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.
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.
Somebody Saved Me
The Staple Singers Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Somebody Saved Me' by these artists:
Graham Parker I heard the wild dogs scream in the midnight Just like…
Marty Stuart Somebody saw me When I was wondering Out in the desert Someb…
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Somebody saw me When I was wondering Out in the desert Someb…
Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives Somebody saw me When I was wondering Out in the desert Someb…
Pete Townshend I stood at the door beside her But she wouldn't let…
The Who I stood at the door beside her But she wouldn't let…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Staple Singers:
(Sittin On ) The Dock Of The Bay Sittin' in the morning sun I'll be sittin' when the evening…
A Whole Lot Of Love Some times the life is so hard, things are so…
Are You Sure Are you sure there's nothing you can do To help someone…
Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw (So be careful of stones that you throw) Oh, a tongue…
Be What You Are Oh man, you heard enough Trying to live a risking life Don't…
Bridges Instead Of Walls It's time we build bridges instead of walls And give peace…
City In The Sky There's too many people Tellin' too many lies I'm gonna have…
Come Go With Me If you're ready come go with me No hatred Will be tolerated …
Dock of the Bay Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin'…
End of Our Road Oh, it's over, it's all over Said it's over, it's all…
Every Day People Sometimes I'm right then I can be wrong My own beliefs…
Everyday People Sometimes I'm right then I can be wrong My own beliefs…
For What It Something happen in here What it is ain't exactly clear Ther…
Give A Hand Take A Hand Wish the world was run by all little children We could…
Glory Glory Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah When I lay my burden down No more …
Gloryland There′s a land that's filled with milk and honey And the…
God Bless the Children god bless the children caus they cant' stop what men do and…
Got to Be Some Changes Made Doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo The…
Hear My Call How sweet and happy seem, those days of which I…
Heavy Makes You Happy Ahh, whoa--great gosh a mighty... (Sha-na-boom boom, yeah) …
Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom) Ahh, whoa, great gosh, a mighty (Sha-na-boom boom, yeah) Sa…
Holy Unto the Lord Lord I ain′t no stranger now Lord I ain't no stranger…
I I had a dream last night that it wasn't me…
I Got Religion I Got A New Home I've got a new home over…
I Had A Dream I had a dream last night that it wasn't me…
I Know I've Been Changed Oh I, know I′ve been changed And I know I've been…
I'll Take You There Oh mmm I know a place Ain't nobody cryin' Ain't nobody worri…
I'm Just Another Soldier You know I′m just another soldier in the army of…
I've Got A New Home I Got A New Home I've got a new home over…
If I Could Hear My Mother Again How sweet and happy seem, those days of which I…
If You If you're ready come go with me No hatred Will be tolerated …
If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) If you're ready, if you're ready now If you're ready, yeah,…
If You're Ready Come Go With Me If you're ready come go with me No hatred Will be tolerated …
Ill Take You There Oh mmm I know a place Ain't nobody cryin' Ain't nobody worri…
Jacob's Ladder Rise (rise), shine (shine), give God the glory (give God…
Joy to the World Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive…
Let Do it again, do it (do it) Lets do it again…
Let Me Ride Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' to carry me home Swing …
Let's Do it Again Do it again, do it (do it) Do it again (do…
Let's Do It Again (Live) Do it again, do it (Do it) Let's do it again…
Let’s Do It Again Do it again, do it (do it) Do it again (do…
Long Walk to D. C It's a long walk to D.C. But I've got my…
Long Walk to D.C. its a long walk to dc but i got my…
Long Walk To DC It's a long walk to D.C. But I've got my…
Masters Of War Come you masters of war You that build the big guns You…
My Main Man Look over my shoulder now what do you think I…
My Sweet Home I was talking to a lady a few days ago And…
New Home Don′t you know, now, well it... (Well, up in the kingdom) Wa…
O Little Town of Bethlehem Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee…
Oh La De Da If you feel like clapping your hands You better come on,…
Old Time Religion Give me that old-time religion, …
on my own again How sweet and happy seem, those days of which I…
People My People We the people, hear now Got to make the world go…
Pray On Pray on, my child (pray on, my child) I got a…
Pray On My Child Pray on, my child (pray on, my child) I got a…
Respect Yourself If you disrespect anybody that you run in to How in…
Respect Yourself - Live If you disrespect anybody That you run in to How in the…
Respect Yourself/I'll Take You There if you disrespect anybody that you run in to how…
Stand By Me  When the storms of life are raging Stand by me When the…
Swing Down Chariot I looked over Jordan and what did I see? Comin' for…
That Now just because I have you You don't have to break…
The Dock Of The Bay Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin'…
The End Of Our Road Oh, it's over, it's all over Said it's over, it's all…
The Virgin Mary Had One Son Virgin Mary had a one son, Oh, glory halleluja, Oh, pretty l…
The Weight I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past…
The World This world, this world, my mind holds this world My mind…
This May Be the Last Time This may, This may be my last time This may, This…
This Train This Train Dont carry no Gamblers This Train This Train Dont…
This World This world, this world, my mind holds this world My mind…
Touch A Hand Can't you feel it in your bones? Oh, a change is…
Touch a Hand (Make a Friend) Can't you feel it in your bones, A change is coming…
Touch A Hand Make A Friend Can't you feel it in your bones? Oh, a change is…
Touch A Hand Make A Friend - Live Can't you feel it in your bones, A change is coming…
Uncloudy Day They tell me of a home far beyond the skies And…
Wade In The Water Wade in the water Wade in the water, children Wade in the…
Waiting For My Child I was talking to a lady a few days ago And…
We The People We the people, hear now Got to make the world go…
We'll Get Over We're going to hitch our hopes to a star And with…
Who Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas (People all over the…
Why Why am I treated so bad Why am I treated so…
Why Am I Treated so Bad Why am I treated so bad Why am I treated so…
Will Be Circle Be Unbroken I was standing by my window, On one cold and cloudy…
Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Live) I was standing by my window On a cold and cloudy…
Will The Circle Be Unbroken? I was standing by my window, On one cold and cloudy…
You Oh man, you heard enough Trying to live a risking life Don…
You Got Shoes (Yeah, yeah, yeah) To get stones from a rock, you've got…
You're Gonna Make Me Cry You're gonna make me cry You're gonna make me cry Oh, don't…
You've Got To Earn It (Yeah, yeah, yeah) To get stones from a rock, you've got…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
frances Brown
I Wholeheartedly love this song!!!!!!!!!!😃
Raquel
I must get this. The whole record is wonderful. I never heard of The Staple Singers before. I stumbled upon them listening to gospel/christian music. Thank you for uploading this. To God be the glory.
Karen Ronan
+1SweetChaos You're in for a treat.
Gospel Nostalgia
You're welcome.
Roger Deschenes
I am a deep non believer. Pops and Mavis make me want to believe again. Up from the deep deep marrow of the world's bones comes the sound of of the staple singers. We are blessed. We are blessed that they ever stood before a microphone and shared their gifts. Sometimes when I am lucky I dream the sound of Mavis staples soul making voice
Gospel Nostalgia
Glad you like it.
paulogomessux123
sick!