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
What Happened to the Real Me
Mavis Staples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left me in a cold world on my own
You molded me into your special woman
Now the soul I have is not my own
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Look what you've done, my loveWhy'd you do what you did to me?
I tried to win your love
You were cold, you kept your love from me
I tried to warm your heart
Now my heart is crying constantly
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Look what you've done, my love
Why'd you do what you did to me?
How did you possess my soul?
Tell me why do I still need you so?
I feel the pain, pain of nothing
Without you by my side, I can't, I won't go on
And right now I feel your arms so warm around me
But you're gone, baby, oh, you're gone
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Look what you've done, my love
Why'd you do what you did to me?
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Oh
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
Look at me, my love
What happened to the real me?
In Mavis Staples's song "What Happened to the Real Me," the singer expresses the pain and confusion she feels after being abandoned by someone who had a strong influence on her identity. The song suggests that the singer's sense of self was molded and shaped by this person, but now that they have left, she feels lost and disconnected from her true identity. The lines "You molded me into your special woman / Now the soul I have is not my own" convey the extent to which this person had an impact on the singer's self-concept.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the line "Look what you've done, my love / Why'd you do what you did to me?", suggests that the singer feels hurt and betrayed by this person's actions. She had attempted to win their love and warm their heart, but her efforts were met with indifference. The lines "How did you possess my soul? / Tell me why do I still need you so?" suggest that the singer is struggling to let go of this relationship and move on from the hurt that she has experienced.
Overall, the song serves as a powerful reflection on the ways in which relationships can shape and impact one's sense of self, and the pain that can arise when those connections are severed.
Line by Line Meaning
You went away without a warning
You left me suddenly and unexpectedly
Left me in a cold world on my own
You left me alone in a harsh, unforgiving world
You molded me into your special woman
You shaped me into the person you wanted me to be
Now the soul I have is not my own
My spirit is no longer mine to control or possess
I tried to win your love
I did everything I could to make you love me
You were cold, you kept your love from me
You were unresponsive and withheld your affection
I tried to warm your heart
I attempted to bring warmth and happiness into your life
Now my heart is crying constantly
My heart is constantly in pain and sorrow
How did you possess my soul?
How did you come to control and dominate my spirit?
Tell me why do I still need you so?
Explain to me why I still feel such a strong desire for you
I feel the pain, pain of nothing
I am consumed with a sense of emptiness and suffering
Without you by my side, I can't, I won't go on
I am unable and unwilling to continue living without you
And right now I feel your arms so warm around me
I still yearn for your physical touch and presence
But you're gone, baby, oh, you're gone
But you are no longer a part of my life and I must accept that
Look what you've done, my love
Reflect on the impact of your actions, my dear
Why'd you do what you did to me?
Help me understand the reasons for your hurtful behavior
Look at me, my love
Direct your attention to me, my dear
What happened to the real me?
Why have I lost touch with my true self?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HELGA PENZABENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind