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.
I Had a Dream
The Staple Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh it wasn't me (that it wasn't me)
I dreamed that they journeyed in mornin' (had a dream)
At dawn that a trumpet had blown (had a dream)
Dreams that'll make you never get up (had a dream)
Yeah they journeyed around the throne (had a dream)
Oh, oh what a sight this is (had a dream)
I had a dream (I had a dream)
I had a dream (I had a dream)
I had a dream (I had a dream)
I had a dream (I had a dream)
People were cryin' (I had a dream)
Also dyin' (I had a dream)
I had known it (I had a dream)
Yeah I had grown it (I had a dream)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
It worried me (that worried me)
It worried me (that worried me)
It worried me (that worried me)
It worried me (that worried me)
Fear we're bending' (that worried me)
People were tremblin' (that worried me)
There was weepin' (that worried me)
There was wailing (that worried me)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
Oh I had a dream (I had a dream)
Last night (I had a dream)
That worried me
(I had a) dream that worried me
The Staple Singers' song "I Had A Dream" is a poignant ode to the Civil Rights Movement that commemorates the constant fear and anxiety southern African Americans faced during that time. The song paints a vivid picture of the vivid and unsettling dream that the singer had about the state of society. In the first verse of the song, the singer talks about how they had a dream that it wasn't them, but others that were journeying in the morning, and heard the sound of a trumpet blowing. The dream seems to imply that the singer feels a sense of detachment from the rest of the world and alludes to the idea that the world is ending.
In the second verse of the song, the singer goes on to describe how people were crying, also dying. They seem to be frustrated by the constant pain and fear that African Americans felt during this time, and how people were dying for their rights. The words convey that the singer had grown accustomed to this reality and the pain that came with it, and how such pain worried them. The third verse touches on the fear that people felt during this time, which was evident in the protests and rallies that often ended in violence, police brutality, and the arrest of peaceful demonstrators. Overall, the song highlights the resilience, hope, and the urgency for change during a tumultuous era in American history.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream last night that it wasn't me (that it wasn't me)
In my dream, I saw someone who looked like me, but it wasn't actually me.
Oh it wasn't me (that it wasn't me)
I saw someone who looked like me, but it wasn't really me.
I dreamed that they journeyed in mornin' (had a dream)
I had a dream about people embarking on a journey in the morning.
At dawn that a trumpet had blown (had a dream)
In my dream, I heard a trumpet sound at dawn.
Dreams that'll make you never get up (had a dream)
My dream was so vivid and intense that it made me not want to wake up.
Yeah they journeyed around the throne (had a dream)
The people in my dream were journeying around a throne.
Oh, oh what a sight this is (had a dream)
I was amazed at what I was seeing in my dream.
In a minute they'll be driven away (had a dream)
I knew that the journey in my dream wouldn't last forever and the people would soon be leaving.
People were cryin' (I had a dream)
In my dream, I saw people crying.
Also dyin' (I had a dream)
I also saw people dying in my dream.
I had known it (I had a dream)
I had a feeling that what I was seeing in my dream was true.
Yeah I had grown it (I had a dream)
The knowledge and understanding I gained from my dream had developed over time.
It worried me (that worried me)
The things I saw in my dream caused me to be concerned and anxious.
Fear we're bending' (that worried me)
The fear and anxiety in my dream was overwhelming and bending me.
People were tremblin' (that worried me)
The people in my dream were trembling with fear and anxiety.
There was weepin' (that worried me)
In my dream, I saw people crying and weeping.
There was wailing (that worried me)
In my dream, I heard people wailing in pain and suffering.
Last night (I had a dream)
This dream occurred to me last night.
That worried me
The dream I had last night troubled and concerned me deeply.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Roebuck Staples
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Long Walk To DC
It's a long walk to D.C.
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