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
Hard Times Come Again No More
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While we all sup sorrow with the poor
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears
Oh, hard times, come again no more
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many a days you have lingered around my cabin door
While we seek mirth and beauty and music, light and gay
There are frail forms fainting at the door
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh, hard times, come again no more
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many a days you have lingered all around my cabin door
Oh, hard times, come again no more
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many a days you have lingered all around my cabin door
Oh, hard times, come again no more
So many a days you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh, hard times, come again no more
Mavis Staples's song Hard Times Come Again No More expresses a sentiment that is simultaneously solemn and hopeful. The lyrics call on listeners to take a break from life's pleasures and attend to the hardships of those who are suffering around them. The verses describe the weariness of those who have lived through difficult times, and the chorus pleads for relief from those same hardships. The repeated refrain "hard times, hard times, come again no more" serves as a reminder that while tough times may be a fact of life, we can strive to create a world in which they are less frequent and less severe.
The song's lyrics reveal a sense of empathy and concern for the less fortunate. The lines "While we seek mirth and beauty and music, light and gay / There are frail forms fainting at the door" contrast the joyful experiences of some with the sufferings of others. The use of the word "frail" emphasizes the vulnerability of those who are struggling, and the image of them fainting at the door evokes a sense of urgent need for help. The repeated mention of the cabin door as a setting for these hardships reinforces the idea that suffering is not a distant problem but a close and urgent one that we can all work to address.
Overall, Mavis Staples's Hard Times Come Again No More is a moving call to action for listeners to take heed of those who are struggling and to work towards a world in which suffering is less common. The song's combination of somber reflection and hopeful encouragement makes it a powerful statement on the importance of compassion and solidarity in times of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears
Let us take a moment to appreciate our blessings and acknowledge the struggles of others.
While we all sup sorrow with the poor
We all experience some form of hardship and suffering, but the poor often bear the brunt of it.
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears
This song serves as a reminder to never forget the pain and struggles of hard times.
Oh, hard times, come again no more
May we never have to endure the hardships and struggles we currently endure again.
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
This song is a symbol of the collective sighs of those who have suffered and persevered through hard times.
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
We pray that we don't have to face hard times again.
Many a days you have lingered around my cabin door
Hardship and struggle have been a constant presence in our lives and communities.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music, light and gay
It's easy to get lost in the pleasures and distractions of life but we should be mindful of those who are still struggling and suffering.
There are frail forms fainting at the door
We need to remember that there are people who are vulnerable and in need of help.
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Even if someone doesn't speak up, their expressions and body language can convey their pain and suffering.
So many a days you have lingered around my cabin door
We've been enduring hard times for far too long, and we crave for them to end.
Oh, hard times, come again no more
May we never be in this state of pain and struggle again.
Lyrics © KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION
Written by: RAY CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nancy Foix
1.
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
Chorus:
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more.
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
2.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
Chorus
3.
There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
Chorus
4.
'Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
'Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore
'Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh! Hard times come again no more.
Chorus
Hard times will come again no more
for I am keeping my eyes on the prize.
Paul and Silas, bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Paul and Silas began to shout
Doors popped open, and they walked out
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Well, the only chains that we can stand
Are the chains of hand in hand
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Got my hand on the freedom plow
Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your Eyes on the Prize, hold on!
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
Hold on, (hold on), hold on, (hold on)
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!
(Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on)
(Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on)
(Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on)
Keepin' my eyes on the prize
I will hold on until You come for me.
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 KJV
D. S. Parent Sr
Hard times make hard men.
Hard men make easy times.
Easy times make soft men.
Soft men make hard times.
Despite this saying's simplicity and sexism, it roughly illustrates the cycle of human joy and suffering.
This song, however, calls to something even deeper in us. Do not forget that we began as nomads on the savannahs and the steppes. Some generations lived entirely in the bad times, some lived entirely in the good times. Some generations lived to see the bad times turn good, some lived to see the good times turn bad.
(W)here sit we(?)
Ricky Mack
This women's voice sends chills down my spine and puts my mind in a very good place. There will never be another Mavis Staples
murp h
Well said
mick knight
Whew! You're so right! That lady could sing the phonebook and bring tears of joy! ✌️🙏
ipso facto
I was 100% sure it was a man singing until I read your comment
Brian Carroll
I’m noticing that people see this song as purely from the Great Depression, it goes deeper than that. Remember that Stephen Foster died in the 1860’s so while it can be adapted and indeed adopted by any generation, it gives it greater depth when you understand the times that it was written in.
Rascal
and yet its relevance has COME AGAIN to the globe
Dave Wallace
you noticed that.. as well...foster died ...broke...in a charity ward
John Turner
Amen!!This lifts me up with the truth that we all struggle in this world every day.
mick knight
You're right! It was published 7 years before the Civil War...1854, on one of the old wax cylinders. There has been, and will be hard times in this world. But, may I say, in Jesus it will not always be so. There is a day coming when all those who have trusted in Him will find eternal rest and joy together with Him! Lord bless yall...✌️🙏
James Kohlman
what an amazing voice Mavis Staples has given to this classic song. Brings tears to my eyes.