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.
Mr. Welfare Man
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Hard Sacrifice, I Wanna Testify
Stayin′ A Lovin' Man
Society Gave Me No Choice, Tried To Silence My Voice
Put My Woman On The Welfare
I′m So Tired
I'm So Tired Of Tryin' To Prove My Equal Rights
Tho′ I′ve Made Some Mistakes, For Goodness Sakes
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare
Keep Away From Me. Keep Away. Keep Away
Mr. Welfare. Oo
Holdin′ Me Back, Usin' Your Tact
To Make Me Live Against My Will
But That′s How It Go. Wow! I Don't. Know
I Don′t Believe This Life's For Real
Like The Private Eye For The F.b.i.
Just As Envious As The Ku Klux Klan
Tho' I′m Of Peasant Fate And I′m Tryin' To Escape
I′ve Got To Do Whatever I Think I Can
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare
Didn't You Hear Me. Don′t Come Near Me
Mr. Welfare! Mr. Welfare
They Wanna Say I'm A Lazy Man
But You Got To Understand, There′s A Thing About My Pride
You Can't Make Me Move If There Ain't No Groove
′Cause It Eats Me All Up Inside. Oo
Welfare! Welfare
Just Another Day, Tryin′ To Make A Way
But All I See Outside Of Me Is Crime
What Can I Do To Make It Through
Ain't Gonna Sell Nobody′s Time
I Got A Woman True And A Baby Too
With A Love That Grows And Grows
Here Come The Bills, There Go The Thrills
And A Job. All Doors Are Closed
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare! Mr. Welfare! Mr. Welfare
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare Man
You Might Wanna Say I'm A Lazy Man
But You Got To Understand, There′s A Thing About My Pride
You Can't Make Me Move If There Ain′t No Groove
The song "Mr. Welfare Man" by Curtis Mayfield is a powerful statement about the struggles of a man who is forced to rely on welfare to survive. Mayfield's lyrics convey the pain and desperation of a man who wants to be seen as a "lovin' man" but has been pushed to the brink by a society that has given him no other choice. He is tired of trying to prove his equal rights and tired of having his life messed up by the system that is supposed to be helping him. He wants to be left alone by the "Mr. Welfare Man" who is holding him back and making him live against his will. Mayfield's lyrics express the frustration and righteous anger of a man who is struggling to survive and determined to keep his pride intact.
The song is a powerful commentary on poverty and the struggles faced by those who are forced to rely on welfare in order to survive. Mayfield's lyrics are a testament to the resilience and strength of those who are struggling to make ends meet and fighting to keep their dignity intact. For many people, welfare is a last resort, a safety net that is essential for survival. Mayfield's lyrics capture the struggles and sacrifices that come with relying on that safety net, and the pride that is still maintained in spite of those struggles.
Overall, "Mr. Welfare Man" is a powerful and insightful song that speaks to the struggles of poverty and the human spirit that endures in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Welfare! Welfare! Welfare
The singer chants the word 'welfare' three times, calling attention to the subject of the song.
A Hard Sacrifice, I Wanna Testify
The singer wants to speak out about the sacrifices he has made while on welfare and testify for those who are struggling.
Stayin' A Lovin' Man
Despite the obstacles he faces, the singer is determined to remain a loving person.
Society Gave Me No Choice, Tried To Silence My Voice
The singer feels that society has forced him onto welfare and prevented him from speaking out about his struggles.
Put My Woman On The Welfare
The singer's partner is also on welfare, adding to their financial struggle.
I'm So Tired
The singer is exhausted from constantly trying to make ends meet while on welfare.
I'm So Tired Of Tryin' To Prove My Equal Rights
The singer is tired of fighting for equal treatment and opportunities despite his dependence on welfare.
Tho' I've Made Some Mistakes, For Goodness Sakes
The singer acknowledges that he has made mistakes in life, but feels that he deserves better treatment than what he is receiving on welfare.
Why You Wanna Keep Messin' Up My Life
The singer is frustrated by the negative impact that welfare has had on his life and wants it to change.
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare
The singer wants to be left alone by the welfare system and its representatives.
Mr. Welfare. Oo
The singer repeats the name 'Mr. Welfare' sarcastically, expressing his frustration and anger towards the system.
Holdin' Me Back, Usin' Your Tact
The singer feels that the welfare system is holding him back from achieving his goals and is using manipulative techniques to keep him dependent.
To Make Me Live Against My Will
The singer does not want to be on welfare but feels forced to live that way due to his circumstances.
But That's How It Go. Wow! I Don't. Know
The singer acknowledges how difficult it is to break free from the welfare system but also feels unsure of what to do next.
I Don't Believe This Life's For Real
The singer questions whether the life he is living on welfare is truly real or fulfilling.
Like The Private Eye For The F.b.i.
The singer compares the welfare system to a detective working for the FBI, using similar covert tactics to maintain control over those they serve.
Just As Envious As The Ku Klux Klan
The singer compares the welfare system to the racist hate group, the Ku Klux Klan, suggesting that both groups seek to control and oppress others.
Tho' I'm Of Peasant Fate And I'm Tryin' To Escape
The singer feels trapped in his impoverished circumstances but is trying to break free and improve his life.
I've Got To Do Whatever I Think I Can
The singer knows that he needs to take action to improve his situation and is determined to do whatever it takes.
Didn't You Hear Me. Don't Come Near Me
The singer reiterates his desire for the welfare system to leave him alone and not interfere with his life.
They Wanna Say I'm A Lazy Man
The singer is aware that some people judge him for being on welfare and assume that he is lazy.
But You Got To Understand, There's A Thing About My Pride
The singer is proud and does not want to be dependent on welfare, even though he needs it to survive.
You Can't Make Me Move If There Ain't No Groove
The singer will not be motivated to change his circumstances without any positive progress or hope for his future.
Just Another Day, Tryin' To Make A Way
The singer is struggling every day to find a way to improve his financial situation.
But All I See Outside Of Me Is Crime
Despite his best efforts, the singer feels like the world around him is full of crime and negativity, making it hard to succeed.
What Can I Do To Make It Through
The singer is trying to figure out what steps he can take to make it through his struggles.
Ain't Gonna Sell Nobody's Time
The singer does not want to resort to selling his time or labor in a way that devalues his worth or dignity.
I Got A Woman True And A Baby Too
The singer has a loyal partner and a young child to care for, making his financial struggles more difficult.
With A Love That Grows And Grows
Despite his struggles, the singer's love for his family continues to grow and strengthen.
Here Come The Bills, There Go The Thrills
The singer is constantly weighed down by financial responsibilities and worries, leaving little room for enjoyment or fun.
And A Job. All Doors Are Closed
Despite his efforts to find a job and improve his financial situation, the singer feels like all options are closed to him and he is stuck on welfare.
Keep Away From Me, Mr. Welfare Man
The singer repeats his plea for the welfare system to leave him alone and stop interfering with his life.
You Might Wanna Say I'm A Lazy Man
The singer acknowledges the negative stereotypes and assumptions made about those on welfare.
Writer(s): Curtis Mayfield
Contributed by Vivian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sam I am
still after all of these years, there are few artists who can touch the level of soul curtis had......................
firstvoodoochild
Thanks for uploading, I was looking for this one!!!
keon thomas
this is funky
me running1
Curtis was a soulless bastard, or at least someone involved with Curtom Records was. This song proves it. The words to this song was from a poem written by preteen boy from Florida. On the first release of the Lp. the song no one listed for it as the writer of the lyrics. In later production it had curtis as the sole writer of same.
David Gutierrez
dam rare jam