Most of her career has been as lead singer for The Staple Singers. She first recorded solo for the Stax subsidiary Volt in 1969. Subsequent efforts included a Curtis Mayfield-produced soundtrack on Curtom, a nod to disco for Warner Bros. Records in 1979, a stab at electro-pop with Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1984, and a collaboration with Prince in the late 1980s and early 90s (producing the two solo albums Time Waits for No One in 1989 and The Voice in 1993, and various other collaborations). Staples has a rich contralto voice that has neither the range of Aretha Franklin nor the power of Patti LaBelle. Her otherworldly power comes instead from a masterful command of phrasing and a deep-seated sensuality expressed through timbre manipulation. Both the Staple Singers and Mavis found fresh audiences stemming from their participation on the CD Rhythm, Country and Blues, and in 1996 she issued Spirituals and Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson. Her next recording project didn't land for another eight years, although Have a Little Faith on Alligator Records became her highest profile release in years.
Staples released a new album for Anti- Records titled We'll Never Turn Back on April 24, 2007. The Ry Cooder-produced concept album focuses on songs of the civil rights movement and includes two new original songs.
See also:
Wikipedia
Official Site
CHANGE
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta change around here
Can't go on this way
Things gotta change around here
Say it loud, say it clear
Things gonna change around here
Fingers on the trigger around here
Bullets flying, mothers crying
We gotta change around here
Get it straight, be sure, did you hear
That it's gonna change around here
What good is freedom
If we haven't learned to be free?
(If we haven't learned to be free?)
What good is freedom
If we haven't learned to be free?
(If we haven't learned to be free)
Day after day, year after year
We're gonna change around here
X is the letter
Blue is the color
One is the number
Now is the time
Can we change around here?
Gotta change around here
Say it loud, say it clear
We gotta change around here
Gotta change around here
Gotta change around here
(Change around here)
We gotta change around here
Say it loud, say it clear
We gotta change around here
The lyrics of Mavis Staples's song "Change" touch upon the need for transformation and progress in society. The repetition of "gotta change around here" emphasizes the urgency and importance of this message. The song confronts the problems that exist in the current state of affairs, urging for a shift in the status quo. The line "things gotta change around here" conveys the frustration and dissatisfaction with the way things are, highlighting the need for improvement.
The mention of "fingers on the trigger" and "bullets flying, mothers crying" addresses the violence and injustices that persist in society. These lines draw attention to the consequences of the current situation, emphasizing that change is essential to prevent further harm. Additionally, the repetition of "say it loud, say it clear" emphasizes the call to action, urging individuals to speak up and demand change.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta change around here
There is a need for a significant transformation in this place
Can't go on this way
We cannot continue living in the current state
Things gotta change around here
Various aspects need to be altered in this environment
Say it loud, say it clear
Express it with conviction and without ambiguity
Things gonna change around here
The circumstances will eventually be different in this location
Fingers on the trigger around here
There is a prevalent atmosphere of danger and violence
Bullets flying, mothers crying
There is an alarming presence of gunfire and the devastating emotional response it causes
We gotta change around here
We must initiate a transformation in this place
Get it straight, be sure, did you hear
Ensure you fully understand and grasp the message
That it's gonna change around here
There is an anticipation that the conditions will be different in this location
What good is freedom
If we haven't learned to be free?
The true value of liberty is diminished if we have not acquired the wisdom to truly embrace it
(If we haven't learned to be free?)
Day after day, year after year
Continuously, over an extended period
We're gonna change around here
We are determined to bring about a transformation in this place
X is the letter
The specific letter 'X'
Blue is the color
The particular color 'blue'
One is the number
The numerical value 'one'
Now is the time
This particular moment is significant
Can we change around here?
Is it possible for us to bring about a transformation in this place?
Gotta change around here
There is a need for a significant transformation in this place
Say it loud, say it clear
Express it with conviction and without ambiguity
We gotta change around here
We must initiate a transformation in this place
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mavis Staples
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@desertnaturealliance
Whew!🙌🏼yassssssss Queen!👑
@srch4trthwithjoanne640
This is what the world needs more of, music like this! Right on 👊🏼✊🏼
@BatshitVashti
Blues! 🎸
@acari27
ben harper & Mavis staples ..beautiful
X is the letter
blue is the color
one is the number
Now is the time
@markherron1407
The commercial brought me here Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
@thumbsaloft
This is the best album by Mavis in years! This one should really be celebrated!
@verahes
Great Blues is what keeps us going nowadays.
@megankemmis
Mavis, still singing the truth!
@donnyarmstrong9559
This is just what we ALL needed! Lord this is awesome!
@0hFFSmyeyes
W0W, holy crap! Actual REAL rhythm and blues, whodathunkit these days. Glorious.