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.
Back To The World
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back in the world
Back in the world
Back in the world
Crawlin' through the trees
Stuck in mud up to the knees
Fightin' this damn war
Six long years stretch
And we boys was in a hell of a mess
I gotta keep my mind; take it slow
Fightin' hard for what I don't know
I wanna get back home, gotta get back home
Back to the world
I had a talk with little mom
Strenuous face as she began to hum
She said: Boy, it's good to see ya
My prayers must've been with ya
And now that you're back and done
Let me tell ya son
The war was never won
The war was never won
In these city streets everywhere
You gotta be careful where you move your feet; how you part your hair
Do you think that God could never forgive this life we live?
Back in the world
Back in the world
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
My, my, my, my
It's so hard, it's so hard, it's so hard
This life is so hard
I've been beaten up and robbed
Soldier boy ain't got no job
Back in the world
Had a long stretch of sacrifice
Gettin' back home will be awful nice
Child your woman has long been gone
The doggone war just lasted too long
People don't give a damn
People don't give a damn
People don't give a damn
So I'm standin' here in future shock
It can give the mind an awful knock
Talkin' 'bout hard times, hard times, hard times
Back in the world
Oh-oh-oh
My, my, my, my, my, my
It's so hard, it's so hard
This life is so hard
I been beaten up and robbed
Soldier boy ain't got no job
Back in the world
Back in the world
Uh huh, back in the world
Back in the world
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
My, my, my, my
It's so hard, it's so hard, it's so hard
This life is so hard
Back in the world
Ooh ooh ooh hoo
Ooh ooh ooh hoo
Back in the world
Back in the world
Forgiveness instead of amnesty
Simple words that seem so clear to me
Forgive our country,
Forgive your man, wastin' love for hate
Truth from honesty is true
We'd don't seem to know what to do, do
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Back in the world
The song "Back to the World" by Curtis Mayfield speaks about returning home after being in war for six long years. The lyrics are a story of a soldier's life during war, his struggles and the countless sacrifices he has made for his country. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase "Back in the world," which means returning home from the war zone. The soldier is "crawlin' through the trees" and "stuck in mud up to the knees," fighting a war with an uncertain purpose. He wonders if the Lord knows what the war is for.
The following verses of the song talk about the soldier's longing to return home. He wants to go "Back to the World," as it's so hard there. The war has left him with nothing; he has been "beaten up and robbed" and has no job. The soldier's mother is pleased to see him back but reminds him that "the war was never won." She tells him that in the city, he has to be careful where he moves his feet and how he parts his hair. The song reflects the truth about the bitter realities of a soldier's life, where coming back to the world from war is not always a happy ending.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in the world
After serving in the war, the singer has returned home to face the realities of life.
Back in the world
The singer is emphasizing the shock and discomfort of returning to civilian life after the war.
Back in the world
The repetition of this line adds to the sense of unease and feeling of disconnection the singer has with the world.
Back in the world
The artist is haunted by the violence of war and unable to forget its horrors.
Crawlin' through the trees
The artist is recalling unpleasant memories of the war and the physical demands it placed on him.
Stuck in mud up to the knees
The singer is describing a difficult and uncomfortable situation he was in during the war.
Fightin' this damn war
The singer sees the war as pointless and frustrating.
Wonderin' if the Lord knows what it's for
The artist is questioning the nature and purpose of the war, and whether God understands it.
Six long years stretch
The artist is conveying the amount of time he was in the war and how long it has felt to him.
And we boys was in a hell of a mess
The artist is acknowledging the chaos and difficulty they faced while serving as soldiers.
I gotta keep my mind; take it slow
The singer is reminding himself to stay calm and avoid getting overwhelmed by his memories of the war.
Fightin' hard for what I don't know
The artist is struggling to understand the purpose of the war and why they were fighting.
I wanna get back home, gotta get back home
The singer is longing to return to his normal, civilian life.
Back to the world
The singer wants to return to the familiar and mundane aspects of his daily life.
I had a talk with little mom
The singer is recounting a conversation he had with his mother upon returning home.
Strenuous face as she began to hum
The artist is describing the appearance and behavior of his mother when they spoke.
She said: Boy, it's good to see ya
The artist's mother is expressing relief and happiness to see her son again.
My prayers must've been with ya
The singer's mother is assuming that her prayers helped keep her son safe during the war.
And now that you're back and done
The singer's mother is happy that her son is back home safely and no longer fighting in the war.
Let me tell ya son
The artist's mother wants to communicate something important to her son.
The war was never won
The artist's mother is expressing her belief that the war was ultimately futile and did not achieve its goals.
In these city streets everywhere
The artist is noticing the differences between his experiences in the war and the reality of his new surroundings.
You gotta be careful where you move your feet; how you part your hair
The singer is warning the audience of the dangers and challenges faced in day-to-day life outside of the war.
Do you think that God could never forgive this life we live?
The artist is questioning whether God could forgive humanity for the violence and chaos that they create in the world.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
My, my, my, my
The singer is expressing his frustration and despair about his situation.
It's so hard, it's so hard, it's so hard
This life is so hard
The singer is struggling with the difficulties of civilian life and the impact the war had on him.
I've been beaten up and robbed
Soldier boy ain't got no job
The singer is describing the harsh reality of life after the war, including the difficulty of finding employment.
Had a long stretch of sacrifice
Gettin' back home will be awful nice
The artist recognizes the sacrifices he made while serving in the war and is looking forward to returning home.
Child your woman has long been gone
The doggone war just lasted too long
The artist is lamenting the loss of his wife and recognizing the negative impact the war had on their relationship.
People don't give a damn
People don't give a damn
People don't give a damn
The singer is expressing his frustration with the lack of empathy and concern for returning soldiers in society.
So I'm standin' here in future shock
It can give the mind an awful shock
The singer is feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by the changes that have occurred in society while he was away at war.
Talkin' 'bout hard times, hard times, hard times
Back in the world
The artist is acknowledging the difficult times he is facing and how tough it is to adjust to civilian life.
Forgiveness instead of amnesty
Simple words that seem so clear to me
The artist is advocating for the importance of forgiveness and how it can be a better alternative to punishment.
Forgive our country,
Forgive your man, wastin' love for hate
Truth from honesty is true
The artist is calling for forgiveness at the national and personal level, and espousing the value of honesty.
We'd don't seem to know what to do, do
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Back in the world
The singer is recognizing the uncertainty and confusion of society about how to address the aftermath of the war.
Contributed by Declan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rob Jones
Curtis' finest moment. His exquisite elegance in portraying black soldiers who returned
from the hellhole of Vietnam, to disdain and utter indifference by their own citizens
has been never bettered. Yet it has never achieved the same status or sales as
Marvin's "What's Goin' On?"
In my opinion, it matches "WGO" for sheer musical brilliance and insight.
After all, Curtis was a big influence on Jimi Hendrix who was once with the 101
Airborne Division. Anybody who served through that terrible war, will tell you that
this album cuts deep.
I've read "Bloods", "Dispatches", "Rumours Of War" et al and as superb as all those books are, nothing could ever match the dreadful reality of serving in a humid jungle facing an unseen enemy who could strike from anywhere.
"Back To The World" will be one day recognised, as the masterpiece it truly is.
Curtis was a class act. We won't see his likes again.
barrys
Not only could Mayfield rock, but his music could deliver a message. What a beautiful brother and what great album.
Eric Salter
True
Sheila Taylor
1973 still going strong 2021 he truly is a man.
LuLu Santos
This song. My love to you all here. To the Nam vets, & all veterans of all the man's wars, those who made it back to the world alive, and had to begin trying to live again, and the families of all deceased veterans, love to you. My blessed deceased Father, naval officer who made it back from Korea, and Nam (USS Leyte) - I'm so glad you all made it. Back To The World. May there be Peace in your Soul, and Peace On Earth. Be well.
Brady Korbin
a tip : watch movies on Flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies recently.
Kason Hendrix
@Brady Korbin Definitely, I have been watching on flixzone for since december myself :)
Clifton Pierson
I didn't go not because I was scared it was wrong social climate love your people thu
Eric Salter
Bless you all,Salute
ALVIN GRAY-EL
This Song has a Strong meaning to any and all Veterans who served overseas and sacrifice life and limb ... May GOD Bless you all!!!
Michele
I dedicate this to my Dad,my older brother Joesph,and my brother Jeffery and my husband Scott.My Dad was in WW2,brother Joesph in Vietnam,my brother Jeff in Korea.My husband in Iraq,stationed in Kuwait.My husband is still here with me.My Father and brothers are not.Loved these strong men and what they stood for.