Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry

Cross-over Music by Chris Isaak

Original Air Dates: 1998 - present (CBS)

Between  July and October 2001, the opening music changed and Kilborn walked out to a fanfare that is typically associated with bull-fights (at least, to me).  Creggers mentioned on 10/19/2001 that is was back but didn't say anything more.

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC

The whole song is not heard, of course, but the beginning and about five or six of the lines are played as "Creggers," as he affectionately calls himself, walks out on stage.

CROSS-OVER MUSIC

This music is played after the opening monologue as Kilborn walks to his desk. It is also the end theme for the show. I don't know what the real name (if it even has one) of it is. I call it cross-over music because that's what the action of the host moving to the desk from the opening monologue is called in the business. Check out every other talk show with an opening monologue - Johnny, Dave, Jay, Rosie (now Caroline), Conan. They are all "played" over to the desk.

The Late, Late Show is starting,
The Late, Late Show is starting now . . .

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC COMPLETE LYRICS

Hey, do it now.  Yeah hey.
Yeah, Once there was a boogie singer playin' in a rock & roll band
I never had no problems, yeah, burnin' down the one night stands.
And everything around me, (yeah)  got to stop to feelin' so low.
And I decided quickly, (Yes I did)  to disco down and check out the show.
Yeah they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy. Play that funky music right.
Play that funky music white boy.  Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till you die.
Till you die.  Oh till you die.

I tried to understand this.  I thought that they were out of their minds.
How could I be so foolish (how could I)  to not see I was the one behind.
So still I kept on fighting.  Well, losing every step of the way.
I said I must go back there (I got to go back) and check to see if things still the same.

Yeah they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy. Play that funky music right.
Play that funky music white boy.  Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die.
Till you die. Oh till you die.

Spoken (Gonna play some electrified funky music, come on)
Guitar Solo (a, ha, ha)
(Spoken: Hey wait a minute)

Now first it wasn't easy.  Changin' Rock & Roll and minds.
And things were getting shaky.  I thought I'd have to leave it behind.
Oh but now its so much better (it's so much better).  I'm funking out in every way.
But I'll never lose that feelin' (you no I won't) of how I learned my lesson that day.
When they were Dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted

Play that funky music white boy. Play that funky music right.
Play that funky music white boy.  Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die.
Till you die. Oh till you die.

They shouted play that funky music.  Play that funky music.
Play that funky music Ya Gotta keep on playin' funky music  Play that funky music (x3)

Gonna take it higher now:
Play that funky music white boy.  Play that funky music right.
Play that funky music white boy.  Play that funky music right.
Play that funky music white boy.  Play that funky music. (Fade)