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.
Oh So Beautiful
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have not lost the war, by far
Still work to be done
And as the old hymn says,
We all can overcome
Let's not forget the sunrise in the sky
The love and wonders why
You don't do or die
Don't let life pass you by
Do what you do when you're feeling free
You can be what you want to be
Open your mind and you can see
Baby let's not forget this love is all we need
Kiss me once and maybe kiss me twice
Sweetens the spice of life my child
Just give me a smile
It is your big world to make it all worthwhile
Let's not forget advice on love today
I'm really not so wise this way
So what do you say
Two loving human beings
Just trying to make a way
Do what you do when you're feeling free
You can be what you want to be
Open your mind and you can see
Baby let's not forget this love is all we need
My baby my baby my baby
Do what you do, do what you do
Do what you do when you're feeling free
You can be what you want to be
Open your mind and you can see
Baby let's not forget this love is all we need
The lyrics to Curtis Mayfield's "Oh So Beautiful" speak to the importance of love and perseverance during difficult times. The song acknowledges that there are struggles in life, but emphasizes that there is still hope and work to be done. The reference to an old hymn emphasizes the message of overcoming obstacles and never losing faith. The song encourages listeners to enjoy life and not let it pass them by, while also acknowledging the importance of love and relationships.
The lyrics specifically focus on the power of love in two different aspects: a romantic relationship and a universal love towards humanity. Mayfield emphasizes that love is all we need and encourages listeners to prioritize love in their lives. The lyrics also speak to the importance of individuality and self-expression, urging listeners to do what they want and be who they want to be.
Overall, the song's message is optimistic and focuses on the power of love and the human capacity to overcome hardships.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's not forget, though trying times there are
Even during difficult times, we must remember to keep moving forward.
We have not lost the war, by far
We may have faced setbacks, but we are still making progress.
Still work to be done
Our journey is not yet over - there is still much more to accomplish.
And as the old hymn says,
Taking inspiration from a classic song that reminds us of our strength and resiliency.
We all can overcome
We have the power to overcome any obstacle that comes our way.
Let's not forget the sunrise in the sky
Amidst all the chaos, we should take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.
The love and wonders why
Reflecting on the mysteries of life and the importance of love.
You don't do or die
There are no guarantees in life; we must take risks and make the most of our time here.
But at best you try
Even if we fall short, we should still strive to do our best.
Don't let life pass you by
We shouldn't waste our precious time on Earth and should make the most of every moment.
Do what you do when you're feeling free
We should pursue our passions and do what we love, especially when we feel inspired.
You can be what you want to be
We have the power to choose our own path and shape our own destiny.
Open your mind and you can see
By being open to new experiences and perspectives, we can discover new opportunities and insights.
Baby let's not forget this love is all we need
At the end of the day, what truly matters in life is love.
Kiss me once and maybe kiss me twice
Expressing the joy and warmth of love, and the importance of cherishing those we care about.
Sweetens the spice of life my child
Love adds richness and depth to our lives, making everything more enjoyable and meaningful.
Just give me a smile
A simple gesture of kindness and affection can bring joy to those around us.
It is your big world to make it all worthwhile
We have the power to create our own happiness and meaning in life, and to make a positive impact on the world around us.
Let's not forget advice on love today
Reflecting on the importance of love and how it can guide us through difficult times.
I'm really not so wise this way
Acknowledging that we don't have all the answers, and that we can learn from others and our own experiences.
So what do you say
Bringing others into the conversation - asking for their thoughts, feelings, and insights.
Two loving human beings
Emphasizing the importance of human connection and intimacy.
Just trying to make a way
Doing our best to navigate life's challenges and find meaning and purpose.
My baby my baby my baby
Expressing affection and love for someone special.
Do what you do, do what you do
Encouraging others to pursue their passions and do what they love, regardless of what others may say or think.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD, ERIK HICKS, NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind