On December 10, 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b.1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group.
The reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone; Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gorden, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, lead vocals.
The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings afterwards, including on Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul album, and changed direction in the 1970s to have a successful funk music career. Lloyd Smith joined the Bar-Kays in 1973. They continued to score hits on R&B charts well into the 1980s and lately have incorporated contemporary rap & remix elements into their continuing career and have performed all over the world.
Son Of Shaft/Feel It
The Bar-Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Son of Shaft
(Don't forget my daddy)
Son of Shaft
Son of Shaft
I was born and raised
Had the problems of a man
At the age of three
My daddy was bad
I've been told
So my family name
I must serve on
I love by the clock
And live by the gun
If you ever met the father
Assume you met the son, yeah
Check now
I'm the son of Shaft
(Now you can believe that)
Have trust on me
The song "Son of Shaft/Feel It" by The Bar-Kays is a homage to Isaac Hayes' hit song "Theme from Shaft", which became very popular after the release of the film "Shaft" in 1971. The Bar-Kays were a funk and soul band from Memphis, Tennessee, and they were signed to Stax Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The lyrics of "Son of Shaft/Feel It" describe the life of a man who is the son of a famous and powerful figure who is still revered and feared by many. This man has inherited his father's reputation as a bad-ass and he lives his life according to his own rules. He is tough and street-smart, and he has had to fend for himself since he was very young. The phrase "Don't forget my daddy" is a reference to Isaac Hayes' song, but it also implies that this man wants to be recognized as his father's son and to be treated with the same respect and fear that his father commanded.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Son of Shaft" several times, which emphasizes the man's identity as the offspring of a legendary figure. The lyrics also suggest that this man has a strong sense of loyalty to his family and his roots, even though he may not always agree with his father's methods. The line "If you ever met the father, assume you met the son" suggests that the man's personality and behavior are very similar to his father's, and that he has inherited his father's traits and habits.
Overall, "Son of Shaft/Feel It" is a high-energy, funky song that pays tribute to the classic blaxploitation film "Shaft" and its iconic theme song. The Bar-Kays were known for their soulful and catchy music, and this song is a perfect example of their style and talent.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the son of a [?]
The singer is revealing that they are the child of a man with an unknown profession or name.
Son of Shaft
The singer is the son of the famous character 'Shaft' from the film by the same name. They are making a statement about their identity and lineage.
(Don't forget my daddy)
The singer is reminding the listener not to forget their father, Shaft, and the legacy he left behind.
I was born and raised
The artist was born and raised in a certain environment that shaped their character and experiences.
And thrown in the street
The artist has experienced hardship and tough circumstances that left them feeling abandoned.
Had the problems of a man
Despite being a child, the singer had to deal with serious issues that are typically associated with adult life.
At the age of three
The singer began dealing with adult-sized problems as early as age three, demonstrating their tough upbringing.
My daddy was bad
The artist's father, Shaft, had a reputation for being a 'bad' person, though the exact definition of this is unclear.
I've been told
The artist has heard stories or rumors about their father's character and behavior, which shaped their opinion of him.
So my family name
The artist's family name is 'Shaft,' which they inherited from their father.
I must serve on
The singer feels an obligation to carry on their father's legacy and reputation, whether good or bad.
I love by the clock
The artist is disciplined and regimented, living life according to a strict schedule or routine.
And live by the gun
The singer is tough and confrontational, relying on aggression and power to handle difficult situations.
If you ever met the father
The singer is implying that their father, Shaft, is someone that people would remember meeting or knowing.
Assume you met the son, yeah
The singer believes that their own character, behavior, and reputation is similar to that of their father. Meeting Shaft would give you an idea of what meeting the singer is like.
Check now
The artist is emphasizing that the listener should take their words seriously and pay attention to what they are saying.
(Now you can believe that)
The artist is confident in what they have said, and wants the listener to trust their words.
Have trust on me
The singer is directly asking the listener to believe what they are saying, and to trust their character and abilities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALLEN ALVOID JR. JONES, HOMER BANKS, WILLIAM C. BROWN III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1972 {April 10} Isaac Hayes won an Academy Award for 'Best Original Song' for the "Theme from the movie Shaft"... Six month earlier on October 16th 'the Theme from Shaft' entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on November 20th, 1971 it peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100... Also in 1971 the Bar-Kays released "Son of Shaft"; it entered the Top 100 on December 25th, 1971 and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks, peaking at #53... R.I.P. Mr. Hayes...
@JOHNROBERTCRUZ
The Opening of this song, " STILL SMOKES, " 50 MUTHABUMPIN' YEARS LATER !
@howardcampbell6796
Couldn't afford the soundtrack from Shaft at the time , so I bought this as a 45
@danielkobis147
What a funkysoul standard, and curiously forgotten in the recent "Stax Funk" compilation.
@doublenickelzeta
Watching an anti-smoking commercial just now and when the guy said, "I don't wanna be like my dad," the catch phrase from this song crossed my mind. So I decided to come listen to it for the first time in DECADES!
🎶"Wanna be like my dadday!"🎵
@cardelljermaine76
One of my favorite songs period! This thing go hard the horns deep ass bass and that damn cow bell thanks for the upload.
@MyTito65
the horns hell yes.... what about Larry and that powerhouse voice especially in the live version which sounds better.... but lets not forget about the organ....THAT FUNKY ORGAN!!!
@73spain
And that f** cow bell....
@Red22762
We need more cowbell!!!!!
@cardelljermaine76
El Mayimbe Larry killed this shit especially in the live version and he know he did too. This what happen when you KNOW you got it.