Mayfield was born in Minden, Louisiana. As a youth, he showed a talent for poetry, so he thought he would try songwriting and singing. He began his performing career in Texas and had moved to Los Angeles by 1942.
He auditioned his song "Two Years of Torture" to Supreme Records (a Los Angeles-area record label) because he thought it would be a good song for Jimmy Witherspoon. The label liked his performance and asked him to record it in 1947. Although his vocal style was influenced by such stylists as Charles Brown, Mayfield did not focus on the white market as did many West Coast bluesmen. Rather, he sang blues ballads, mostly his own songs, in a gentle vocal style.
In 1950, he signed with Specialty Records and released several well-received R&B records. His most famous performance: "Please Send Me Someone to Love" was a number one R&B hit in 1950. His career continued to blossom with songs like "Strange Things Happening", "Lost Love," "What a Fool I Was," "Prayin' for Your Return," "Cry Baby," and "Big Question." A 1953 auto accident left him seriously injured, including a facial disfigurement that limited his performing.
Mayfield's songs tend to be downbeat and his lyrics tend to be heartbreaking, but his vulnerability and emotional sensitivity prevent songs like "Life Is Suicide" and "The River's Invitation" from being maudlin.
Mayfield continued to write and record for Specialty until 1954 and then recorded for Chess Records and the Imperial label. In the early 1960s, he became one of Ray Charles's favorite songwriters, writing classic songs such as "Hit the Road Jack", "At the Club", and "Danger Zone" (which has the same melody of "Please Send Me Someone to Love". Charles signed Mayfield to his Tangerine logo in 1962.
When Mayfield died of a heart attack in 1984, at the age of 63, he had fallen back into obscurity.
Mayfield hit his creative peak in the years before his music became a mainstream sound. Thus it was always a struggle to gain recognition that he was due. But available examples of his music demonstrate his writing and performing talent and his enormous influence on other performers
Hit the Road Jack
Percy Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
What you say?
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
Woah Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean
You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
What you say?
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
Now baby, listen baby, don't ya treat me this-a way
'Cause I'll be back on my feet some day
(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood)
(you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.)
Well, I guess if you say so
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
What you say?
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.)
Well
(don't you come back no more.)
Uh, what you say?
(don't you come back no more.)
I didn't understand you
(don't you come back no more.)
You can't mean that
(don't you come back no more.)
Oh, now baby, please
(don't you come back no more.)
What you tryin' to do to me?
(don't you come back no more.)
Oh, don't treat me like that
(don't you come back no more.)
Percy Mayfield's "Hit The Road Jack" is a timeless classic with a straightforward message: a man is being belittled and mistreated by his lover, and he finally musters up the courage to leave her. The song's main chorus - "Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more" - encapsulates the man's decision to break free from his destructive relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and defiance, with the singer openly acknowledging how poorly his partner treats him: "You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen." The song is a perfect blend of blues and rhythm and blues, with Mayfield's raspy voice adding to the emotional delivery of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
Leave and do not return, never again.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.
Leave and do not return.
What you say?
What did you just say?
Woah Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean
Hey, female figure, stop acting so cruel towards me.
You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen
You are the most unpleasant woman I've ever encountered.
I guess if you said so
I suppose if you insist.
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
I would have to gather my belongings and leave. (Yes, it's true.)
Now baby, listen baby, don't ya treat me this-a way
Dear, please listen to me, don't act towards me like this.
'Cause I'll be back on my feet some day
I will be able to get back up and recover someday.
(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood)
(I don't care if you do because it's expected.)
(you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.)
(If you don't have money, you're worthless.)
Well, I guess if you say so
Well, if that's what you believe.
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
I would have to gather my belongings and leave. (Yes, it's true.)
Uh, what you say?
I'm sorry, what did you say?
I didn't understand you
I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said.
You can't mean that
You can't seriously intend that.
Oh, now baby, please
Oh, please, my dear.
What you tryin' to do to me?
What are you attempting to do to me?
Oh, don't treat me like that
Oh, please don't treat me so harshly.
Don't you come back no more.
Do not return.
Contributed by Victoria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
slartibartfast
Margie Hendricks voice is just incredible
An Clark
Percy Mayfield was the songwriter of the 50s, by the late 50s a much younger Curtis Mayfield made his debut and for over 25yrs he continued to stipulate his name in the US pop/ soul music history books .How coincidental they both had the surname Mayfield and not related?
Dar Dedar II
Who WOULDN'T have wanted to record this song, after hearing this demo?
Theodore Wysinger
Played a few shows with this man .
ReggaePlayground
Respect!
Ma Mani
Oh, Whoever you are I thank you so much for this gift!
It's a jewel, also because it's one of the compendium of black harmony;
Who're the other singers?
The lead singer is fantastic!
God bless you!
🤗💜🎶
Mauro Dessy
cantante e grande compositore di blues
Mauro Dessy
il poeta del blues
Nik Cassar
great song
Damian Privett
WOW!