# Play that funky music cowboy

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 8, 2000, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911 "2000-02-08T04:38:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911/1 "2000-02-08T04:38:00Z")

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Okay, we all know it’s “play that funky music white boy,” so why did a band of white boys I saw over the weekend change it to cowboy? Is political correctness now seeping into our rock music? :eek:

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**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911/2 "2000-02-08T05:00:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by Sycorax:  
> \*\*Okay, we all know it’s “play that funky music white boy,” so why did a band of white boys I saw over the weekend change it to cowboy? Is political correctness now seeping into our rock music? :eek: \*\*

Haven’t heard it. You know the original version was done by Wild Cherry, a white rock band. Was this a parody cover? Was the word “white” changed in the original version? Give me more details.

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**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911/3 "2000-02-08T05:19:00Z")

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Not sure I follow you dude - you haven’t heard the original version? I’m remembering the original version but didn’t remember the band’s name. It is definitely supposed to be “white boy.” The band I just saw was just a local beach band at a lounge and they were playing it straight except for changing white boy to cowboy.

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**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911/4 "2000-02-08T06:17:00Z")

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Maybe not so much political correctness as Knowing Your Audience.

Musicians and other performers frequently tailor their songs, or their playlist, or their comedy bits, etc. to appeal to the audience. (Like the Blues Brothers singing “Rawhide” over and over.)

I’m guessing there were some pick-ups in the parking lot.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-that-funky-music-cowboy/6911/5 "2000-02-08T13:33:00Z")

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Maybe they just didn’t get the lyrics right? Some bands even get their _own_ lyrics wrong! A case in point: Orange County punk band D.I.'s big hit was _Richard Hung Himself_. They sing “your answer is non seglidur.” Not only did they get _non sequitur_ wrong, but they also failed to realize it’s a noun. It’s still a cool song though.