A "pivotal figure in gospel in the 1960s and 70s," he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and singer. He was the patriarch and member of singing group The Staple Singers, which included his son Pervis and daughters Mavis, Yvonne, and Cleotha.
Roebuck Staples was born on a cotton plantation near Winona, Mississippi, the youngest of 14 children. When growing up he heard, and began to play with, local blues guitarists such as Charlie Patton, who lived on the nearby Dockery Plantation, Robert Johnson, and Son House. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade, and sang with a gospel group before marrying and moving to Chicago in 1935.
There he sang with the Trumpet Jubilees while working in the stockyards, in construction work, and later in a steel mill. In 1948 Roebuck and his wife Oceola Staples formed The Staple Singers to sing as a gospel group in local churches, with their children. The Staple Singers first recorded in the early 1950s for United and then the larger Vee-Jay Records, with songs including "This May Be the Last Time" (later covered by The Rolling Stones) and "Uncloudy Day".
In the 1960s the Staple Singers moved to Riverside Records and later Stax Records, and began recording protest, inspirational and contemporary music, reflecting the civil rights and anti-war movements of the time. They gained a large new audience with the 1972 US # 1 hit "I'll Take You There", followed by "Respect Yourself", "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", and other hits. Pops Staples also recorded a blues album, Jammed Together, with fellow guitarists Albert King and Steve Cropper.
In 1976, Staples also appeared in the movie documenting The Band's final concert, The Last Waltz (Released in 1978). Pops Staples shared vocals with his daughters and with Levon Helm and Rick Danko on "The Weight." After Mavis left for a solo career in the 1980s, Pops Staples began a solo career, appearing at international "blues" festivals (though steadfastly refusing to sing the blues), and tried his hand at acting. His 1992 album Peace to the Neighborhood won a Grammy nomination, and in 1995 he won a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy for Father, Father.
In 1986, Roebuck played the role of Mr. Tucker, a voodoo witch doctor, in the Talking Heads film True Stories, during which he performed "Papa Legba". He appears as himself in the 1997 Barry Levinson film Wag the Dog, singing "Good Old Shoe" with Willie Nelson.
In 1998 he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 1999 the Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He died after suffering a concussion in a fall at his home, just a few days short of his 86th birthday. After his death, his daughters Yvonne and Mavis gave one of his guitars to country and gospel musician Marty Stuart.
Musicians as diverse as Cannonball Adderley, with his live album Why Am I Treated So Bad! (1967), Ry Cooder, Sandy Bull, and Bonnie Raitt have expressed their respect for Staples.
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Pops Staples Lyrics
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James Brown
Ha!
I don't care ha about your past
I just want ho our love to last dee
I don't care darlin' about your faults huh
Oh
When you kiss me
When you mess me
Hold my hand
Make me understand
I break out - in a cold sweat
Ho! Uh! Ho!
I don't care about your wants
I just want to ha! tell ya about the does and don'ts
I don't care about the way you treat me darlin' ha!
I just want huh! to understand me honey
Oh
When you kiss me
And ya miss me
You hold me tight
Make everything all right
I break out - in a cold sweat heh!
Mercy on me
See'mon now
Brother
Put it, put it where it's at now
Aww
Let him have it
Uh!
Awww!
The lyrics in James Brown's "Cold Sweat" convey a message of devotion and a willingness to overlook the flaws of a partner for the sake of love. Brown is singing to someone that he is in love with, telling them that despite their past or what they have done wrong, he still wants their love to last. He is focused entirely on their present and future together, wanting only to satisfy their desires and pulse. Brown is urging his partner to understand him and what he wants out of their relationship. When they kiss, mess around or hold hands, he ends up breaking out in a "cold sweat," describing the intensity of his feelings for them.
The repetition of "ho," "uh," and "awww" throughout the song adds to the visceral and emotive nature of Brown's singing. He makes use of exclamations and deep, guttural sounds to punctuate his lyrics and drive home the passion behind the words. The call and response section in the middle of the song further heightens the energy and excitement, with Brown shouting to his band to let loose and give everything they have.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care ha about your past
I do not judge based on your past experiences.
I just want ho our love to last dee
I desire for our love to remain forever.
I don't care darlin' about your faults huh
I am not concerned about your faults or mistakes.
I just want to satisfy your pulse
I aim to please and satisfy you.
When you kiss me
Your kisses ignite a passionate feeling within me.
When you mess me
When you are intimately close to me, I am overwhelmed with emotion.
Hold my hand
By holding my hand, help me feel more secure and closer to you.
Make me understand
Help me to fully comprehend your actions and intentions.
I break out - in a cold sweat
I am overcome with passion and emotion at your touch and proximity.
I don't care about your wants
I am more interested in telling you what is right and wrong.
I just want to ha! tell ya about the does and don'ts
My desire is to communicate to you the things you should do and the things that you should not do in our relationship.
I don't care about the way you treat me darlin' ha!
I am not concerned with how you treat me as long as you understand me and communicate with me.
I just want huh! to understand me honey
I only desire you to understand what I need and desire.
Mercy on me
Have pity and mercy on me.
See'mon now
Come on now with determination.
Brother
A term of address used to show respect for others.
Put it, put it where it's at now
Do your best.
Aww
A term of endearment and positive emotion.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALFRED JAMES ELLIS, JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind