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
Down In Mississippi
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I either had a plow or hoe
One of those 'ole nine foot sacs
Standing at the old turn row
[Chorus]
Down in Mississippi
Down in Mississippi
Down in Mississippi where I come from
They had a hunting season on the rabbit
If you shoot em you went to jail
Season was a always open on me
Nobody needed no band
[Chorus]
I remember, I use to walk down that gravel road, walking with my grandma,
Mississippi sun, beaming down
I went to get some water
My grandma said, young 'un you can't drink that water,
She said you drink from that fountain over there, heha
And that fountain had a sign
Said for color only
I was so glad I had my grandma and my papa, a huh,
And I wont leave you out grandpa
My grandpa was so proud of me y'all
I went down in forest Mississippi one time na,
Didn't know no better, but I integrated,
Awasha terrier,
He was telling everybody, my grandbaby mavis,
She went up to washa terrier, and washed some clothes,
And all the black ladies fallowed her on up in there,
I'm proud of my grand baby,
I saw many more of those signs as I lived in Mississippi,
I'm so glad I can say that I saw everyone of those signs,
Dr. King saw that everyone of those signs got taken down,
Down in Mississippi
[Chorus]
The song "Down In Mississippi" by Mavis Staples is a tribute to her birthplace, the southern state of Mississippi, and a powerful commentary on the horrors of segregation and racism that she and her family encountered growing up there. The first verse sets the scene for a hard life of working the land with simple tools like plows and hoes, and dealing with racist laws and attitudes that kept African Americans in a state of poverty and oppression. The chorus reinforces the sense of pride in her roots, but also acknowledges the tough reality of growing up in a place where discrimination was rampant.
Line by Line Meaning
As far back as I can remember
In my memory, I've always had either a plow or hoe
I either had a plow or hoe
I have always worked in the field
One of those 'ole nine foot sacs
I used to carry sacks of crops that weighed nine feet
Standing at the old turn row
I would stand at the end of the field and wait for the wagon to come and pick up the crops
Down in Mississippi
This song speaks about Mississippi
They had a hunting season on the rabbit
There was a law that prohibited hunting rabbits, and if you were caught hunting, you would go to jail
If you shoot em you went to jail
If you were caught shooting rabbits, you would go to jail
Season was a always open on me
I was always available for hunting
Nobody needed no band
No one needed to hunt me, as I was treated as a second-class citizen
I remember, I use to walk down that gravel road, walking with my grandma,
I recall walking with my grandmother down a road with a gravel surface
Mississippi sun, beaming down
The bright sunshine in Mississippi shining down on us
I went to get some water
I went to fetch some water
My grandma said, young 'un you can't drink that water,
My grandmother told me not to drink the water from that source
She said you drink from that fountain over there, heha
She instructed me to drink water from the fountain with a specific sign
And that fountain had a sign
The fountain had a sign indicating it was for 'colored' people only
Said for color only
The sign only allowed 'colored' people to drink from the fountain
I was so glad I had my grandma and my papa, a huh,
I felt fortunate for having my grandparents with me
And I wont leave you out grandpa
I don't want to forget my grandpa
My grandpa was so proud of me y'all
My grandpa was happy for me
I went down in forest Mississippi one time na,
I went to the forest region of Mississippi
Didn't know no better, but I integrated,
I wasn't aware of the legal ramifications, but I integrated
Awasha terrier,
The name of the place where Mavis went was Awasha Terrier
He was telling everybody, my grandbaby mavis,
He was telling everyone about me washing clothes at Awasha Terrier
She went up to washa terrier, and washed some clothes,
I washed clothes at Awasha Terrier
And all the black ladies fallowed her on up in there,
All the black women followed me into Awasha Terrier
I'm proud of my grand baby,
My grandpa was again proud of me
I saw many more of those signs as I lived in Mississippi,
I faced many more discriminatory signs during my time in Mississippi
I'm so glad I can say that I saw everyone of those signs,
I'm grateful that I had an opportunity to witness those discriminatory signs
Dr. King saw that everyone of those signs got taken down,
Dr. King saw that all discriminatory signs, like the ones I saw, were removed
Down in Mississippi
This song speaks about Mississippi
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: J. B. LENOIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@artysanmobile
I can’t get enough of this incredible woman’s singing. The sound of her voice makes by brain dance.
@New_Zealand_Music
@Peter. Absolutely lovely!
@patnichols5327
ha ha I love your post.. going to use that phrase myself one day: "The sound of her voice makes my brain dance." I am the same way...Saw her live in Calgary years ago and I was blown away...
@giovanesantos3477
A voz da Mavis e som dessa música preenchem a alma.
@throwcup
Such a great background band for this song, the upbeat folkiness and the depressing guitar lick and the buildup of instruments really creates an environment and a story
@coalminergroupie
Voice of a LEGEND, y'all.
@martinobrien7110
I LOVE IT WHEN MAVIS SAYS Y'ALL .
@Caal76
Can you all imagine Mavis and Tina on the same stage? It would have been THE musical event of the century...
@Kaczyfunny
Just search for the Happy day they sang a duett.
@merkjanoosterhoff1590
@@Kaczyfunny Mavis and Tina?
I know the duet with Aretha...