"The Goose" is a song by the
funk band
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
. It was released as a two-part
single, the group's first on their new label
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Republic Records. Under its founder Neil Bogart, Casablanca was most successful during the disco era of the mid to late 1970s. The label current ...
. It was also a track on their
1974 album ''
Up for the Down Stroke''.
The song failed to chart.
Like "
Testify
In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter.
Etymology
The words "testimony" and "testify" both derive from the Latin word ''testis'', referring to the notion of a disinterested third-party witness.
La ...
", "The Goose" was borrowed from the repertoire of bandleader and
producer George Clinton's earlier
doo-wop group
The Parliaments
The Parliaments were an American vocal quintet from Plainfield, New Jersey, United States. Originally formed in the back room of a barbershop in 1956, the quintet was named after the cigarette brand. The Parliaments initially performed doo-wop ...
. The lyrics use the story of
the goose that laid the golden eggs as an eccentric metaphor for romantic attachment, an early instance of the references to
fairy tales and
nursery rhymes that would continue in Parliament's later releases.
This song was covered by the funk-rock band
Fishbone
Fishbone is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1979, that plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as "one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the lat ...
and is included on their 1996 compilation album ''
Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay''.
References
Parliament (band) songs
1974 singles
Songs written by George Clinton (funk musician)
Songs written by Eddie Hazel
Casablanca Records singles
1974 songs
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