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.
Jesus
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know
Don't think that I'm any saint 'cause
I can't do nothin' for you
I only asked of you just as I got to do myself
Look into your inner self only you know how to be
Free
If you wanna grin let it smile
Can nobody play down God's lovin' child
'Cause when the spirit hits you you got to move
And just as He made us one of many
Then aren't the many of us maybe only one
Surely can you be the rising sun but
The depth of night the light for sight
Sort of sets the moral standards of soul
Gives you the strength to pay the price of life
And rewards you with a bit of fulfillment
The definition of true He is more real than you
Isn't he?
Almighty Doctor must have been a heavenly man
Jesus!
Lot of inspiration all over this land Jesus
In spite of your fears you can shed happy tears
Jesus!
Don't care what you call Him none can befall Him
Hear me say Amen! Amen! Amen! Hear me say
Amen!
Now stand up and clap your hands
Amen! Amen! Amen! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Travelin' Soul the way the story goes
We all know He was crucified
But what He gave us never will die!
He never had a hustlin' mind
Doin' crime wastin' time!
Drinkin' that wine
Drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin'
You need courage in time of fear
Because of undyin' news you hear
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
Strength in time of new temptation
Don't want to lose a love relation
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
He never had a hustlin' mind
Doin' crime wastin' time
Drinkin' that wine
Drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin'
And drinkin' and drinkin'
The world I see before me is tryin' to make me a slave
Jesus!
Than to see many children hungry
I'd rather go to my grave Jesus!
The lovin' way of life
Has terribly been arranged Jesus!
Something's mighty mighty wrong
And it seems awful strange
Just like a back up gear there are those in fear
Of falling near we who are already here
Look-a-here, look-a-here, look-a-here
You need courage in time of fear
Because of undyin' news you hear
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
Strength in time of new relations
Don't want to lose a love relation
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
He never had a hustlin' mind
Doin' crime wastin' time
Drinkin' that wine
Drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin'
And a-
Talk about Jesus
Talk about Jesus
Curtis Mayfield's song Jesus is a powerful commentary on the importance of faith and spirituality in tough times. The song's lyrics encourage listeners to look within themselves and find peace, strength, and fulfillment through a connection with God. Mayfield suggests that there is a higher power that can help people to overcome adversity and that the right spiritual mindset can make all the difference in life. Some interpretations suggest that the song is particularly relevant for African Americans, who have historically faced discrimination and oppression, and for whom faith has often been an important source of resilience and hope.
The song's structure is quite interesting. Mayfield starts by suggesting that his words are a form of prayer and encourages listeners to find freedom in their own inner selves. He then goes on to sing about the importance of Jesus and the inspiration that he provides. Mayfield recognizes that there are many different names for God and that different people may have different religious beliefs, but he argues that all faiths share the common goal of connecting people with something greater than themselves. Towards the end of the song, Mayfield talks about the struggles that people face in the world and how faith can give them the courage to persevere. He ends the song by repeating the phrase "talk about Jesus" again and again, reminding us of the power that faith can have in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe the words I say is just another way to pray
The singer is unsure if his words have the same impact as a prayer
Don't think that I'm any saint 'cause
I can't do nothin' for you
The singer is aware that he is not perfect and admits he cannot solve other people's problems
I only asked of you just as I got to do myself
Look into your inner self only you know how to be
Free
The singer encourages listeners to be introspective and find their own path to freedom
Can nobody play down God's lovin' child
'Cause when the spirit hits you you got to move
No one can deny the power of God's love and when someone feels its impact, they are moved to action
And just as He made us one of many
Then aren't the many of us maybe only one
We are all unique individuals, but we are also all part of the greater whole
Surely can you be the rising sun but
The depth of night the light for sight
Sort of sets the moral standards of soul
Gives you the strength to pay the price of life
And rewards you with a bit of fulfillment
In order to find fulfillment in life, one must understand the good and bad parts of themselves and have the strength to navigate both
The definition of true He is more real than you
Isn't he?
God represents an ultimate truth that transcends human comprehension
Almighty Doctor must have been a heavenly man
Jesus!
The singer refers to Jesus as a great healer who walked the Earth
Lot of inspiration all over this land Jesus
In spite of your fears you can shed happy tears
Jesus!
Jesus and his teachings can be found everywhere, and in times of fear, faith can bring comfort and happiness
Don't care what you call Him none can befall Him
Hear me say Amen! Amen! Amen! Hear me say
Amen!
Regardless of what name someone uses to refer to God, he is beyond human harm and worthy of praise
Travelin' Soul the way the story goes
We all know He was crucified
But what He gave us never will die!
Christians believe that despite Jesus' death, his teachings and spirit continue to live on
The world I see before me is tryin' to make me a slave
Jesus!
Than to see many children hungry
I'd rather go to my grave Jesus!
The singer asserts that he would rather die than be enslaved or see children suffer
Something's mighty mighty wrong
And it seems awful strange
Just like a back up gear there are those in fear
Of falling near we who are already here
Look-a-here, look-a-here, look-a-here
The world is flawed and people are afraid of change, but the singer implores them to see the truth and take action
You need courage in time of fear
Because of undyin' news you hear
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
Strength in time of new temptation
Don't want to lose a love relation
Talk about Jesus talk about Jesus
He never had a hustlin' mind
Doin' crime wastin' time
Drinkin' that wine
Drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin' and drinkin'
In times of fear and temptation, the singer encourages listeners to find strength in Jesus and turn away from negative influences
Contributed by Addison F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jdfodio
It's cool that you appreciate this song. However, by definition, an unbeliever (non-Christian) is not qualified to tell any Christian how to preach about Jesus. GOD gifts, equips and sends messengers (Christians) out with the message that can save others. HE decides how we preach to people, not you or anyone else. I hope that by now, you've become a believer. If not, then this method of "preaching" is not as persuasive to you as you claim. If so, then hopefully you've graduated into your own ministry enough to realize that not everyone is designed to "preach" through singing or playing instruments like Curtis Mayfield.
Paul: 'When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord ’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.' (1 Corinthians 2:13-16)
Paul: 'Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. '
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Paul: 'Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures : “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the Lord .
So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. '
1 Corinthians 14:20-26
@MadAngel209
Curtis Mayfield was indeed a treasure.
@westartfromhere7704
Is treasured
@leonardoluis3015
Curtys mayfield ao Senhor Jesus Cristo seja dada toda honra e toda glória
@jcakemix
one of the greatest musicians ever simply put
@mpendulondabenhlengcobo8051
Oh God, I'm so in love with this song.. it put me somewhere else
@redtyga10.o39
Mpendulo Ndabenhle Ngcobo so true bro follow me @redtyga10.0
@Bogartboginty
Sublime!
@gabrielagalbes5717
Deus seja louvado! amém.
@AndrewsOpinion15
I LUV THIS SONG !!!!!!
@dennistucker7370
AWESOME !!