Good Times

This song is a joyful look back at the roller-disco decade when, after Nixon and Vietnam and the times of recession, better days seemed to be ahead. "It really was a great time," Nile Rodgers told Esquire. "People were fun loving, kind, generous, open to other people's philosophies, uncritical "Good Times" is a 1979 song composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. It was first recorded by their band, Chic, for their 1979 album, Risqué. In August of that year it became the band's second number one single on both the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart. Along with the tracks, "My Forbidden Lover", and "My Feet Keep Dancing", "Good Times" reached number three on the disco charts. The song has become one of the most sampled tunes in music history, most notably in hip hop music. Billboard magazine named "Good Times" the number one R&B single for 1979. The song is ranked #229 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The lyrics are largely based on Milton Ager's "Happy Days Are Here Again." It also contains lines based on lyrics featured in "About a Quarter to Nine" made famous by Al Jolson. Nile Rodgers has stated that these depression-era lyrics were used as a hidden way to comment on the then-current economic depression in the United States. The backing track of "Good Times" was notably recreated in The Sugarhill Gang's 1979 single "Rapper's Delight", a key track in the development of hip hop. Rodgers and Edwards threatened legal action over copyright, which resulted in a settlement and their being credited as co-writers. Rodgers admitted that he was originally upset with the song, but would later declare it to be "one of his favorite songs of all time" and his favorite of all the tracks that sampled Chic (although the song did not actually use samples). He also stated that "as innovative and important as 'Good Times' was, 'Rapper's Delight' was just as much, if not more so." Traditionally, Chic's live performances of "Good Times" incorporate a portion of "Rapper's Delight" including audience participation call-and-response.

[Chorus] Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Our new state of mind These are the good times [Verse 1] Happy days are here again The time is right for makin' friends Let's get together, how 'bout a quarter to ten? Come tomorrow, let's all do it again Boys will be boys, better let them have their toys Girls will be girls, cute ponytails and curls Must put an end to this stress and strife I think I want to live the sporting life [Chorus] Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Our new state of mind These are the good times [Verse 2] A rumor has it that it's getting late Time marches on, just can't wait The clock keeps turning, why hesitate? You silly fool; you can't change your fate Let's cut the rug, a little jive and jitterbug We want the best, we won't settle for less Don't be a drag; participate Clams on the half shell, and roller skates, roller skates [Hook] Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Our new state of mind These are the good times Good times [Instrumental Break] [Verse 2] A rumor has it that it's getting late Time marches on, just can't wait The clock keeps turning, why hesitate? You silly fool; you can't change your fate Let's cut the rug, a little jive and jitterbug We want the best, we won't settle for less Don't be a drag; participate Clams on the half shell, and roller skates, roller skates [Hook] Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Our new state of mind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Our new state of mind These are the good times Good times These are the good times Leave your cares behind These are the good times Good times