Bop Gun (Endangered Species)

"Bop Gun (Endangered Species)" is a song by the funk band Parliament, the lead track on their 1977 album Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome. It was released as the album's first single. The song's lead vocal is performed by Glen Goins, his last performance on a P-Funk record.

The Bop Gun is an imaginary weapon that makes whatever it shoots funky. It was used as a stage prop in Parliament's late-1970s concerts. George Clinton is depicted wielding it on the cover of the Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome album. It is also featured on the cover of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.

Meaning

Building on an elaborate mythology developed in the earlier albums Mothership Connection and The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein, "Bop Gun" is based on the metaphor of using funk music as a weapon against the political and economic oppression of the predominantly white society of the United States. The lyrics prominently feature the warnings "On guard!" and "Defend yourself!", as well as the well known civil rights rallying cry, "We shall overcome".

While the oppressive forces are not explicitly identified in the song, they are described as "spoiling the fun"; the singer seems to identify himself as part of an "endangered species" and repeatedly laments, "I got to get over the hump". The necessary response: "Let's shoot them with the bop gun". In a more defensive light, the song counsels, "To dance is a protection / Funk is your connection".