Born in Gainesville, Florida, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bradley spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. One of the more optimistic moments of his childhood came in 1962, when his sister took him to see James Brown at The Apollo. Brownβs energy formed a lasting impression on Bradley. He went home and immediately began practicing microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string, imitating the Godfatherβs every move. With his newfound inspiration came an urgent desire to get off the streets and make something of himself.
Bradley made his way out of Brooklyn via Job Corps, a federal program for helping underprivileged families. His job placement took him to Bar Harbor, Maine where he learned to cook. While in Maine, he put together a band and began to pursue his passion for performing. He had his first taste of the stage when he was asked to perform for some female employees of Job Corps in Poland Springs. The ladies went wild and Bradley knew that he was destined to be an entertainer. Unfortunately, his fate was put on hold when his band mates were drafted in the Vietnam War, and he was forced to find work as a chef in Wassaic, New York at a hospital for the mentally ill.
After nine years cooking for 3500 people a day, being harassed by local police officers, and having no musical outlet, Bradley decided to leave Wassaic and head west in search of a dream. He had saved up enough money to buy a new Ford but soon realized that he couldn't keep up with the payments; he promptly returned it to a dealer and began hitchhiking. He caught rides all the way from New York to California and up through Canada. He persevered through the dangers of the road (including one driver who confided in him that he had just killed his wife and children) and eventually landed in Alaska where he once again found work as a chef. Though the job paid well, he was not well liked by his fellow chefs, and soon made his way back to California via airplane.
Bradley spent over 20 years in California, making his living as a chef, all the while playing music on the side. He had no regular band, but he played pick-up gigs when they came along and sat in on recording sessions to feed his musical cravings. Things seemed to be looking up for Bradley, but just as he was about to put a down payment on his first house, he was laid-off from his job of 17 years. Being fired forced him to re-evaluate his life out west. Ultimately, he decided to come home to Bushwick, Brooklyn to be with his family again. Bradley took every penny he had saved, loaded up a truck with the musical equipment he collected over the years, and drove back to New York. At this point, he was fed up with the tribulations of being a chef and took up work as a handyman to allow himself the flexibility to pursue his musical career.
Bradley finally found an audience when he began making appearances in local Brooklyn clubs performing his James Brown routines under the alter ego βBlack Velvet.β At 51, he was finally making a life for himself back home. His musical career was moving forward, but he was to be tested once again.
Bradley awoke in his motherβs house one morning to the sounds of police sirens. He was devastated to find that his brother had been shot and killed by his nephew. Life did not seem worth living anymore.
Bradley was down and out when Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records happened upon him performing his Black Velvet act at the Tarheel Lounge in Bedstuy. Roth recognized his raw talent and directly brought him into the Daptone βHouse of Soulβ studios for a session with the Sugarman 3. "Take It as It Comes" was Bradley's first single on Daptone and it proved him as a worthy vocalist. Roth eventually brought Bradley out to Staten Island to see Dirt Rifle and the Bullets, a young funk band playing James Brown and Meters influenced songs. Thomas Brenneck, songwriter and guitarist for the Bullets, hit it off with Bradley and they began working together. They released two singles on Daptone under the name βCharles Bradley and the Bullets,β but the Bullets soon dismantled in order to form the afrobeat influenced Budos Band.
However, Brenneck knew that Bradley had something more to give and after moving to Bushwick himself, he and Bradley reunited. In time, they became close friends and Bradley confided his life story in Brenneck. The young producer was moved when he heard Bradley tell the painful story of his brotherβs death. Brenneck said, "Charles, we gotta put that story to music." Brenneck had put together a small bedroom studio and was working on instrumentals with a new group soon to be named Menahan Street Band. His new sound was the perfect compliment for the heartfelt and troubled lyrics that sprang from Bradleyβs story. Brenneck had just launched Dunham Records, a division of Daptone, and would release Bradleyβs "The World (Is Going Up in Flames)" and "Heartaches and Pain" as itβs second single. A departure from his Black Velvet act, the songs showed a new side of Bradley as a compelling artist in his own right and proved to be a great success. Many late night writing and recording sessions later, he and Brenneck completed their first full-length record, "No Time for Dreaming". Bradley always knew he was born to entertain, but in the making of this record he discovered a proclivity for songwriting as well.
The record was a labor of love for both Bradley and Brenneck. After years of working together, "No Time for Dreaming" was released on Dunham Records. After that, Bradley toured with the Menahan Street Band and honed his passion as a singer and an entertainer.
Bradley died on the 23rd of September, 2017, due to the consequences of cancer.
Ain't It A Sin
Charles Bradley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hey Rail?)
I try to be a righteous man
I try to give love all over the world
But I'm tired of being used!
Oww
Ah aha
Its my turn to get out in the world and let my spirit speak
I try to be a righteous man
Talk to the Lord most every day
Sometimes this world can do me wrong
I keep to the path wont go astray
When I start boiling over my feelings catch a flame
You might be a man, stay a man, but you wont be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
I try to find a certain style
To keep my soul from runnin' wild
My emotion got the best of me
I kick and scream just like a child
I start boiling over my feelings catch a flame
I'd be a man, stay a man, but you wont be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
When I start boiling over my feelings catch a flame
I'd be be a man, stay a man, but you wont be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
Oww
Ah ah
Ain't it a sin
So don't do me wrong
And I won't do you wrong
We gonna do it right
Owah
Ain't it a sin
C'mon
C'mon on
The song Ain't It A Sin by Charles Bradley is an introspective and personal song about love and being used by people. The singer starts by saying that he tries to be a righteous man and give love all over the world, but he's tired of being used. He wants to be the one who loves and is loved. Charles Bradley sings the chorus "If you ain't gonna do me right, I might just do you in. Ain't it a sin?" This shows that he is tired of being treated poorly and he is ready to take action against it. He also talks about how sometimes the world can do him wrong but he keeps to the path and won't go astray.
The second verse of the song shows that Bradley is not perfect, and he has moments where his emotions get the best of him. He talks about how he tries to find a certain style to keep his soul from running wild, but his emotions still catch a flame, and he starts boiling over. The chorus repeats in this verse, emphasizing his frustration at being used and mistreated.
Overall, the song has a message of standing up for oneself and not letting others mistreat you. It encourages the listeners to do what is right, and not to bring harm to others. Charles Bradley sings this song with a passionate voice, making it an emotional and memorable song.
Line by Line Meaning
I try
I attempt
(Hey Rail?)
Unknown or unimportant interjection by someone named Rail
I try to be a righteous man
I endeavor to be an upstanding person
I try to give love all over the world
I attempt to spread love throughout the world
But I'm tired of being used!
But I'm exhausted from being taken advantage of
Oww
Expressing pain or discomfort
Ah aha
Unknown or unimportant exclamation
Its my turn to love and be loved
It's my time to both give and receive love
Its my turn to get out in the world and let my spirit speak
It's now my time to share my beliefs and passions with the world
Talk to the Lord most every day
I frequently communicate with God
Sometimes this world can do me wrong
At times, this world can cause me harm or injustice
I keep to the path wont go astray
I remain committed to my principles and won't deviate from them
You might be a man, stay a man, but you wont be the same
You may think you're tough, but you'll be changed by my actions
If you ain't gonna do me right
If you're not going to treat me fairly
I might just do you in
I may seek revenge against you
Ain't it a sin
Isn't that immoral?
I try to find a certain style
I try to find a particular manner or approach
To keep my soul from runnin' wild
To prevent my inner self from becoming uncontrollable
My emotion got the best of me
My feelings overpowered me
I kick and scream just like a child
I act out intensely like a kid would
When I start boiling over my feelings catch a flame
When my emotions intensify, they ignite like fire
I'd be a man, stay a man, but you wont be the same
I may act in a way that makes me feel more masculine, but you won't be unaffected
So don't do me wrong
Therefore, don't treat me unfairly
And I won't do you wrong
If you don't mistreat me, I won't mistreat you
We gonna do it right
We'll do it properly
C'mon
Encouragement or invitation to continue
C'mon on
Encouragement or invitation to continue further
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Greene, Brian Profilio, Daniel F Jr. Foder, David Guy, Jared M. Tankel, Leon Michels, Thomas Brenneck
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fabiopedrazzi
I try
I try to be a righteous man
I try to give love all over the world
But I'm tired to be you
It's my turn
To love and be loved
It's my turn
To get out and run let my spirit fleet
I try to be a righteous man
Talk to the Lord almost every day
Sometime this? can do me wrong
I keep to the path
Won't go astray
When I start boiling over
My feelings catching flame
Now be a man stay a man
But you won't be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
I try to find a certain?
To keep my soul from running wild
My emotion got the best of me
I kick and scream just like a child
I start boiling over
My feelings catching flame
Now be a man stay a man
But you won't be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
When I start boiling over
My feelings catching flame
Now be a man stay a man
But you won't be the same
If you ain't gonna do me right
I might just do you in
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
Ain't it a sin
So don't do me wrong
And I won't do you wrong
We gonna do it right
Ain't it a sin
C'mon
C'mon
Ain't it a sin
@TshirtHelpDesk
RIP Mr. Bradley...We need more music like this....Thank you!
@AlbertoSanchez-wn2yo
I usually don't agree with other humans π but this is something I can agree π
@chomiczasty9525
@Alberto Sanchez no doubt my friend!
@MrB2damac
Charles Bradley is that funky fresh uncle at Thanksgiving who doesn't know the meaning of being old. I love this song
@evanb1470
And you went to school with his date for the evening...
@KM-Atlas
THIS here people
@phairlever
So glad I heard this song on Reacher. I had not heard of Charles Bradley. I'm in awe. Godspeed good sir.
@jeromeellis4665
Here from Reacher too!
@shashankgangwar6757
Same here
@qbakon
Im from Luke Cage π