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.
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Endlessly
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And deeper than the deepest sea
That's how I will love you, oh, darling, endlessly
Softer than the gentle breezes
And stronger than the wild oak tree
That's how I will hold you, oh, darling, endlessly
Oh, my love, you are my heaven
You are my kingdom, you are my crown
Oh, my love, you're all that I prayed for
You were made for these arms to surround
Faithful as a morning sunrise
And sacred as a love can be
That's how I will love you, oh darling, endlessly
Darling, endlessly
Darling, endlessly
The song, “Endlessly” by Mavis Staples, is a sweet, heartfelt ode to undying love. The lyrics express the depth, strength, and all-encompassing nature of the singer’s love for her significant other. The first verse compares the magnitude of the singer’s love to that of the highest mountain and deepest sea. It signifies that her love knows no bounds and can reach even the highest of heights and lowest of depths. The second verse speaks of the strength and gentleness with which she will hold her beloved-- softer than gentle breezes, but stronger than wild oak trees, symbolizing the security and confidence in love.
The chorus reinforces the idea of endless love, highlighting that the significant other is the heaven, kingdom, and crown to the singer's life-- something to cherish above all else. The last verse paints love as something sacred and holy, a treasure to be protected and nurtured like the morning sunrise. The term “endlessly” is repeated as a refrain throughout the song, emphasizing the lasting and never-ending love they share.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to a deep and powerful love, emphasizing the importance of support, tenderness, and faithfulness in any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Higher than the highest mountain
My love for you exceeds every peak in the world
And deeper than the deepest sea
My love for you sinks deeper than any ocean trench
That's how I will love you, oh, darling, endlessly
I promise to love you infinitely and always with the same intense passion
Softer than the gentle breezes
My tender embrace will be gentler than the lightest breeze
And stronger than the wild oak tree
But my love will also be able to protect you fiercely like the strongest oak tree
That's how I will hold you, oh, darling, endlessly
I will keep you close to me forever and maintain an unbreakable bond
Oh, my love, you are my heaven
You bring me joy and pure bliss that feels like paradise
You are my kingdom, you are my crown
You hold a special place in my life that nobody else can come close to
Oh, my love, you're all that I prayed for
You are the answer to all my prayers and the one I have been waiting for
You were made for these arms to surround
I was meant to hold and cherish you in my arms forever
Faithful as a morning sunrise
My loyalty and devotion to you is as constant as the sunrise every morning
And sacred as a love can be
The purity and holiness of our love is something that cannot be tainted
That's how I will love you, oh darling, endlessly
My love for you is immeasurable, infinite and eternal
Darling, endlessly
My love for you will never falter, and I will love you forever more
Darling, endlessly
I will love you infinitely and unconditionally, forever and always
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BROOK BENTON, CLYDE LOVERN OTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind