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.
Only You Babe
Curtis Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe,
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe
Sometimes I get a little lonely (I'm lonely,I'm lonely)
All my body pains, only need for the good things
All the making love and breaking bread
Face to face, get down with the love most inner place
With only you babe (you babe)
Oh, all this love can be replaced
I pick up love, upon your face
I kiss your lips, my body breaks
You lift me up, and turn me around
You can appreciate; this good love can't go down
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you baby (you babe)
Only you babe
Only you baby (you babe)
Only you babe
Only you baby (you babe)
Only you baby
People don't understand
Misled with there intents
Think they can get along with anyone
Who gives sweet, sweet, sweet complement
My baby without trying
Never is denying
So down with the satisfying
Always gratifying
Nothing can go wrong
This love can carry on
So happy sad, you left me sad
So we did try, you make me cry
Oh, you don't know, you've grown a part of me
Good, good feelings, giving tenderly
Wooo hooh!
Pick me up baby
Wooo hooh!
Pick me up baby
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you baby
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you baby
Only you babe (you babe)
Only you, only you
The song "Only You Babe" by Curtis Mayfield is a love song that speaks about being lonely and the longing to be with one's lover. It starts with the repeated line "Only you babe" which shows the singer's intense focus and desire for the person he loves. He then goes on to say that sometimes he gets lonely and his body pains for the goodness of his lover.
The lyrics also talk about the depth of love between two people and how it cannot be replaced. The singer highlights that he picks up love upon his lover's face, and her lips bring him a feeling that is indescribable. The love he shares with her is so strong that it lifts him up and turns him around. The lyrics also speak of the complications that may arise in relationships with people who do not understand the depth of their love, but the singer believes that nothing can go wrong with his love and it can carry on.
In conclusion, the song is an expression of love and the need for human connection. It is about the power of love to uplift and transform a person's state of being. The song's message is that with one's special someone, everything can change and become beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer is in love with one particular person, and no one else can compare or replace them.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer reiterates that their love is only for this one person, and there is no ambiguity in their feelings.
Only you babe,
The singer emphasizes that their love is exclusive; it belongs to only one person.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer continues to express their deep love for this one person and repeats that no one else compares.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer continues to emphasize that their love only belongs to this one person, and there are no other contenders.
Only you babe
The singer makes it clear that their love is singular and exclusive to this one person.
Sometimes I get a little lonely (I'm lonely,I'm lonely)
Despite being in love, the singer still experiences loneliness without the presence of the person they love.
I'm lonely for you girl
The singer's loneliness is specifically due to missing the person they love.
All my body pains, only need for the good things
The singer desires the pleasures of being with the one they love, as it relieves them of physical and emotional pain.
All the making love and breaking bread
The singer values the physical and emotional connection they share with their partner.
Face to face, get down with the love most inner place
The singer treasures the intimate moments they share with their partner, expressing the depth of their love.
With only you babe (you babe)
The singer emphasizes that these intimate moments can only happen with the person they love.
Oh, all this love can be replaced
The singer acknowledges that their love is special and cannot be replaced by anyone else.
I pick up love, upon your face
The singer finds joy in looking at the face of the person they love, and it inspires their feelings of love.
I kiss your lips, my body breaks
Physical affection with the person they love is so intense that it can be overwhelming for the singer.
You lift me up, and turn me around
Being with the person they love uplifts and inspires the singer, turning their life around.
You can appreciate; this good love can't go down
The singer is confident that their love is solid and strong and will not falter.
People don't understand
The singer recognizes that others may not understand the depth of love they share with their partner.
Misled with their intents
Other people may have their own motives or beliefs that cloud their understanding of the singer's relationship.
Think they can get along with anyone
Other people may believe that they can form connections as strong as the one the singer shares with their partner.
Who gives sweet, sweet, sweet complement
Others may be misled by surface-level compliments that do not compare to the depth of emotions the singer feels for their partner.
My baby without trying
The singer's partner is naturally the one who truly understands and completes them.
Never is denying
The singer's partner does not deny their love, but instead reciprocates it.
So down with the satisfying
The singer's partner is content and happy with the love they share.
Always gratifying
Being with the person they love brings the singer joy and satisfaction.
Nothing can go wrong
The singer is confident that their love is strong enough to endure any potential challenges.
This love can carry on
The singer believes that their love will last, no matter what happens.
So happy sad, you left me sad
The singer recognizes that even when their partner is gone, they still feel lucky to have known such a deep love, even if it makes them sad.
So we did try, you make me cry
The singer admits that sometimes their relationship has its ups and downs, but they know the love they share is worth the effort.
Oh, you don't know, you've grown apart of me
The singer recognizes that their partner is an essential part of their life, and their love for them has become intertwined with who they are.
Good, good feelings, giving tenderly
The love the singer shares with their partner is positive, nurturing, and gentle.
Wooo hooh! Pick me up baby
The singer is excited and exhilarated by the love they share with their partner.
Wooo hooh! Pick me up baby
The singer is so in love with their partner that they want to be lifted up and carried by them.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer concludes the song by repeating the central message: that their love belongs only to their partner, and no one else can compare.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer repeats the message so that it is clear and unambiguous.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer ends the song by emphasizing that their love is exclusive and special to this one person.
Only you baby
The singer repeats that their love is singularly for their partner, and no one else can compare.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer reaffirms the central message of the song: that their love belongs only to this one person, and no one else compares.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer repeats this message so that it is clear and unambiguous.
Only you baby
The singer concludes the song by reiterating that their love is exclusive to this one person.
Only you babe (you babe)
The singer ends the song by repeating the message that their love belongs only to their partner, and no one else can compare.
Only you, only you
The singer emphasizes that their love is exclusively for this one person and no one else.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tonja Howard
A OLD School song, when your momma and daddy was still together. Playing cards and drinking bottom shelf liquor cuz that's all they could afford. Fried fish dinners, and the kids playing " Hide go seek" The good old days.😋
Tonja Howard
Miss you. Mom, dad, my Aunts and Uncles. See you upstairs one day. Love ya! 😍
Melody Henderson
His voice just melts me!!!! I love Curtis Mayfield!!!
Mary Huddleston
There is only “One” Curtis Mayfield!!!!that sing like that🌟❤️🦋
Mary Huddleston
Only one, I love his voice. R.I.P. Mr. Curtis Mayfield...
Brisadelsur
I just love it...! I've heard it hundred of times and I never get tired...!
Melody Henderson
I know, Just Beautiful!!!
Vincelen Alexander
This is one of my favorites by Curtis Mayfield!!!
Brenda Pearson
Man, this song does something to me! Curtis Mayfield was bad to the bone! The greatest!
Diane Burwell
The soul of the man the voice the talent makes me feel good all over