The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
Check Out Your Mind
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It slid in on an oily rag
The price is right up on the tag
I'll put it in a brand new bag
This thing will let you be yourself
And won't offend nobody else
Nothing like you ever saw
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
People thinking they've been took
Just finding out they over looked
They never found the missing link
Forgot they got a mind to think
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Trust in me and I in you
No matter what you see me do
I'm doing me for all I'm worth
None do be better on this earth
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Why don't you check out your mind
Been with you all the time
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
Check out your mind
The ImpressionsтАЩs тАЬCheck Out Your MindтАЭ is a song that promotes individuality, empowerment, and self-awareness. The song starts with "Here's something that you never had, It slid in on an oily rag, The price is right up on the tag, I'll put it in a brand new bag." which means that there is something new and unique that the listener has never been exposed to, but they can have it if they are willing to try. The next few lines suggest that this unique thing will allow you to be yourself and not offend anyone else, and it is not illegal.
The song then encourages the listener to тАЬcheck out their mind.тАЭ Despite the fact that we all have minds, people often refuse to utilize them, and the song mentions that many individuals donтАЩt know what their mind is capable of. The song suggests that we have been given a tool and should use it to understand ourselves and the world around us better. The song insists that one needs to develop their own identity and not be swayed by the perceptions of others. The singer tells the listener to trust him or herself.
In conclusion, the song тАЬCheck Out Your MindтАЭ by The Impressions promotes self-awareness and individuality. The lyric suggests that the mind is an incredibly powerful tool that many individuals fail to utilize, and encourages listeners to promote self-discovery and identity formation.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's something that you never had
I have something new and exciting for you that you've never experienced before
It slid in on an oily rag
It came to you unexpectedly, like a surprise
The price is right up on the tag
It's a great deal and well worth the cost
I'll put it in a brand new bag
I'll present it to you in a fresh, exciting way
This thing will let you be yourself
This item will allow you to express your individuality and be true to yourself
And won't offend nobody else
It won't offend or upset anyone else around you
Nothing like you ever saw
It's completely unique and unlike anything you've ever seen before
And it's not against the law
It's completely legal and above board
People thinking they've been took
People feel like they've been tricked or swindled
Just finding out they over looked
They're realizing they've overlooked something important
They never found the missing link
They haven't been able to connect the dots or find a solution to their problem
Forgot they got a mind to think
They've forgotten that they have the ability to think and solve problems on their own
Trust in me and I in you
We can rely on each other and work together
No matter what you see me do
Even if I make mistakes or do something you don't understand, trust me
I'm doing me for all I'm worth
I'm doing my best and being true to myself
None do be better on this earth
No one can be better than who I am as an individual
Why don't you check out your mind
Take a moment to explore your thoughts and ideas
Been with you all the time
It's always been a part of you, waiting to be explored and discovered
Check out your mind
Explore your thoughts and ideas
Check out your mind
Discover the potential within yourself
Check out your mind
Explore new ideas and ways of thinking
Check out your mind
Find the missing link and solve problems
Check out your mind
Be true to yourself and embrace your individuality
Check out your mind
Trust in your own abilities and ideas
Lyrics ┬й BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people