I'll Take You There
LIVING ROOM - The Staple Singers Lyrics


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Oh mmm I know a place
Ain't nobody cryin'
Ain't nobody worried
Ain't no smilin' faces
Mmm, no no
Lyin' to the races
Help me, come on, come on
Somebody, help me now (I'll take you there)
Help me, ya'all (I'll take you there)
Help me now (I'll take you there)
Oh! (I'll take you there)
Oh! Oh! Mercy! (I'll take you there)
Oh, let me take you there (I'll take you there)
Oh-oh! Let me take you there! (I'll take you there)
Play your, play your piano now
All right Ah do it do it
Come on now
Play on it, play on it
Daddy daddy daddy
Ooh, Lord
All right now
Baby, easy now
Now, come on, little lady
All right
Dum-dum-dum-dum
Sock it, sock it
Ah, oh, oh!
I know a place, ya'all (I'll take you there)
Ain't nobody cryin' (I'll take you there)
Ain't nobody worried (I'll take you there)
No smilin' faces (I'll take you there)
Uh-uh (lyin' to the races) (I'll take you there)
Oh, no Oh! (I'll take you there)
Oh oh oh! (I'll take you there)
Mercy now! (I'll take you there)
I'm callin' callin' callin' mercy (I'll take you there)
Mercy mercy! (I'll take you there)




Let me (I'll take you there)
Oh oh! I'll take you there (I'll take you there)

Overall Meaning

"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers is a joyful and uplifting song about a place where nobody is crying, worried or wearing a fake smile. The singer invites the listener to come with them to this place, where there is no competition or deceit, but only love and understanding. The song starts with the singer saying "mmm I know a place" followed by the description of the inviting place where the singer urges the listener to follow them. The chorus is repetitive and catchy, urging the listener with each line to follow the singer to the place they know. The song has a simple and repetitive structure, with most of the lines being repeated before moving on to the next verse. The lyrics are simple, but they transmit a powerful message of hope and togetherness.


The song is a classic example of Soul Music, a genre popularized in the 1960s and 1970s by African American artists, that blended together elements of Gospel, R&B, and Blues. The Staple Singers were one of the most influential groups from this genre, being known for their powerful vocal harmonies and uplifting lyrics. "I'll Take You There" was written by Al Bell, who was the president of Stax Records at that time, and was released in 1972. The song was an immediate hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying on top for several weeks. The song has been covered by many different artists over the years, including General Public, Bebe & Cece Winans, and Kelly Price.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh mmm I know a place
I am aware of a location


Ain't nobody cryin'
There are no individuals experiencing sadness


Ain't nobody worried
There are no individuals experiencing concern


Ain't no smilin' faces
There are no happy expressions


Mmm, no no
No, there are not


Lyin' to the races
There is no deception or dishonesty


Help me, come on, come on
Assist me, please


Somebody, help me now (I'll take you there)
Anyone, provide help in the present moment


Help me, ya'all (I'll take you there)
Everyone present, provide assistance


Help me now (I'll take you there)
Assist me immediately


Oh! (I'll take you there)
Expressing excitement and eagerness to show a location


Oh! Oh! Mercy! (I'll take you there)
Expressing surprise and anticipation to show a location


Oh, let me take you there (I'll take you there)
Expressing the desire to show a location


Oh-oh! Let me take you there! (I'll take you there)
Excitedly offering to show a location


Play your, play your piano now
Inviting someone to play music


All right Ah do it do it
Okay, I will perform


Come on now
Encouraging someone to act


Play on it, play on it
Continue to perform music


Daddy daddy daddy
Affectionate term of address for someone, potentially one's father


Ooh, Lord
Exclamation of surprise or excitement, addressed to a higher power


Baby, easy now
Addressing someone affectionately, asking them to slow down or relax


Now, come on, little lady
Encouraging a woman to act


Dum-dum-dum-dum
Nonsensical vocalization


Sock it, sock it
Play music energetically


Ah, oh, oh!
Exclamation of excitement or enthusiasm


I'm callin' callin' callin' mercy (I'll take you there)
I am requesting assistance and expressing eagerness to show a location


Mercy mercy! (I'll take you there)
Expression of astonishment, followed by enthusiasm to show a location


Let me (I'll take you there)
Asking for permission to show a location


Oh oh! I'll take you there (I'll take you there)
Expressing excitement and confirmation of the desire to show a location




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alvertis Isbell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@earnestinehamilton9760

I'm 70 and I can tell you something about the Staples Singer 2024❤

@kathleenrygiel6964

I'm 68 and Mavis rules

@robertgross2115

I'm 70 too. We were Rockin hard to the Staple Singers.

@AdisaNyatui-md7ve

I was 17 when this song came out, it was perfect for civil rights, and it's still perfect for church.

@calltainnfearna4699

Amen and Amen !

@kathleenrygiel6964

aint nothing wrong with this song

@d.tucker4929

Glad Pops said to his family, "Let's spread out our wonderous music to the entire world."

@paulaisbell4985

My uncle wrote song Al Bell after one of uncles was murdered. The lyrics came to my uncle sitting in a bus my grandaddy bought to calm him down about losing a younger brother

@ecureuil-xd9mn

A gift to humanity.

@ACEBeantown

Today, December 5th the founder of Stax Records passed away - Jim Stewart . Jim created the space to record so many great music like The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Wilson Pickett, David Porter and Otis Redding. Thank you for the great music Jim...

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