Mayfield is probably best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and for the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly.
Perhaps because he didn't cross over to the pop audience as heavily as Motown's stars, it may be that the scope of Curtis Mayfield's talents and contributions have yet to be fully recognized. Judged merely by his records alone, the man's legacy is enormous. As the leader of the Impressions, he recorded some of the finest soul vocal group music of the 1960s. As a solo artist in the 1970s, he helped pioneer funk and helped introduce hard-hitting urban commentary into soul music. "Gypsy Woman," "It's All Right," "People Get Ready," "Freddie's Dead," and "Superfly" are merely the most famous of his many hit records.
But Curtis Mayfield wasn't just a singer. Born in in Chicago, IL, he wrote most of his material at a time when that was not the norm for soul performers. He was among the first -- if not the very first -- to speak openly about African-American pride and community struggle in his compositions. As a songwriter and a producer, he was a key architect of Chicago Soul, penning material and working on sessions by notable Windy City soulsters like Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, and Billy Butler. In this sense, he can be compared to Smokey Robinson, who also managed to find time to write and produce many classics for other soul stars. Mayfield was also an excellent guitarist, and his rolling, Latin-influenced lines were highlights of the Impressions' recordings in the '60s. During the next decade, he would toughen up his guitar work and production, incorporating some of the best features of psychedelic rock and funk.
Mayfield began his career as an associate of Jerry Butler, with whom he formed the Impressions in the late '50s. After the Impressions had a big hit in 1958 with "For Your Precious Love," Butler, who had sung lead on the record, split to start a solo career. Mayfield, while keeping the Impressions together, continued to write for and tour with Butler before the Impressions got their first Top 20 hit in 1961, "Gypsy Woman."
Mayfield was heavily steeped in gospel music before he entered the pop arena, and gospel, as well as doo wop, influences would figure prominently in most of his '60s work. Mayfield wasn't a staunch traditionalist, however. He and the Impressions may have often worked the call-and-response gospel style, but his songs (romantic and otherwise) were often veiled or unveiled messages of black pride, reflecting the increased confidence and self-determination of the African-American community. Musically he was an innovator as well, using arrangements that employed the punchy, blaring horns and Latin-influenced rhythms that came to be trademark flourishes of Chicago soul. As the staff producer for the OKeh label, Mayfield was also instrumental in lending his talents to the work of other Chi-town soul singers who went on to national success. With Mayfield singing lead and playing guitar, the Impressions had 14 Top 40 hits in the 1960s (five made the Top 20 in 1964 alone), and released some above-average albums during that period as well.
Given Mayfield's prodigious talents, it was perhaps inevitable that he would eventually leave the Impressions to begin a solo career, as he did in 1970. His first few singles boasted a harder, more funk-driven sound; singles like "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go" found him confronting ghetto life with a realism that had rarely been heard on record. He really didn't hit his artistic or commercial stride as a solo artist, though, until Superfly, his soundtrack to a 1972 blaxploitation film. Drug deals, ghetto shootings, the death of young black men before their time: all were described in penetrating detail. Yet Mayfield's irrepressible falsetto vocals, uplifting melodies, and fabulous funk pop arrangements gave the oft-moralizing material a graceful strength that few others could have achieved. For all the glory of his past work, Superfly stands as his crowning achievement, not to mention a much-needed counterpoint to the sensationalistic portrayals of the film itself.
At this point Mayfield, along with Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, was the foremost exponent of a new level of compelling auteurism in soul. His failure to maintain the standards of Superfly qualifies as one of the great disappointments in the history of black popular music. Perhaps he'd simply reached his peak after a long climb, but the rest of his '70s work didn't match the musical brilliance and lyrical subtleties of Superfly, although he had a few large R&B hits in a much more conventional vein, such as "Kung Fu," "So in Love," and "Only You Babe."
Mayfield had a couple of hits in the early '80s, but the decade generally found his commercial fortunes in a steady downward spiral, despite some intermittent albums.
On August 14, 1990, he became paralyzed from the neck down when a lighting rig fell on top of him at a concert in Brooklyn, NY. In 1993, three years after the accident which caused Mayfield's paralysis, Shanachie records released the album People Get Ready: A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield featuring a.o. Jerry Butler, Don Covay and Steve Cropper.
Mayfield received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
Curtis Mayfield died December 26, 1999 at the North Fulton Regional Hospital in Roswell, Georgia.
"P.S. I Love You"
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The weather is cool
The fooks are fine
I′m in bed each night at nine
Ps i love you
Yesterday we had some rain
But all in all i can't complain
Ps i love you
Write to the brown′s just as soon as you're able
They came around to call
And not burn a hole in the dining room table
Now let me think; i guess that's all
Nothing else for me to say
And so i′ll close, but by the way
Everybody′s thinking of you
P.s. i love you
In Curtis Mayfield's song "P.S. I Love You," the lyrics convey a heartfelt letter from a narrator to their loved one. Through the simple words, the singer shares their thoughts and experiences, providing a glimpse into their current life. Opening with "Dear, I thought I drop a line," the singer establishes a sense of intimacy and fondness. They then mention that the weather is cool and the surroundings are pleasant, indicating that they are content with their present environment. This line also alludes to the idea that the singer is sending this letter from a distance, perhaps while traveling or living apart from the recipient.
The lyrics "I'm in bed each night at nine, P.S. I love you" imply that the singer still holds strong affection for the recipient. Despite the distance between them, their love remains constant and unwavering. This line captures the sentiment of longing and demonstrates how deeply the singer feels for the recipient, even in their absence.
The following verse mentions rainfall, which could symbolize challenges or difficulties that the singer is facing. However, they quickly assure the recipient that overall, they can't complain. This suggests that no matter what obstacles they encounter, they still maintain a positive outlook on life. The line "Was it dusty on the train, P.S. I love you" adds a touch of vulnerability. It is as if the singer is using small, everyday observations to connect with the recipient and convey their affectionate sentiments.
The second half of the song shifts to a more practical and mundane tone, indicating that the letter is drawing to a close. The singer suggests writing to the Browns, presumably mutual friends or acquaintances, as soon as possible. They briefly mention the Browns visiting and highlight the importance of not damaging the dining room table. These lines add a sense of normalcy and remind the recipient that life goes on even in their absence.
The final lines capture the sense of endearment that surrounds the singer and their love for the recipient. They express that everyone is thinking of the recipient, emphasizing their significance in the lives of others. The closing words "P.S. I love you" reiterate how essential this love is to the singer, serving as a final declaration of affection and an invitation for the recipient to hold onto the love and thoughts sent their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear, i thought i drop a line
My dear, I felt the need to write you a letter
The weather is cool
The climate here is pleasant
The fooks are fine
The people around me are doing well
I'm in bed each night at nine
I retire to bed early every night
Ps i love you
By the way, I want you to know that I love you
Yesterday we had some rain
We experienced rainfall yesterday
But all in all i can't complain
Overall, I have no major complaints
Was it dusty on the train
Did the train have a lot of dust?
Ps i love you
By the way, I want you to know that I love you
Write to the brown's just as soon as you're able
Please write to the Browns as soon as you have the opportunity
They came around to call
They paid us a visit
And not burn a hole in the dining room table
And be careful not to damage the dining room table
Now let me think; i guess that's all
Now let me reflect; I suppose that's everything
Nothing else for me to say
There is nothing more I have to convey
And so i'll close, but by the way
Therefore, I will conclude, but before that
Everybody's thinking of you
Everyone is keeping you in their thoughts
P.s. i love you
P.S. Just a reminder, I love you
Writer(s): John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Contributed by Xavier I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ComputerLearning0
Superbad was a funny, goofy movie but the last scene of the movie was rather powerful and quite meaningful. The way Seth kept looking up the the steps at his best friend was truly heartbreaking because he realized the finality of their friendship. Although they would always be best friends, it would never be the way it was before going off to their respective colleges. These two friends had never really been apart and the movie very effectively conveyed the meaning of TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
@d0ngm4n_93
Yeah they got what they wanted but lost the only thing they had.
@stevem2323
Yep, that's how i feel about it, a masterful scene in a great movie.
@cptfreeman8966
They're gay. And I believe the last scene was a moment in Seth realizing his feelings for Evan was stronger than he realized
@stevem2323
@@cptfreeman8966 Naaah, nice try tho.
@jay_boot
Well said, exact reason why although that movie was goofy as fuck it still hit me hard. I was a senior in high school when it came out and went to see it in theaters with my closest friends so it felt like an exaggerated form of my life made into a movie
@johnnobon
For such a funny movie, it's a little surprizing that Superbad had such an emotional ending. Man, that was a great movie.
@Carwash1989
Superbad brought me here ;D
@samueltourist
Just the same man !
@ComputerLearning0
Me too . . . . . . . .