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John Kongos — He's Gonna Step On You Again
Album: Kongos
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1583









Released: 1971
Length: 4:46
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Hey rainmaker come away from that man
you know he's gonna
take away our promised land.

Hey good lady
He just want what you got
You know he'll never stop
Until he's taken the lot.
Gonna stamp out your fire
He can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man

Gonna stamp out your fire
he can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man
you're a man. He's a man.

Hey rainmaker he got golden plans
I tell you he make you
a stranger in your land.

Hey good lady
he got God on his side
he got a double tongue
you never think that he lie.

Gonna stamp out your fire
he can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man

Gonna stamp out your fire
he can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man
You're a man, you're a man
He's a man

He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.

Hey rainmaker come away
from that man you know
He's gonna take away our promised land.

Hey good lady
he got God on his side
he got a double tongue
you never think that he lie.

Gonna stamp out your fire
he can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man

Gonna stamp out your fire
he can change your desire
don't you know that he can make
you forget you`re a man
You're a man, you're a man
He's a man

He got God on his side
he got a double tongue
You never think that he lie.

He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
He's gonna step on you again.
Comments (122)add comment


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again





He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again




He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again




He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again




He’s Gonna Step on You Again


He’s Gonna Step on You Again

He’s Gonna Step on You Again

Blimey, a true blast from the past. I loved this tune as a 13 year old spotty kid. Still sounds great today!!
Levelup VR
 unclehud wrote:
He wear no shoeshine
He got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca-Cola

My thoughts exactly. However, I was listening to Come Together a few days ago and was startled to realize that John Lennon seemed to be riffing from old blues chants (not sure the correct term for it). Not quite Bo Diddley but perhaps something older. Couldn't quite put my finger on it. 
Great tune! There is also a version from the 1980s (not Happy Mondays) by an Australian group called The Party Boys which I really liked. Back in the day. 
Awesome!  Have never heard the original until now.
Dögös zene !!!
GREAT TUNE!!
 lily34 wrote:


as a railroad engineer, i find it off track.


No engineering background, but as a geologist, this rocks
 DrLex wrote:

As an electrical engineer I find it just OK.


as a railroad engineer, i find it off track.
 Pound33 wrote:
 laverdakeith wrote:
As a mechanical engineer I find this tune difficult to listen to.

As a structural engineer I find it quite enjoyable.

As an electrical engineer I find it just OK.
 Alastair wrote:

Thanks RP for playing the original version.  The Happy Mondays ruined it.      




I had no idea. Lol, its a rocking song. Good for driving
You're twistin my melon, man
I grew up in Johannesburg in the 60's and 70's and knew the music scene pretty well.  John Kongos is not a name anyone had heard of.. Not on the radio. There was no TV.  Must have been famous overseas, but not in SA.
 laverdakeith wrote:

As a mechanical engineer I find this tune difficult to listen to.



As a structural engineer I find it quite enjoyable.
An example of a song chosen by a band as a cover because it's catchy yet obscure, easier to make people believe it's their own. The Happy Mondays version is awful.
The congo doesn’t fall far from the congo tree…
Just can't help but move  & groove to this all time favorite !! 
 rocklandlove wrote:

Come Together, anyone?



ya similar vibe
 OHMish wrote:

You're twisting my melon maaaan... you're twisting my melon! ;)


C-c-call the c-cops!
wow - how did this not be in my radar back then -! this is wild !
 robin_at_domani wrote:

I like the Happy Mondays version better.


Well put. I really like this version tho.  We can have different opinions about a song and that's ok.

 Alastair wrote:

Thanks RP for playing the original version.  The Happy Mondays ruined it.      



Happy Monday's version is excellent--just different. This is really awesome also.
Get some WD40 on that wheelbarrow...
Come Together, anyone?
I bought this single... yep, right back there.
Isn't isn't isn't.  That's three isn'ts.  And a "3" for my rating.  My first on RP.  Actually, I haven't had a 4 or 5 either.  Not even worth an analysis....just no.

Except it isn't.
 
Brings back such great memories. My sister gave me this LP after listening to it non stop in a herb induced state. Right On
Pretty cool how both versions of this song aren't THAT different, but still give a very different, specific vibe
Here's a 10
 dschieve wrote:
Am I the only one who hears Radar Love (golden earring) at points in this song?  Radar Love was recorded 2 years after this.
 
Actually, I was hearing T Rex. 
 markwsyred wrote:
Every day's a school day ... Did NOT know The Happy Mondays biggest song was a cover.
 
Same here. I'm a bit disappointed. Almost a straight cover, 

- but now I know to appreciate John Kongos!
As a mechanical engineer I find this tune difficult to listen to.
Am I the only one who hears Radar Love (golden earring) at points in this song?  Radar Love was recorded 2 years after this.
 stunix wrote:

It also works the other way around too, consider Men at Work - Down Under whereby someone claimed the rights to an anonymously written nursery rhyme and successfully proved that Down Under was based on 8 notes from that song.   Men at work were then sued and lost all  rights to the song.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Under_%28song%29#Copyright_lawsuit
 
Not quite. The court said that Down Under contained notes from the song Kookaburra (the one we all learned in elementary school), and the copyright holder was awarded 5% of royalties.
 Jakethemuss wrote:
Shaun Ryder must be turning in his grave.
 
Shaun Ryder is still alive, though he was only eight or nine years old when this song was released.
I knew it! I thought right away this sounds like the group Kongos. All makes sense now since the members are the kids of John. Wiki is wonderful eh?
(But I cannot stand the song "Come with me now")
This is pretty 70's cool though.
I hear some T Rex in this, and I enjoy the T Rex.
 chinaski wrote:
Might be a bit surprising for Shaun Ryder to be told he must be turning in his grave. He's got a gig with the Mondays today and another in three weeks.
 
{#Lol}
 Dazzerb wrote:
rare time that the remake is better than the original.
 
Except it isn't.
ooos never knew there was an original.... me like
Thanks RP for playing the original version.  The Happy Mondays ruined it.
      
5 years later, Well ok, they didn't ruin it but they didn't improve it either.
Might be a bit surprising for Shaun Ryder to be told he must be turning in his grave. He's got a gig with the Mondays today and another in three weeks.
 Dazzerb wrote:
rare time that the remake is better than the original.

 
Amen! {#High-five}
 Jakethemuss wrote:
Shaun Ryder must be turning in his grave.

 
Why? The Happy Mondays version is a cover of this.
{#Dancingbanana_2}Takes me back!!!!
rare time that the remake is better than the original.
Oh, those memories... {#Dancingbanana}
I like the Happy Mondays version better.
Shaun Ryder must be turning in his grave.
{#Bananajam}{#Bananasplit}
 Roverfish wrote:
It's T-Rex, David Cassidy, and Age of Aquarius all rolled into one 64 kbps MP3.
 
I just heard a Partridge Family song on my local station early yesterday, ha ha (DC did have a good voice, don't cha think?)  
Kongos Pappa, also did John Kongos - Tokoloshe Man (1971)
 jsjacob wrote:
Like others, I didn't realize the Happy Mondays' version was a cover.
  

 
mgkiwi wrote:

You are joking aren't you! {#Eh}

 
Hey, I was just as clueless as jsjacob! Never heard this back in the day. It's pretty cool but I lean towards the Happy Mondays version (although that reverb guitar is pretty cool). 

Oh, Dude: Bill just mentioned that John Kongos has four sons, who formed a band called...Kongos. As played on RP:

https://www.radioparadise.com/?name=Music&file=songinfo&song_id=43793 
this is original?
I prefer Happy Mondays {#Notworthy}
That was painful.  Ouch.
 blotto wrote:
where's my bell bottoms, vest, and big floppy hat when I need them?

 
check the back of your closet
where's my bell bottoms, vest, and big floppy hat when I need them?
 Proclivities wrote:

Artists have to pay the original artists (usually large sums of money) for using sampled portions of the prior songs, so it's not really "pillaging" at all. 

 
It also works the other way around too, consider Men at Work - Down Under whereby someone claimed the rights to an anonymously written nursery rhyme and successfully proved that Down Under was based on 8 notes from that song.   Men at work were then sued and lost all  rights to the song.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Under_%28song%29#Copyright_lawsuit
 tiggers wrote:
...there are no points for being a music geek!...
 Don't even joke about that.
Reminds me of both the Cowsills and the Scissor Sisters. How weird is that? Plus I hear a playground swing squeaking in there too.  1971 you say? Well it got my foot tapping.
 mgkiwi wrote:

You are joking aren't you! {#Eh}

 
Why? Some people don't know everything there is to know about music and it's not a crime. Lighten up as we've all left college now and there are no points for being a music geek!

The quality of this particular recording is dreadful and anyway it maybe a cover but the Mondays version is far better!
 jsjacob wrote:
Like others, I didn't realize the Happy Mondays' version was a cover.
 
You are joking aren't you! {#Eh}
 Baketown wrote:
T-Rex?

 

I just thought the exact same thing, that fuzzy guitar is dead on TRex.
WOW, this takes me back! Ain't heard this for donkeys years!!{#Dancingbanana_2}
He wear no shoeshine
He got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca-Cola
Too cool, I remember when this came out!
Like others, I didn't realize the Happy Mondays' version was a cover.
same here, but only heard it occasionally on alternative fm radio
Could someone please put some grease on the swings the kids are playing with in the backgroud.
 
 drsteevo wrote:
Cool, I have never heard this and I never realized the Happy Monday's version was a cover.
 
I wish I had just heard this version in the 90's. It's much better.  I liked the Happy Mondays song because it was so "original" for music at the time. Little did I know....
 snama wrote:
Whoa! I knew it wasn't the happy mondays - appreciate the history lesson! 8O
 
I attend the same classroom. "8" for both original and Mondays version.
Ah, shades of KBEY Kansas City, ca. 1971.
You're twisting my melon maaaan... you're twisting my melon! ;)
 iamlfb wrote:
Fascinating how people (I hesitate to say artists), thirty years later, can pillage these great songs and make millions. Money is in ripping off, these days. I am talking about Moby, here, if it wasn't clear, already.
 
Artists have to pay the original artists (usually large sums of money or large residuals) for using sampled portions of the prior songs, so it's not really "pillaging" at all.   Learn a little something about how the music business works in the 21st Century instead of just making up your own "facts".
1971?
Amazing.  I thought this was a new group.  Dang!   {#Drummer}
lighten up guys, this is great!!!!
 subdude wrote:
Help the psd button is not working!
 
 
Well, it was recorded in 1971.

There was an awful lot of much worse music around then.

(man I gotta change my dickie username here one day)
T-Rex?
Well, despite being around in 1971 and essentially having a radio glued to my ear, I've never heard this. It was a Top 10 hit? Amazing.
Normally don't much care for covers, but the Happy Mondays version is kickier.
My PSD button did work. Thank the lord !!
Help the psd button is not working!
 
This has gotta wake you up from the afternoon blues!
Cool, I have never heard this and I never realized the Happy Monday's version was a cover.
No sir, I don't like it.
My melon is now sufficiently twisted, thanks. 
Blast Burp from the past. Been dancing to it though.
Mi gallo está loco para su gallina.
uh. urg. urg. URG! URGURGURGURG feh
Just too much of everything . . . can't deal with it.
ladyj wrote:
everytime I hear this song I swear I hear a clich. it annoys me. correct me if I wrong.
Heh. Do you mean "cliche" or "glitch" ? I did hear a glitch in this song, it should probably be re-encoded. If you meant "cliche" then please explain. :)
Whoa! Blast from the past! Glam-trance. Thanks for the hit! If you like T-Rex, how can you hate this? Buzz/reverb........Brrrrrr
everytime I hear this song I swear I hear a clich. it annoys me. correct me if I wrong.
No no no! Bad bad bad! I will have nightmares about this song. :P J
This song makes me mad -- all that repeating of "he's gonna step on you again". NO HE ISN'T!!!
mperry wrote:
...Lindsey Buckingham plays a fairly unique guitar brand)...
I'm pretty sure Lindsay's guitar is homemade, like Brian May's.
Whoa! I knew it wasn't the happy mondays - appreciate the history lesson! 8O
What a load of c**p!
AAUGH does this song ever end?
Originally Posted by mperry: I hear the T Rex, but the guitar reminds me a bit of when Lindsey Buckingham gets to wailing. Wonder if it is the guitar (Buckingham plays a fairly unique guitar brand) or playing style influence that accounts for the similarity? Whatever, it sounds good.
Yes, I hear what you mean and now you mention his name, the rhythmic breaks are kinda similar to Tusk's rhythm! Who knows, maybe Mick Fleedwood had John Kongos' rhythm still in the back of his mind, doing the drumming for that one :)
It\'s T-Rex, David Cassidy, and Age of Aquarius all rolled into one 64 kbps MP3.
ugh
Agony! Bad mp3 quality, too. Pops!
Originally Posted by Johray63: WILD! Crazy, T-Rex like glamrock. Did they influence T-Rex, or was it the other way around? Wait a minute, let me check at AMG who came first. Pom, pom, pom, pom, pom. (One minute later) John Kongos came first(!), but this single was released in about the same period as T-Rex' first singles, the beginning of the seventies. Fascinating how people, apart from each other, come up with comparable ideas, at the same time.
Thanks for checking! I hear the T Rex, but the guitar reminds me a bit of when Lindsey Buckingham gets to wailing. Wonder if it is the guitar (Buckingham plays a fairly unique guitar brand) or playing style influence that accounts for the similarity? Whatever, it sounds good.
Another reason I love RP: Hearing the originals of songs that I never even realized were covers! I hadn\'t heard \"Step On\" by the Happy Mondays in eons, too, so it took me a second to place it.
Fascinating how people, apart from each other, come up with comparable ideas, at the same time.
Fascinating how people (I hesitate to say artists), thirty years later, can pillage these great songs and make millions. Money is in ripping off, these days. I am talking about Moby, here, if it wasn't clear, already.
Whoa! I\'m awake now! This is why I listen to RP. Diversity. Something for everyone. Wasn\'t familiar with Kongos but love T Rex. Play this LOUD!
I prefer the Happy Mondays version Mad for it!!!
How about the Happy Monday\'s version? I knew it was a cover, but had never heard this orig. version afore. Kinda funky
WILD! Crazy, T-Rex like glamrock. Did they influence T-Rex, or was it the other way around? Wait a minute, let me check at AMG who came first. Pom, pom, pom, pom, pom. (One minute later) John Kongos came first(!), but this single was released in about the same period as T-Rex\' first singles, the beginning of the seventies. Fascinating how people, apart from each other, come up with comparable ideas, at the same time.
Originally Posted by drover: Or it could be something a simple as a recording with equipment that was rented on a shoestring budget which, back in the 70s, probably resulted in less-than-stellar recording quality. I like your explanation better though.
Not so, drover. A quick jaunt over to the AMG site reveals this album was produced by the same guys who produced Queen and Elton John's "Madman Across the Waters." The sound is a very conscious choice. Considered very experimental for the time. I must say, I like it a lot. Very layered and textured, sort of a presage of Talking Heads in their great middle period. In other words, Lee was right!
Annoying enough to be distracting. I think that\'s not a good thing.
This has to be one of the worst songs i\'ve heard on this station. It is really (in my opinion of course) non-congruent noise. blÀÀh
Originally Posted by Lee: I could be wrong but I think it's just Kongos' intentional production style--as if you were awakened from a deep sleep by a loud party somewhere in your neighborhood. You groggily strain to hear more as you put on your clothes and head out the door towards the distant music. Very dreamlike. Very primal.
Or it could be something a simple as a recording with equipment that was rented on a shoestring budget which, back in the 70s, probably resulted in less-than-stellar recording quality. I like your explanation better though.
Originally Posted by ktbaynes: seriously, the quality of this track leaves alot to be desired. i thought everything uploaded had to be 192 or better. no way that is the case for this one.
I could be wrong but I think it's just Kongos' intentional production style--as if you were awakened from a deep sleep by a loud party somewhere in your neighborhood. You groggily strain to hear more as you put on your clothes and head out the door towards the distant music. Very dreamlike. Very primal.
Never heard the original until now. Rather enjoyed the Happy Mondays version when it landed on American shores.
seriously, the quality of this track leaves alot to be desired. i thought everything uploaded had to be 192 or better. no way that is the case for this one.
Not as good as the Happy Mondays
Originally Posted by Railee^!^: I like to turn this way up.
Personally, I had to turn it up because it sounds like it was recorded underwater. -- Brian