The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group fro… Read Full Bio ↴The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group from Chicago who signed their first professional contract in 1952. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914–2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (1934–2013), Pervis (1935-2021), Yvonne (1937-2018), and Mavis (b. 1939). They are best-remembered for their 1970s hits "Respect Yourself", "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", and "Let's Do It Again". In 1999 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2005 the group was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, and signed their first professional contract in 1952. They signed with United Records, then Vee-Jay, Riverside, Epic and, eventually, the black-owned indie Stax Records label where they hit their most fertile commercial peak.

In 1967, on Columbia subsidiary Epic, the Staple Singers first began moving into mainstream pop markets with "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and "For What It's Worth" (written by Stephen Stills). In 1968, the Staple Singers signed to Stax and released two albums recorded with Steve Cropper of Booker T & the MG's fame - Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over. By 1970, Al Bell had become producer, and the family began recording at the famed Muscle Shoals studio, moving in a more funk and soul direction. The first Stax hit was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)". In 1972, the group had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There." Their 1972 recording on Stax of "Respect Yourself," written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, was number 2 on the R&B charts and a Top 40 pop hit as well. The song's theme of self-empowerment had universal appeal, released in the period immediately following the intense American civil rights movement of the 1960s. During this Stax period they appeared at a 1972 summer concert at the LA Memorial Coliseum attended by 100,000 people and documented in the 1973 film and soundtrack album Wattstax.

The Staple Singers then signed to Curtom, Curtis Mayfield's imprint, and released the soundtrack to a comedy film co-starring Bill Cosby called "Let's Do It Again". The soundtrack was produced by Mayfield; and the title song was a huge hit in 1975. After this, however, they were not able to regain their commercial momentum, releasing occasional minor hits, and moving from label to label including Warner Brothers and 20th Century before returning to Epic in the mid 80s. Lead singer Mavis Staples began a fruitful solo career in earnest that continues to this day and involves live performing with her sister Yvonne Staples. The other daughters in the group who did not pursue solo careers were Pervis Staples, and Cleotha Staples.

In 1994, the family made this final recording of a duet with Mary Stuart (reprising their Last Watz style backing on a cover of "The Weight" by The Band), somewhat re-establishing an audience.

Pops Staples died in December 2000.

Cleotha Staples died in Chicago on February 21, 2013.

Yvonne Staples died in April 2018 and Pervis Staples in May 2021.

God Bless The Children
The Staple Singers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

god bless the children
caus they cant' stop what men do
and that's why lord i call on you
they dont even know how to sin
these are troubled times we're livin in
when things fall
children cry
yes lord some will die

lord lord lord lord lord
god bless the children
god bless the children
teach us how to love
like never before
and may we never steady war no more
talk to the hearts of the men who lead us
and make them understand it's the children who need us
ohhhh yes i know
it's not right
if men must fight
lord lord lord lord lord
god bless the children
so many times i've heard this phrase
that trouble it won't last always
i'm not saying this phrase is wrong
but i'm wondering why it has to last so long
i see a newborn baby
in a proud mothers arms

then to think of all the countires that now have them
lord lord lord lord lord

Overall Meaning

The Staple Singers’s song God Bless the Children is a poignant plea to the Lord to protect and bless the innocent children who are caught up in the troubles of this world. The lyrics suggest that the actions of men are often responsible for the pain and suffering of children, but they cannot stop what men do. The singer calls on the Lord to teach us how to love like never before and to make the hearts of those who lead us understand that it is the children who need us. The lyrics suggest that it is not right for men to fight and that it is the responsibility of adults to protect the vulnerable children.

The song is a powerful testament to the enduring belief in the resilience of children and the hope that they represent. The lyrics suggest that children are the future and that we must do everything we can to protect them, nurture them, and enable them to be the best that they can be. This is a timeless message that resonates with people all over the world today.

Overall, God Bless the Children is a moving and profound song that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. It reminds us of the importance of love, compassion, and empathy, and the need to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

Line by Line Meaning

god bless the children
May the divine bless the innocent children, who are powerless against the actions of grown men.

caus they cant' stop what men do
Children have no control over the actions of adults.

and that's why lord i call on you
The singer invokes the divine to intervene for the sake of the children.

they dont even know how to sin
Children have not learned how to do wrong, they are pure.

these are troubled times we're livin in
The present is a difficult and challenging era.

when things fall
Amidst the chaos and decline of society,

children cry
The innocent and vulnerable children suffer the most.

yes lord some will die
The consequences of men's actions can result in the death of children.

god bless the children
The singer again prays for the divine to bless the children.

teach us how to love
The singer asks for divine guidance and wisdom to learn how to truly love one another.

like never before
To love unconditionally and without reserve, as though it is a new concept.

and may we never steady war no more
May we never have to experience the calamity and destruction of war again.

talk to the hearts of the men who lead us
The singer implores the divine to touch the hearts of the leaders and help them understand what the children need.

and make them understand it's the children who need us
The singer emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the well-being of children.

ohhhh yes i know
The singer acknowledges that they understand what's happening in the world.

it's not right
The singer asserts that the current state of affairs is unjust and inhumane.

if men must fight
The singer recognizes the inevitability of conflict and war, but laments the toll it takes on the innocent.

lord lord lord lord lord
Another plea to the divine for help.

so many times i've heard this phrase
The singer acknowledges a common saying.

that trouble it won't last always
This phrase suggests that tough times don't last forever.

i'm not saying this phrase is wrong
The singer is not denying the truth in this phrase.

but i'm wondering why it has to last so long
However, the singer expresses confusion and despair as to why tough times seem to persist.

i see a newborn baby
The singer reflects on the image of a new life entering the world.

in a proud mothers arms
A mother holding her newborn child is a moment of great joy and pride.

then to think of all the countires that now have them
However, the singer reflects that children exist in all countries and are subject to the same dangers and struggles everywhere.

lord lord lord lord lord
The singer repeats their plea to the divine for help and intervention on behalf of children.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMMY HOLIDAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS