View source for The Kids

{{Song|cover=TheKids.jpg|name=The Kids|artist=[[Jamiroquai]]|album=[[The Return Of The Space Cowboy]]|isSingle=Y|released=12 December 1993|recorded=1993|playedLive=63 times|length=5:08|label=Epic Records|genre=Funk & acid jazz|writer=[[Jay Kay]] & [[Toby Smith]]|producer=Jay Kay}}

"'''The Kids'''" is the sixth track and first single off of the album [[The Return Of The Space Cowboy|''The Return of the Space Cowboy'']]. Although released before the album's release, it would not be their lead single as it was technically released during the [[Emergency on Planet Earth|''Emergency on Planet Earth'']] era. The single was not a worldwide release, and would be exclusively sold in Japan as a CD single.<ref>https://funkin.com/music/singles/the_kids/</ref> The song is a abrasive and fast song, with it's lyrics about the rights and status of children around the world. The fast tempo and loud sound is used to make the song more child-like and energetic.

== Lyrics ==
Ha!

Now we're getting nasty!

[Verse 1]

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids

The kids got funky soul and groovy motion

But if you don't give the kids a chance to use it

Well, they're always more than likely to abuse it

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids

It's takin' time for you to realize

Now hunger turns to anger in their eyes

I say the revolution will be televised - a-yes, it will

Everybody's talking 'bout the kids

The kids need space to get their heads in place

Oh, and every day, this world we have to face

Well, I just can't seem to find my proper place

Cause it's like this...

[Chorus]

Kids get down, stormy weather

Fifteen years of royal pleasure

Watch me now (watch me now)

Kids get down, underground

Everybody dance to the funky sound

Watch me now

Because the kids got funk and soul

[Verse 2]

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids

It won't be long before we get our own

And every kid can truly feel at home

I told ya you should give the dog a bone - give the dog a bone

Everybody's talkin' 'bout school

But I get my pleasure breakin' all the rules

Cause lesson one begins with 'Life is cruel'

Well, I guess I'm just an educated fool, haha

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids

Mom and Dad make efforts to excuse it

Government officials will confuse it

Members of the bench will try to prove it

But you goin' down, sucka!

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids now

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids now

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the, everybody's talkin' 'bout the

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the kids now

Everybody's talking

Hear them people talking about the kids

The kids got funky soul, come on now

The kids got funky soul

You know the kids got funky soul, yeah

I said, the kids got funky soul

Ooh-oh, the kids got funky soul

[Chorus]

Kids get down, stormy weather

Fifteen years of royal pleasure

Watch me now, watch me

Kids get down, celebrate

Now we're gonna kick the thing we hate

Watch me now

Cause the kids got funk and soul

[Instrumental break]

Ah, ha, ha, ha... ha!

You know the kids got funky soul, yeah!

Ah, ha, ha, ha... ha, ha

I said the kids got funky soul, yeah

Everybody's talking about the kids now

Everybody's talking about the kids now

Everybody's talking about the, (5x) 

Everybody's talking about the kids now

Hey!

Keep on talkin', yeah

And keep on movin', yeah

Gotta keep on groovin', yeah

Gotta keep on talkin', yeah

Keep on

Keep on movin', yeah

[Verse 3]

Everybody's talking 'bout high

But kids get high to satisfy

For reaching out to touch the sky

Is all I can identify

And you know why

[Chorus]

Kids get down, stormy weather

Fifteen years of royal pleasure (watch me now)

Kids get down, celebrate

Now we're gonna kick the thing we hate (watch me now)

Watch me!

Kids get down, pressurized

To live the life that you devised (watch me now)

Kids get down, celebrate

Life's too short to complicate (watch me now)

Cause the kids got funky soul

== Reception ==
The track was fairly reviewed positively by critics and fans alike, with many praising it for its funky bass, "wah-wah" guitars, and fast-paced drumming. Siân Pattenden from ''Smash Hits'' named it the "best stuff" of the album, alongside "[[Space Cowboy]]"<ref>https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54032558119/in/album-72177720320712165/</ref>

== Track list ==
'''Japanese CD single'''<ref>https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kids-Jamiroquai/dp/B000057G5U/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1357551074&sr=1-2</ref>

# "The Kids" – 4:13
# "When You Gonna Learn" <small>(Live at Leadmill, Sheffield)</small> – 9:51
# "When You Gonna Learn" <small>(Digeridoo Instrumental)</small> – 6:31

== Trivia ==

* "The Kids" is the only ''Return Of The Space Cowboy'' track with [[Derrick McKenzie]] on the drums.
* "The Kids" is the fastest track on ''Return Of The Space Cowboy.''

== References ==