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
Creep Along Moses
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, yes, tryin' to cross the Red Sea.
Ol' Satan wears an old iron shoe
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea,
If you don't mind he'll slip it on you
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
I wonder what the devil keeps grumblin' about,
He's down in hell and he can't get out,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I thank God
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I'm going home
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, yes, tryin' to cross the Red Sea.
I went down in the valley to say a little prayer,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea,
When I got there, ol' Satan was there,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
And I fell down upon my knees
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
I cried "Lord have mercy, if You please"
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I thank God
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I'm going home
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, get lost, get lost
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, yes, tryin' to cross the Red Sea.
Mavis Staples's song "Creep Along Moses" is a spiritual song that tells a story of the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, which is a common theme in the African-American musical tradition. In the song, the singer draws an analogy between the Israelites' journey across the Red Sea and their own struggles with sin and temptation. The song starts off with the singer wondering if old Pharaoh got lost when he tried to cross the Red Sea. The use of repetition in the lyrics emphasizes the importance of this event and shows the singer’s confidence in God's ability to help them overcome their difficulties.
The song then shifts focus to Satan, who is trying to cross the Red Sea wearing an old iron shoe. The use of Satan as a symbol of temptation emphasizes the singer’s struggle with sin and the dangers of giving into it. The lyrics urge the listener to be cautious and not be swayed by Satan's influence. The singer wonders what the devil is grumbling about when he is trying to cross the Red Sea, emphasizing yet again that the power of God is greater than any obstacle.
The song concludes with the repetitive chorus of "Creep Along Moses, Moses creep along, creep along Moses, I thank God, creep along Moses, Moses creep along, creep along Moses, I'm going home," emphasizing the need to continue moving forward with faith and perseverance. The song is a powerful spiritual reminder that with faith in God, anyone can overcome their struggles and reach their ultimate goal.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, get lost, get lost
Pharaoh lost his way while attempting to cross the Red Sea
Ol' Satan wears an old iron shoe
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea,
If you don't mind he'll slip it on you
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
I wonder what the devil keeps grumblin' about,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea,
He's down in hell and he can't get out,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
The devil is always present when crossing the Red Sea and one should be wary of his influence, as he is eternally consumed with the task of crossing it himself
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I thank God
Creep along, Moses, Moses creep along,
Creep along Moses, I'm going home
Moses should move forward cautiously, as he leads his people across the Red Sea, as it is God who provides for their deliverance
I went down in the valley to say a little prayer,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea,
When I got there, ol' Satan was there,
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
And I fell down upon my knees
Tryin' to cross the Red Sea
I cried "Lord have mercy, if You please"
The artist encounters the devil and prays for mercy from the Lord while crossing the Red Sea
Didn't old pharaoh get lost, yes, tryin' to cross the Red Sea.
Pharaoh lost his way while attempting to cross the Red Sea
Writer(s): Jeffrey Scot Tweedy
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.