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
Last Train
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last train running around the hill
Last train leaving on the quarter out of time
Last chance to get your last trip
This world is getting so much faster
It's too sad
Poor trains are goin' down slow
It's too bad
When it's in my nature to let go
You got me huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Just like the engine
I have a junction
Feeling down
My head is wondering where to go
And you've got so many different trips you know
My face is wondering where to show
You got me huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
You got me huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Just like the engine
I have a junction
Feeling down
My head is wondering where to go
And you've got so many different trips you know
My face is wondering where to show
You got me huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
You got me huffing (huffing), puffing (puffing),chugging,chugging like a chu-chu train
You got me huffing (huffing), puffing (puffing),chugging,chugging like a chu-chu train
You got me huffing
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
The lyrics of Mavis Staples's song, "Last Train," speak to her sense of urgency to keep up with the fast-paced world around her. The first stanza uses the metaphor of a train to describe the last chance to "get your last trip" before time runs out. The chorus repeats the imagery of the train, with Staples huffing and puffing and chugging along like a "chu-chu train." The second verse intensifies the urgency, with Staples feeling down and wondering where to go, while the train rushes past her toward its destination.
Through its poetic language, the song communicates the struggle of trying to keep up with a world that is moving too fast. Staples's poignant delivery adds an emotional depth that resonates with her audience.
Overall, "Last Train" is a powerful song that uses vivid imagery and poetic language to create a sense of urgency and desperation. Staples's soulful voice brings these lyrics to life, conveying the emotion behind the message.
Line by Line Meaning
Last train running between the waters with the power line
This is the final train for a long time which is passing through the water way running with the help of electric wires.
Last train running around the hill
This is the last running train moving in a circle around the hill without stopping.
Last train leaving on the quarter out of time
It is the last train which will leave on the quarter hour even when it is out of time.
Last chance to get your last trip
This is the only last opportunity available to get on board to take the journey.
This world is getting so much faster
It's too sad
Poor trains are goin' down slow
And I'm about to keep up with the latter
It's too bad
When it's in my nature to let go
The pace of this world is increasing at an alarming rate which is very unfortunate. Trains are getting slower while the world is speeding up. It is difficult for me to keep up with the latest trends, which is not natural for me as I tend to let go and move on.
You got me huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Chu-Chu
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Chu-Chu
You have pushed me beyond limits and I am now struggling to keep up, like a train that is huffing, puffing, chugging, hissing, kissing and missing, like a crazy brain. Trying hard, but failing to run smoothly like a train.
Just like the engine
I have a junction
Feeling down
My head is wondering where to go
And you've got so many different trips you know
My face is wondering where to show
Just like the engine, I have come to a junction where I am feeling low and uncertain about which path to take. You have different options and I am confused about which one to choose. My face reveals my stress and uncertainty.
You got me huffing (huffing), puffing (puffing),chugging,chugging like a chu-chu train
You got me huffing (huffing), puffing (puffing),chugging,chugging like a chu-chu train
You got me huffing
A hissin' and kissin' and missin' like a cuckoo brain
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
Huffing and puffing and chugging like a chu-chu train
You have pushed me to my limit and I am now struggling to keep up, like a train that is huffing, puffing, chugging, hissing, kissing and missing, like a crazy brain. Trying hard, but failing to run smoothly like a train.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind