In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Hayes became famous as a recording artist in his own right, scoring with critically and commercially successful albums such as Hot Buttered Soul and Black Moses. Hayes is best known today for composing the score to the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft. That film's "Theme from Shaft" was one of the best-selling singles in Stax Records history, and Hayes became the first African-American to win an Oscar for a non-acting category when "Theme from Shaft" won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Song.
Isaac Hayes may be known to today's youngest generation as the voice of the character "Chef", the ladies' man/school cook, on the animated sitcom South Park from 1997 until his resignation from the show in March 2006. While Hayes' departure was tagged to a controversial South Park episode on Scientology that had supposedly offended him, Hayes rarely declared anything about the departure in first person.
Theme From "Shaft"
Isaac Hayes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft)
You're damn right
Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man? (Shaft)
Can ya dig it?
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about? (Shaft)
You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother (shut your mouth)
But I'm talkin' about Shaft (then we can dig it)
He's a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman (John Shaft)
Isaac Hayes's song "Theme From 'Shaft'" is a funky, soulful theme song for the film "Shaft," that tells us about the titular character John Shaft, a private detective in Harlem. The lyrics are structured in call and response, with the first line questioning who is the black private dick, that's a sex machine to all the chicks, to which the response is "Shaft" followed by the affirmation "you're damn right." The second line asks us who's the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man, which is met with "Shaft" and the question "can ya dig it?" The third line asks us who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about followed by "Shaft" and "right on."
The final line ends with "You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother (shut your mouth)/But I'm talkin' about Shaft (then we can dig it)/He's a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman (John Shaft)." The lyrics are a tribute to the character of John Shaft, who is seen as cool, confident, and charming and is admired by women and respected by men. The final line highlights how Shaft's complicated nature is only understood by his woman, implying that he is not only a detective but also a complex and nuanced person.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's the black private dick
That's a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft)
You're damn right
Who is the confident and smooth private detective who is irresistible to women? It's Shaft, and he knows it.
Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man? (Shaft)
Can ya dig it?
Who is the man that would go to great lengths to protect his fellow man? It's Shaft, and you can definitely understand and appreciate that.
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about? (Shaft)
Right on
Who is the cool customer that won't back down when faced with danger? It's Shaft, and that's just how he rolls.
You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother (shut your mouth)
But I'm talkin' about Shaft (then we can dig it)
You might want to disbelieve it, but Shaft is a powerful and cool guy. If you recognize and accept that, then you and I can vibe on his awesomeness.
He's a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman (John Shaft)
Shaft is a complex and intricate person, and only his romantic partner can really comprehend him fully.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Isaac Hayes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robinrichards72
Who's here because Richard Rountree just died?
@DarkRockstar2
Honestly I usually listen to this theme at work twice a week, but regretfully, I'm here again because I just learned of his passing
@dustinsindledecker154
Long live Shaft!
@scottmisus4678
*Roundtree, you ignorant f**k.
@kevinlovell2404
Respect.
@annepicaud3556
me,I'm here in honour of him. RIP
@encourageone
Rest in absolute power Richard Roundtree (Shaft). You've now joined the incomparable Isaac Hayes as an ancestor... ๐
@marlenenardi5853
โคfantastica
@marlenenardi5853
Rip Ricchard roundtree๐ข
@2013venjix
Together again.