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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Wikipedia
Official Site
In Christ There Is No East Or West
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No North or South;
Only one great love
Inside and out.
True hearts everywhere
Some deaf and some blind
Singin' one melody
Join hands and have faith,
Whatever your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both East and West,
There is no black or white
Only one great love
Hatred cannot divide
Join hands and have faith,
Forgive your enemy
Surely we're all a part
Of one big family.
Join hands and have faith,
Whatever your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.
Join hands and have faith,
Forgive your enemy
Surely we're all a part
Of one big family.
The song "In Christ There Is No East or West" by Mavis Staples speaks to the idea of unity beyond division. The lyrics suggest that despite the many divisions we see in the world, there is a force that unites us all. This force is the love of Christ.
The first verse of the song states that in Christ, there is no division between East or West, North or South. The second verse speaks to the idea that true hearts everywhere sing one melody, a melody that lost souls cannot find. The song then encourages listeners to join hands in faith, regardless of race or ethnicity. The final verse brings together the ideas of the first two verses, urging people to come together in unity and forgiveness.
The song's message is one of hope and a call to action. It asks us to recognize the divisions that exist in our world, but also to work towards unity and understanding. The song suggests that if we are able to come together in love and faith, we can overcome the hatred and division that too often plague our world.
Line by Line Meaning
In Christ there is no East or West,
Regardless of where one comes from, there is no separation between individuals who identify with Christ.
No North or South;
There is no boundary that segregates people who love Christ based on geography.
Only one great love
The only significant connection is love towards Jesus Christ, everything else is secondary.
Inside and out.
This love is genuine, both internally and externally.
True hearts everywhere
Persons who honestly love Jesus can be found all over the world.
Some deaf and some blind
Not everyone can recognize the figurative sense revealed through the love of Christ.
Singin' one melody
Everyone, no matter where they come from or what circumstances they find themselves in, can unite in love towards Christ
Lost souls cannot find.
Individuals who are lost without this unifying love cannot find solace until they discover the love of Christ.
Join hands and have faith,
Believers should unite and trust in love towards Christ.
Whatever your race may be!
This faith unites all races, it does not matter what one's ethnicity is.
Who serves my Father as a son
Any individual who serves Jesus Christ can be considered as family.
Is surely kin to me.
One who identifies with Christ is truly like family.
In Christ now meet both East and West,
Through Christ, individuals from opposite ends of the world can convene.
There is no black or white
There is no racial segregation when it is about the love of Christ.
Only one great love
Jesus is the only element that has importance when it concerns unity among individuals.
Hatred cannot divide
Hatred has no authority to separate people who have love for Christ.
Join hands and have faith,
Any person who has love for Christ should unite and place faith in him.
Forgive your enemy
Individuals who love Christ should forgive everyone who they consider an enemy.
Surely we're all a part
Every human being is a member of a larger love-based network.
Of one big family.
Everyone who has love towards Christ is a part of one larger family.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BURLEIGH, FAHEY, OXENHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind