gave the whole thing rock and roll. Got the ladies and the gentlemen, Got the groove and got the show, Then I heard a little something, That I seemed to already know! [Pre-Chorus – Female backing singers, call and response] [Mark] Who had the funk first? [Girls] Somebody way back when! [Mark] Who borrowed that intro? [Girls] Well, here we go again! [Mark] Who’s claiming ownership? [Girls] Nobody owns the groove! [All] But give some credit where it’s due! [Chorus – Full band, explosive brass stabs] OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Hey!) You can’t put a patent on a beat! OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Woo!) You can’t copyright your dancing feet! You might think you have the funk, Rex, But it all started in Avalon! I plagiarised seventies funk first, Before you came and borrowed mine! [Post-Chorus – Chant, claps and horn punches] Funk! Funk! Everybody say! Who’s been borrowing what today? Funk! Funk! Pass it around! You can’t claim you invented that sound! [Verse 2 – Mark, playful swagger] I was stealing from the masters, From the people I admire, Took a little bit of rhythm, Put some petrol on the fire. Never said I was original, Never claimed I made the beat, But the ladies and the gentlemen, Sound familiar when we meet! Got a little bit of Motown, Got a little James Brown, Got a little something different, When I turned it upside down. If you’re gonna take my intro, And you’re gonna take my style, You could mention old Avalon, Every once in a while! [Pre-Chorus 2 – Call and response] [Mark] Who’s got the rhythm? [Girls] Everybody, honey! [Mark] Who owns the funk? [Girls] It isn’t bought with money! [Mark] Who got there first? [Girls] The seventies crew! [All] And they were borrowing too! [Chorus – Full ensemble] OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Hey!) You can’t put a patent on a beat! OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Woo!) You can’t copyright your dancing feet! You might think you have the funk, Rex, But it all started in Avalon! I plagiarised seventies funk first, Before you came and borrowed mine! [Middle Eight – Mark rapping over stripped bass and handclaps; turntable scratches between lines] I took that old pocket, put my name on the show, Then Rex took a shortcut with a familiar flow. But the roots run deep, and the branches run wide, Every borrowed little spark keeps the whole thing alive. You can quote that rhythm, you can flip that phrase, Just tip your hat to the ones who paved the way. No deed, no fee, no velvet rope, Pass it round the room—that’s the whole damn hope! [Girls] Tell ’em, Mark! [Mark] A little recognition wouldn’t hurt! [Girls] Tell ’em again! [Mark] You can borrow my funk… But you can’t borrow my history! [Girls] Ooooooh! [Mark] And Rex… [Pause – bass only] [Mark] If you’re gonna steal from a thief… At least steal something good! [Girls] AVALON! [Instrumental Break – 16 bars] [Slap bass solo, syncopated clavinet, wah guitar] [Four-bar horn riff answered by brass and handclaps] [Short drum fill into breakdown] [Breakdown – Bass and handclaps only] [Mark, spoken] Now hold up! I ain’t mad at imitation. I ain’t mad at inspiration. I spent my whole life borrowing music… From people who borrowed it before me! [Girls] Tell ’em, Mark! [Mark] A little recognition wouldn’t hurt! [Girls] Tell ’em again! [Mark] You can borrow my funk… But you can’t borrow my history! [Girls] Ooooooh! [Mark] And Rex… [Pause – bass only] [Mark] If you’re gonna steal from a thief… At least steal something good! [Girls] AVALON! [Final Chorus – Double chorus, full horns, female harmonies; huge wobble-bass drops and half-time impacts toward the end] OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Hey!) You can’t put a patent on a beat! OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Woo!) You can’t copyright your dancing feet! You might think you have the funk, Rex, But it all started in Avalon! I plagiarised seventies funk first, Before you came and borrowed mine! OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Hey!) Nobody gets to own the groove! OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER! (Woo!) Everybody’s got a right to move! It’s a little bit of yesterday, It’s a little bit of something new, It’s a little bit of what I stole, And a little bit of what stole you! [Outro – Stop-time horn hits] [Mark] Who owns the funk? [Girls] Nobody! [Mark] Who stole the funk? [Girls] Everybody! [Mark] Who got there first? [Girls] The seventies! [All] AND EVERYBODY’S GOT A PIECE! [Mark, spoken] Ladies and gentlemen… The Avalon Funk All Stars. You’re welcome, Rex. [Final brass hit – tight band stop] [All] OWNERSHIP IS NOT MY LOVER!
