1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield Quotes

Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. He first achieved success and recognition with The Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mayfield started his musical career in a gospel choir. Moving to the North Side, he met Jerry Butler in 1956 at the age of 14, and joined the vocal group The Impressions. As a songwriter, Mayfield became noted as one of the first musicians to bring more prevalent themes of social awareness into soul music. In 1965, he wrote "People Get Ready" for the Impressions, which displayed his more politically charged songwriting. Ranked at no. 24 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the song received numerous other awards, and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, as well as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

After leaving the Impressions in 1970 in the pursuit of a solo career, Mayfield released several albums, including the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Super Fly in 1972. The soundtrack was noted for its socially conscious themes, mostly addressing problems surrounding inner city minorities such as crime, poverty and drug abuse. The album was ranked at no. 72 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance at Wingate Field in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, on August 13, 1990. Despite this, he continued his career as a recording artist, releasing his final album New World Order in 1996. Mayfield won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He is a double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Impressions in 1991, and again in 1999 as a solo artist. He was also a two-time Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. He died from complications of type 2 diabetes at the age of 57 on December 26, 1999. Wikipedia  

✵ 3. June 1942 – 26. December 1999
Curtis Mayfield photo
Curtis Mayfield: 15   quotes 0   likes

Famous Curtis Mayfield Quotes

“I was someone more
Because I was no one poor.
To find that I too was down on my knees.
I'm just homeless.”

Curtis Mayfield

Homeless, from Take It To The Streets (1990).
Song lyrics

“Why can't we brothers
Protect one another?
No one's serious,
And it makes me furious.
Don't be misled,
Just think of Fred.”

Curtis Mayfield

Freddie's Dead.
Song lyrics, Super Fly (1972)

“He don't love you like I love you
If he did, he wouldn't break your heart
He don't love you like I love you
He's try-in' to tear us apart.”

Curtis Mayfield

He Will Break Your Heart, written with Jerry Butler and Calvin Carter, originally performed by Jerry Butler (1960).
Song lyrics

“He says don't worry, worry, worry, worry.But they don't know,
There can be no show.
And if there's a hell below,
We're all gonna go, go, go, go, go.”

Curtis Mayfield

(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, from Curtis (1970).
Song lyrics

“Let's do it in the mornin'
Sweet breeze in the summer time.
Feeling your sweet face
All laid up next to mine.
Sweet love in the midnight;
Good sleep, come mornin' light.
No worries 'bout nothin';
Just gettin' good, just gettin' good
Just gettin' good love.”

Curtis Mayfield

Let's Do It Again, performed by Staple Singers, from Let's Do It Again (1975).
Song lyrics

“People get ready there's a train comin';
You don't need no baggage, just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin';
You don't need no ticket, just thank the lord.”

Curtis Mayfield

People Get Ready, performed by The Impressions, from People Get Ready (1965).
Song lyrics

Curtis Mayfield Quotes about love

“It's hard to understand;
There was love in this man.
I'm sure all would agree
That his misery
Was his woman and things.
Now Freddie's dead;
That's what I said.Everybody's misused him;
Ripped him off and abused him.
Another junkie playin';
Pushin' dope for the man.
A terrible blow, but that's how it go.
Freddie's on the corner now.
If you wanna be a junkie, wow;
Remember, Freddie's dead.”

Curtis Mayfield

Freddie's Dead.
Song lyrics, Super Fly (1972)

“Oh, many say that I'm too young
To let you know just where I come from.
Oh, but you will see that it's just a matter of time
My love will surely make you mine.Ooh, living in a world of ghetto life,
Everyone around seems so uptight.
Nothing's wrong.
It's alright with my man, my man.”

Curtis Mayfield

Something He Can Feel, performed by Aretha Franklin, from Sparkle (1976).
Song lyrics

“I'm giving him something he can feel.
Oh, ho, to let him know my love is real.Hey, hey, hey…I'm giving him something he can feel.
Yes, I am, babe
To let you know my love is real.”

Curtis Mayfield

Something He Can Feel.
Song lyrics

Curtis Mayfield Quotes

“Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain.”

Curtis Mayfield

As quoted in The Sociology of Rock (1978) by Simon Frith
Context: Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain. Painless preaching is as good a term as any for what we do. If you're going to come away from a party singing the lyrics of a song, it is better that you sing of self-pride like 'We're a Winner' instead of 'Do the Boo-ga-loo!

Education

“Wakin' up to find yourself creamin'
Check your fears and hope that you're dreamin'
A little space is all that I need
If these suckers just allow me to breathe
Snake pits and Lucifer's burns
Can't take the strength I've earned and learned
Stepped in depth of the same livin' hell
Ain't too proud to die here as well.Do Do Wap is strong in here;
Do Do Wap is strong in here, hey! hey!”

Curtis Mayfield

Do Do Wap is Strong in Here, from Short Eyes (1977).
Song lyrics

Fear , Hope , Hell , Strong

“Hush now child and don't you cry;
Your folks might understand you by and by.
Move on up towards your destination;
You may find from time to time,
Complications.”

Curtis Mayfield

Move on Up, from Curtis (1970).
Song lyrics

Understanding , Time , Cry

“Now is always the right time
With something positive in your mind.
Whenever someone pulls you down,
Just get back up and hold your ground.
…
Summer, winter, fall just go
Through the rain and through the snow.
Just get on back to living again…right on.”

Curtis Mayfield

Back to Living Again, from New World Order (1996).
Song lyrics

Winter , Time , Summer

“We'll all turn black
So who's to know?
As a matter of fact,
Color, creed and breed must go.
There will be no light,
So there can be no sight.
And you'll judge your fellow man;
Understand bout what is right.
A million music, a million sound
There's neutral thoughts
For the underground.”

Curtis Mayfield

Underground, from Roots (1971).
Song lyrics

Music , Color , Understanding , Light

“Oooh, Superfly
You're gonna make your fortune by and by.
But if you lose, don't ask no questions why.
The only game you know is Do or Die.
Ah-ha-ha.”

Curtis Mayfield

Superfly.
Song lyrics, Super Fly (1972)

Game , Question

Similar authors

Freddie Mercury photo
Freddie Mercury 29
British singer, songwriter and record producer
Bruce Springsteen photo
Bruce Springsteen 102
American singer and songwriter
Dolly Parton photo
Dolly Parton 36
American singer-songwriter and actress
Madonna photo
Madonna 107
American singer, songwriter, and actress
Bob Dylan photo
Bob Dylan 523
American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and artist
John Lennon photo
John Lennon 228
English singer and songwriter
Franco Battiato photo
Franco Battiato 4
Italian singer-songwriter, composer, and filmmaker
Michael Jackson photo
Michael Jackson 110
American singer, songwriter and dancer
Barbra Streisand photo
Barbra Streisand 5
American singer, actress, writer, film producer, and direct…
John Lydon photo
John Lydon 22
English singer, songwriter, and musician