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.
Make Me Belive In You
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Other guys want a one night stand
They all stare when she's around
I'm so proud how she puts them down
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody
Nobody but me
I don't worry 'cause we're so tight
See each other 'most every night
She let me have the master key
That's why I kiss her explicitly
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody
Nobody but me
Some dudes, they think she's teasing
They think she wants to play
But she's so doggone pleasing
And hey, that's just her way
And no one's gonna steal her
She does what she wants to
She only lets me feel her
And then I know it's true
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody
Nobody but me
In a day and age when you can't be sure
I've got one with a love that's pure
Guess you'd call her my lucky star
She goes out, but she don't go far
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody
Nobody but me
Some dudes, they think she's teasing
They think she wants to play
But she's so doggone pleasing
And hey, that's just her way
And no one's gonna steal her
She does what she wants to
She only lets me feel her
And then I know it's true
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody, no, no
She don't let nobody
Nobody but me
In Curtis Mayfield's Make Me Believe In You, the singer is expressing his love and admiration for a woman who is highly sought after by other men. He takes comfort in the fact that she only has eyes for him and doesn't let anyone else get close. He describes her as someone who is not easily swayed by flattery and has a no-nonsense approach to relationships. The singer considers himself lucky to have gained her trust and affection and privileges that come with it, like a master key that lets him into her inner world. The woman is portrayed as being confident, self-assured, and in control of her own desires. The singer is not worried about losing her as he knows that she has chosen him and is true to her word.
As the song progresses, the singer reaffirms the woman's loyalty and commitment to him. He dismisses the notion that she is playing around with his emotions and asserts that her pleasing manner is just who she is. He emphasizes that no one can steal her away from him as she is free-spirited and does what she wants to. The singer concludes that in a world where love is hard to come by, he has found the one who makes him believe in it - his "lucky star."
Overall, the lyrics portray a mature and healthy relationship where two people value and respect each other's boundaries. The woman is not objectified, but rather celebrated for her strength and independence, making it a refreshing departure from the typical male gaze found in many love songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Other guys try to hold her hand
There are other men who try to hold her hand, but she is not interested in them.
Other guys want a one night stand
There are other men who want to have a one night stand with her, but she is not interested in them.
They all stare when she's around
Men stare at her when she is around because they find her attractive.
I'm so proud how she puts them down
I am proud of how she rejects the other men who are interested in her.
She don't let nobody, no, no
She doesn't let anyone else pursue her romantically except for me.
Nobody but me
She is only interested in me romantically.
I don't worry 'cause we're so tight
I don't worry about other men because we have a strong relationship.
See each other 'most every night
We spend a lot of time together and see each other almost every night.
She let me have the master key
She has given me access to everything in her life and trusted me with it.
That's why I kiss her explicitly
I am grateful for her trust and show my appreciation through physical affection.
Some dudes, they think she's teasing
Some men believe that she is flirting with them, but she is not interested in them.
They think she wants to play
These men believe that she is interested in them romantically, but she just wants to be friends.
But she's so doggone pleasing
She is very pleasant to be around and attractive, but only wants a friendship with these men.
And hey, that's just her way
That's just how she is and the way she treats men who are interested in her romantically.
And no one's gonna steal her
No one will be able to pursue a romantic relationship with her because she is only interested in me.
She does what she wants to
She has control over who she allows into her life romantically and only wants me.
She only lets me feel her
She only allows me to pursue a romantic relationship with her and no one else.
And then I know it's true
When I am with her, I know that she only wants me and is not interested in anyone else.
In a day and age when you can't be sure
In an uncertain world where it's hard to find true love and trust.
I've got one with a love that's pure
I have found someone with pure love and loyalty.
Guess you'd call her my lucky star
I consider her to be my lucky charm and believe that she is a blessing in my life.
She goes out, but she don't go far
She enjoys going out and having fun but doesn't want to be involved romantically with others.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manuela Garnec
Ain't a girl to be found
Without a mouth [Incomprehensible]
You just remember from hip to the lip
Before you ask any questions
I ain't for no heart wrappin'
So you can stop with your eyelids slappin'
It's gonna be a real cryin' shame
If I find that you're playin' in a game
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anything you want me to do
Make me believe in you
Keepin' filled with all your temptation
You know it leaves me with no inspiration
Another chart playin' on me
May have a hard time succeedin', you see
You don't seem quite like the others
Respectin' me and your sisters and brothers
It would be awful, awful sad
To give love and you treat me so bad
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anythin' you want me to do
Make me believe, make me believe in you
Ain't no girl to be found
Without a mouth [Incomprehensible]
You just remember from hip to the lip
Before you ask any questions
I ain't for no heart wrappin'
So you can cut off that eyelids slappin'
Gonna be awful, awful sad
To give love and you treat it so bad
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anythin' you want me to do
Just make me believe
Make me believe, make me believe
Tell Me Some
U better listen to my black brother this poetic and master minded in music..
The GREATEST....
Ain't a girl to be found
Without a mouth [Incomprehensible]
You just remember from hip to the lip
Before you ask any questions
I ain't for no heart wrapping
So you can stop with your eyelids slappin
It's gonna be a real crying shame
If I find that you're playin' in a game
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anything you want me to do
Make me believe in you
Keepin filled with all your temptation
You know it leaves me with no inspiration
Another chart playing on me
May have a hard time succeeding, you see
You don't seem quite like the others
Respecting me and your sisters and brothers
It would be awful, awful sad
To give love and you treat me so bad
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anything you want me to do
Make me believe, make me believe in you
Ain't no girl to be found
Without a mouth [Incomprehensible]
You just remember from hip to the lip
Before you ask any questions
I ain't for no heart wrappin'
So you can cut off that eyelids slappin'
Gonna be awful, awful sad
To give love and you treat it so bad
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anything you want me to do
Just make me believe
Make me believe, make me believe....
fabzama8
Ain't a girl to be found
Without a mouth [Incomprehensible]
You just remember from hip to the lip
Before you ask any questions
I ain't for no heart wrappin'
So you can stop with your eyelids slappin'
It's gonna be a real cryin' shame
If I find that you're playin' in a game
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anything you want me to do
Make me believe in you
Keepin' filled with all your temptation
You know it leaves me with no inspiration
Another chart playin' on me
May have a hard time succeedin', you see
You don't seem quite like the others
Respectin' me and your sisters and brothers
It would be awful, awful sad
To give love and you treat me so bad
Make me believe in you
Show me your love can be true
Do anythin' you want me to do
Make me…
Colin Stuart-Campbell
The production quality on Curtis Mayfield albums still stands up today. Truly a visionary that was never fully appreciated in his own time.
Corey Sheppard
100% true
Anna Kolodziejska
Mayfield's music is so well tuned to the vibes of my brain. This music truly is the sound-track for my life. I can hear it even when I'm asleep.
Charles Hodges
This beat is so gangsta. The world can't afford to forget the beautiful music Curtis Mayfield created.
Living Tree Initiative
Curtis Mayfield was and will always be the greatest musical genius.
Thomas caillens
Damn... Iconic... And fun fact here:
This song has been sample by one of the most famous french Electro DJ (dj Mehdi) for one of the most iconic French rap band (113) and they produced... One of the most iconic French rap song that all old-timer know in France "Les princes de la ville".
kaby
Yes, it appears at 2:20 for anyone interested
Mvar
and now the main theme of netflix movie "athena"
neymar _the goat
Love this track and 99%of Curtis music sweet soul funky rhythm. RIP brother. I'm so happy to have your music around
Alex Pook
James Brown may have been the funkiest, but Curtis had the funk and was the most soulful to boot. A true original. Great post.