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About

Genius Annotation

The origin of this song was a 2006 James Brown concert in London, which the duo were offered the chance to attend by Brown’s manager. However they were playing their own show the same night and the timing didn’t work out, and the Godfather of Soul died a few months later. Cee-Lo explained to Billboard:

It disappointed me so bad. It was almost like he was about to pass a torch to me. It’s my assumption but that’s also my aspiration. When I say, ‘I lay my own soul down,’ it’s like, I will have to be my own hero. I will have to save my own soul. Therefore, it is very painful, but there’s also a silver lining.

The song is Track 2 on their sophomore album, The Odd Couple.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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