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John Kongos — He's Gonna Step On You Again
Album: Kongos
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1374









Released: 1971
Length: 4:43
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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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 (115)add comment
GREAT TUNE!!
Posted 3 days ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:


as a railroad engineer, i find it off track.


No engineering background, but as a geologist, this rocks
Posted 1 month ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
 DrLex wrote:

As an electrical engineer I find it just OK.


as a railroad engineer, i find it off track.
Posted 2 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 7 months ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]
 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
Posted 9 months ago by igotitmade2k    [ Reply ]
You're twistin my melon, man
Posted 10 months ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 10 months ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
 laverdakeith wrote:

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



As a structural engineer I find it quite enjoyable.
Posted 1 year ago by Pound33    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 1 year ago by Essbee63    [ Reply ]
The congo doesn’t fall far from the congo tree…
Posted 1 year ago by milleymeister    [ Reply ]
Just can't help but move  & groove to this all time favorite !! 
Posted 1 year ago by Rozsa    [ Reply ]
 rocklandlove wrote:

Come Together, anyone?



ya similar vibe
Posted 1 year ago by richgoose    [ Reply ]
 OHMish wrote:

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


C-c-call the c-cops!
Posted 1 year ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
wow - how did this not be in my radar back then -! this is wild !
Posted 1 year ago by Roku    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 2 years ago by bugslovertoo    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 2 years ago by tabbygreen    [ Reply ]
Get some WD40 on that wheelbarrow...
Posted 2 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Come Together, anyone?
Posted 2 years ago by rocklandlove    [ Reply ]
I bought this single... yep, right back there.
Posted 3 years ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
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.
 
Posted 3 years ago by SeannRooney    [ Reply ]
Brings back such great memories. My sister gave me this LP after listening to it non stop in a herb induced state. Right On
Posted 3 years ago by ybconway    [ Reply ]
Pretty cool how both versions of this song aren't THAT different, but still give a very different, specific vibe
Here's a 10
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 3 years ago by 2Hawks    [ Reply ]
 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!
Posted 4 years ago by Enness    [ Reply ]
As a mechanical engineer I find this tune difficult to listen to.
Posted 4 years ago by laverdakeith    [ Reply ]
Am I the only one who hears Radar Love (golden earring) at points in this song?  Radar Love was recorded 2 years after this.
Posted 4 years ago by dschieve    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by birdman42    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 4 years ago by BCarn    [ Reply ]
I hear some T Rex in this, and I enjoy the T Rex.
Posted 4 years ago by Ihatethissong    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 4 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 Dazzerb wrote:
rare time that the remake is better than the original.
 
Except it isn't.
Posted 4 years ago by trevc    [ Reply ]
ooos never knew there was an original.... me like
Posted 5 years ago by dubberdan    [ Reply ]
Thanks RP for playing the original version.  The Happy Mondays ruined it.      
Posted 5 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 5 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
 Dazzerb wrote:
rare time that the remake is better than the original.

 
Amen! {#High-five}
Posted 6 years ago by ShamanManu    [ Reply ]
 Jakethemuss wrote:
Shaun Ryder must be turning in his grave.

 
Why? The Happy Mondays version is a cover of this.
Posted 7 years ago by trevc    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}Takes me back!!!!
Posted 7 years ago by dantomberlin    [ Reply ]
rare time that the remake is better than the original.
Posted 7 years ago by Dazzerb    [ Reply ]
Oh, those memories... {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 8 years ago by Prius    [ Reply ]
I like the Happy Mondays version better.
Posted 8 years ago by robin_at_domani    [ Reply ]
Shaun Ryder must be turning in his grave.
Posted 8 years ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}{#Bananasplit}
Posted 8 years ago by Rozsa    [ Reply ]
 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)
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 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 
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
this is original?
I prefer Happy Mondays {#Notworthy}
Posted 9 years ago by ShamanManu    [ Reply ]
That was painful.  Ouch.
Posted 10 years ago by Athyrius    [ Reply ]
 blotto wrote:
where's my bell bottoms, vest, and big floppy hat when I need them?

 
check the back of your closet
Posted 10 years ago by PopKombo    [ Reply ]
where's my bell bottoms, vest, and big floppy hat when I need them?
Posted 10 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
 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
Posted 10 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
 tiggers wrote:
...there are no points for being a music geek!...
 Don't even joke about that.
Posted 10 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 10 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
 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!
Posted 10 years ago by tiggers    [ Reply ]
 jsjacob wrote:
Like others, I didn't realize the Happy Mondays' version was a cover.
 
You are joking aren't you! {#Eh}
Posted 10 years ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
 Baketown wrote:
T-Rex?

 

I just thought the exact same thing, that fuzzy guitar is dead on TRex.
Posted 10 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
WOW, this takes me back! Ain't heard this for donkeys years!!{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 10 years ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
He wear no shoeshine
He got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca-Cola
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Too cool, I remember when this came out!
Posted 10 years ago by glassman    [ Reply ]
Like others, I didn't realize the Happy Mondays' version was a cover.
Posted 11 years ago by jsjacob    [ Reply ]
same here, but only heard it occasionally on alternative fm radio
Posted 11 years ago by goodwin21    [ Reply ]
Could someone please put some grease on the swings the kids are playing with in the backgroud.
 
Posted 11 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
 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....
Posted 11 years ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 11 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
Ah, shades of KBEY Kansas City, ca. 1971.
Posted 11 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
You're twisting my melon maaaan... you're twisting my melon! ;)
Posted 11 years ago by OHMish    [ Reply ]
 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".
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
1971?
Amazing.  I thought this was a new group.  Dang!   {#Drummer}
Posted 11 years ago by MirageRF    [ Reply ]
lighten up guys, this is great!!!!
Posted 11 years ago by oilydwarf    [ Reply ]
 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)
Posted 11 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
T-Rex?
Posted 11 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 11 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Normally don't much care for covers, but the Happy Mondays version is kickier.
Posted 11 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
My PSD button did work. Thank the lord !!
Posted 11 years ago by asylumgiant    [ Reply ]
Help the psd button is not working!
 
Posted 11 years ago by subdude    [ Reply ]
This has gotta wake you up from the afternoon blues!
Posted 11 years ago by Rozsa    [ Reply ]
Cool, I have never heard this and I never realized the Happy Monday's version was a cover.
Posted 11 years ago by drsteevo    [ Reply ]
No sir, I don't like it.
Posted 11 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
My melon is now sufficiently twisted, thanks. 
Posted 11 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
Blast Burp from the past. Been dancing to it though.
Posted 11 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Mi gallo está loco para su gallina.
Posted 19 years ago by rascal420    [ Reply ]
uh. urg. urg. URG! URGURGURGURG feh
Posted 19 years ago by neuraljazz    [ Reply ]
Just too much of everything . . . can't deal with it.
Posted 19 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
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. :)
Posted 19 years ago by walk    [ Reply ]
Whoa! Blast from the past! Glam-trance. Thanks for the hit! If you like T-Rex, how can you hate this? Buzz/reverb........Brrrrrr
Posted 19 years ago by TerminalCityCowboy    [ Reply ]
everytime I hear this song I swear I hear a clich. it annoys me. correct me if I wrong.
Posted 20 years ago by ladyj    [ Reply ]
No no no! Bad bad bad! I will have nightmares about this song. :P J
Posted 20 years ago by Rael_1975    [ Reply ]
This song makes me mad -- all that repeating of "he's gonna step on you again". NO HE ISN'T!!!
Posted 20 years ago by DaWiz    [ Reply ]
mperry wrote:
...Lindsey Buckingham plays a fairly unique guitar brand)...
I'm pretty sure Lindsay's guitar is homemade, like Brian May's.
Posted 20 years ago by Brad_Eleven    [ Reply ]
Whoa! I knew it wasn't the happy mondays - appreciate the history lesson! 8O
Posted 20 years ago by snama    [ Reply ]
What a load of c**p!
Posted 20 years ago by crazycrazy    [ Reply ]
AAUGH does this song ever end?
Posted 20 years ago by vorkosigan    [ Reply ]
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 :)
Posted 20 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
It\'s T-Rex, David Cassidy, and Age of Aquarius all rolled into one 64 kbps MP3.
Posted 20 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
ugh
Posted 20 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
Agony! Bad mp3 quality, too. Pops!
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by deneb    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by iamlfb    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 21 years ago by termcder    [ Reply ]
I prefer the Happy Mondays version Mad for it!!!
Posted 21 years ago by Heathen    [ Reply ]
How about the Happy Monday\'s version? I knew it was a cover, but had never heard this orig. version afore. Kinda funky
Posted 21 years ago by pilgrim    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 21 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]
Annoying enough to be distracting. I think that\'s not a good thing.
Posted 21 years ago by 1jerry    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 21 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by drover    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by Lee    [ Reply ]
Never heard the original until now. Rather enjoyed the Happy Mondays version when it landed on American shores.
Posted 21 years ago by drover    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by ktbaynes    [ Reply ]
Not as good as the Happy Mondays
Posted 22 years ago by bevel    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 22 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]