B i o g r a p h y (by Richie Unterberger)
Perhaps because he didn't cross over to the pop audience as heavily as Motown's stars, it may be that the scope of Curtis Mayfield's talents and contributions have yet to be fully recognized. Judged merely by his records alone, the man's legacy is enormous. As the leader of the Impressions, he recorded some of the finest soul vocal group music of the 1960s. As a solo artist in the 1970s, he helped pioneer funk and helped introduce hard-hitting urban commentary into soul music. "Gypsy Woman," "It's All Right," "People Get Ready," "Freddie's Dead," and "Superfly" are merely the most famous of his many hit records. But Curtis Mayfield wasn't just a singer. He wrote most of his material at a time when that was not the norm for soul performers. He was among the first ' if not the very first ' to speak openly about African-American pride and community struggle in his compositions. As a songwriter and a producer, he was a key architect of Chicago soul, penning material and working on sessions by notable Windy City soulsters like Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, and Billy Butler. In this sense, he can be compared to Smokey Robinson, who also managed to find time to write and produce many classics for other soul stars.
Mayfield was also an excellent guitarist, and his rolling, Latin-influenced lines were highlights of the Impressions' recordings in the '60s. During the next decade, he would toughen up his guitar work and production, incorporating some of the best features of psychedelic rock and funk. Mayfield began his career as an associate of Jerry Butler, with whom he formed the Impressions in the late '50s. After the Impressions had a big hit in 1958 with "For Your Precious Love," Butler, who had sung lead on the record, split to start a solo career. Mayfield, while keeping the Impressions together, continued to write for and tour with Butler before the Impressions got their first Top 20 hit in 1961, "Gypsy Woman." Mayfield was heavily steeped in gospel music before he entered the pop arena, and gospel, as well as doo wop, influences would figure prominently in most of his '60s work. Mayfield wasn't a staunch traditionalist, however. He and the Impressions may have often worked the call-and-response gospel style, but his songs (romantic and otherwise) were often veiled or unveiled messages of black pride, reflecting the increased confidence and self-determination of the African-American community. Musically he was an innovator as well, using arrangements that employed the punchy, blaring horns and Latin-influenced rhythms that came to be trademark flourishes of Chicago soul. As the staff producer for the OKeh label, Mayfield was also instrumental in lending his talents to the work of other Chi-town soul singers who went on to national success. With Mayfield singing lead and playing guitar, the Impressions had 14 Top 40 hits in the 1960s (five made the Top 20 in 1964 alone), and released some above-average albums during that period as well. Given Mayfield's prodigious talents, it was perhaps inevitable that he would eventually leave the Impressions to begin a solo career, as he did in 1970. His first few singles boasted a harder, more funk-driven sound; singles like "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go" found him confronting ghetto life with a realism that had rarely been heard on record. He really didn't hit his artistic or commercial stride as a solo artist, though, until Superfly, his soundtrack to a 1972 blaxploitation film. Drug deals, ghetto shootings, the death of young black men before their time: all were described in penetrating detail.
Yet Mayfield's irrepressible falsetto vocals, uplifting melodies, and fabulous funk pop arrangements gave the oft-moralizing material a graceful strength that few others could have achieved. For all the glory of his past work, Superfly stands as his crowning achievement, not to mention a much-needed counterpoint to the sensationalistic portrayals of the film itself. At this point Mayfield, along with Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, was the foremost exponent of a new level of compelling auteurism in soul. His failure to maintain the standards of Superfly qualifies as one of the great disappointments in the history of black popular music. Perhaps he'd simply reached his peak after a long climb, but the rest of his '70s work didn't match the musical brilliance and lyrical subtleties of Superfly, although he had a few large R&B hits in a much more conventional vein, such as "Kung Fu," "So in Love," and "Only You Babe." Mayfield had a couple of hits in the early '80s, but the decade generally found his commercial fortunes in a steady downward spiral, despite some intermittent albums. On August 14, 1990, he became paralyzed from the neck down when a lighting rig fell on top of him at a concert in Brooklyn, NY. In the mid-'90s, a couple of tribute albums consisting of Mayfield covers appeared, with contributions by such superstars as Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Gladys Knight. Though no substitute for the man himself, these tributes served as an indication of the enormous regard in which Mayfield was still held by his peers. He died December 26, 1999 at the age of 57.
Little Child Runnin' Wild Pusherman Freddie's Dead Junkie Chase (Instrumental) Give Me Your Love (Love Song) Eddie You Should Know Better No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song) Think (Instrumental) Superfly Freddie's Dead (Theme From 'Superfly') - Single Mix
Miscellaneous Songs - Misc -
Amen Billy Jack Choice of colors Do Do Wap Is Strong In Here Fool for you Gypsy woman I'm So Proud It's All Right Keep On Pushing Love's Sweet Sensation Move on up People Get Ready She Don't Let Nobody But Me The Makings Of You We're A Winner We've only just begun You Have Been Cheatin'
Superfly
Little Child Runnin' Wild
Little child Runnin' wild Watch a while You see he never smiles Broken home Father gone Mama tired So he's all alone Kind of sad Kind of mad Ghetto child Thinkin' he's been had In the back of his mind he's sayin' Didn't have to be here You didn't have to love for me While I was just a nothin' child Why couldn't they just let me be Let me be, let me be, let me be One room shack On the alley-back Control, I'm told From across the track Where is the mayor Who'll make all things fair He lives outside Our polluted air And I didn't have to be here You didn't have to love for me While I was just a nothin' child Why couldn't they just let me be Let me be, let me be, let me be I got a jones Runnin' through ma' bones I'm sorry son All your money's gone Painful rip In my upper hip I guess it's time To take another trip Don't care what nobody say I got to take the pain away It's getting worser day by day And all my life has been this way Can't reason with the pusherman Finance is all that he understands 'You junkie, mama cries, you know' Would rip her, but I love her so Love her so, now....
Pusherman
I'm your mama I'm your daddy I'm that nigga in the alley I'm your doctor When in need Want some coke Have some weed You know me I'm your friend Your main boy Thick and thin I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman Ain't I clean Bad machine Super cool Super mean Dealin' good For The Man Superfly Here I stand Secret stash Heavy bread Baddest bitches in the bed I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman Silent life of crime A man of odd circumstance A victim of ghetto demands Feed me money for style And I'll let you trip for a while Insecure from the past How long can a good thing last Oh no, no, no Got to be mellow, y'all Got to get mellow, now Pusherman gettin' mellow, y'all Heavy mind Every sign Makin' money All the time My 'E ID' And just me For all junkies to see Ghetto Prince Is my thing Makin' love's How I swing I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman Two bags, please For a generous fee Make your world what you want it to be Got a woman I love desperately Wanna give her somethin' better than me Been told I can't be nothin' else Just a hustler in spite of myself I know I can break it This life just don't make it Lord, Lord, yeah Got to get mellow, now Gotta be mellow, y'all Got to get mellow, now I'm your mama I'm your daddy I'm that nigga in the alley I'm your doctor When in need Want some coke Have some weed You know me I'm your friend Your main boy Thick and thin I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman I'm your pusherman Lord, Lord
Freddie's Dead
Hey, hey Love, love Yeah, yeah Huh, huh Freddie's dead That's what I said Let the man rap a plan; 'said he'd send him home But his hope was a rope, and he should have known 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 A Freddie's on the corner now If you wanna be a junkie, wow Remember, Freddie's dead We're all built up with progress But sometimes I must confess We can deal with rockets and dreams But reality What does it mean Ain't nothing said 'Cause Freddie's dead Hey, hey Love, love Hey, hey Yeah, yeah Huh, huh Love, love Yeah, yeah Huh, huh Yeah, yeah Freddie's dead All I want is some peace of mind With a little love I'm trying to find This could be such a beautiful world With a wonderful girl I need a woman child Don't wanna be like Freddie now 'Cause Freddie's dead Hey, hey Yeah, yeah If you don't try You're gonna die 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 Everybody's misused him Ripped him up and abused him Another junkie plan Pushin' dope for the man A Freddie's on the corner now If you wanna be a junkie, why Remember Freddie's dead Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh Freddie's dead Hey, hey Huh, huh Love, love Huh, huh Huh, huh Hey, hey Love, love
Give Me Your Love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love I want you so baby Can't even get mad at you What a thing You really swing And I feel so good it's true You're such a gun Make my lungs sigh Breathin' in the air Through lovin' you I really know, child Just how much I care Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love Preparing for tomorrow You do what you have to do I'll share the weight Whatever fate Plans to bring to you Don't worry 'bout no attitude You just be yourself Could live with you In solitude And need no one else Give me your love Give me your love Give me your love, love Give me your love Give me, give me
*** Thanx a lot to Lgw who corrected this one ***
Eddie You Should Know Better Eddie, you should know better Brother, you know you're wrong Think of the tears and fears You bring to your folks back home They'd say, "Where did he go wrong, My Lord?" We planned and worked hard From the very start Tried to make him better Than all the rest But the brother proved to be So much less Eddie is everybody's friend But sometimes we wonder now and then The only time he'll choose you When theres's something to lose through His personal loss And the friend pays the cost All the time Must be something' that's freezin' his mind That has made him, through greed, so very blind And I don't think he's gonna make it this time
*** Thanx a lot to Lgw for this one ***
No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)
I've met many people over the years And in my opinion I have found that People are the same everywhere They have the same fears Shed similar tears Die in so many years The oppressed seem to have suffered the most In every continent - coast to coast Now our lives are in the hands of The Pusherman We break it all down In hopes that you might understand Don't make no profit for The Man I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me There's somethin' kinda funny How The Man take your money He's shrewd as he can be In such a way you'll never see It's a terrible thing inside When your natural high has died The weaker turn to dope And put all aside their hope I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me Twinkling twinkling grains They do all sorts of things While your inner mind is pleased Your conscience is only teased... More and more you feed Until you grow another need Playing fantasy You have no reality I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me Sit down and take a listen This may be something that you're missin' I know your mind, You want it funky But you don't have to be no junkie Just be glad you've got your own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The Man can't put no thing on me I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see My life's a natural high The man can't put no thing on me Sure is funky Sure is funky I ain't no junkie I ain't no junkie Sure is funky Sure is funky I ain't no junkie I ain't no junkie I'm so glad I've got my own So glad that I can see...
Superfly Darkest of night With the moon shining bright There's a set goin' strong Lotta things goin' on The man of the hour Has an air of great power The dudes have envied him for so long 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 Hard to understand What a hell of a man This cat of the slum Had a mind, wasn't dumb But a weakness was shown 'Cause his hustle was wrong His mind was his own But the man lived alone 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 The game he plays he plays for keeps Hustlin' times and ghetto streets Tryin' to get over That's what he tryin' to do, y'all Taking all that he can take Gambling with the odds of fate Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Woo, Superfly, huh, huh The aim of his role Was to move a lot of blow Ask him his dream What does it mean? He woudn't know "Can't be like the rest" Is the most he'll confess But the time's running out And there's no happiness 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 Superfly Superfly, huh Superfly Huh, Superfly Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over Tryin' to get over
Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly) - Single Mix
Freddie's dead That's what I said Let the man rap a plan; 'said he'd send him home But his hope was a rope, and he should have known 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 A Freddie's on the corner now If you wanna be a junkie, wow Remember, Freddie's dead We're all built up with progress But sometimes I must confess We can deal with rockets and dreams But reality What does it mean Ain't nothing said 'Cause Freddie's dead Huh, huh Love, love Yeah, yeah Huh, huh Yeah, yeah Freddie's dead All I want is some peace of mind With a little love I'm trying to find This could be such a beautiful world With a wonderful girl I need a woman child Don't wanna be like Freddie now 'Cause Freddie's dead Everybody's misused him Ripped him up and abused him Another junkie plan Pushin' dope for the man A Freddie's on the corner now If you wanna be a junkie, why Remember Freddie's dead Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh Freddie's dead
Miscellaneous Songs
Amen
( The Impressions ) Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen sing it over Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen See the little baby Wrapped in a manger on Christmas morning See him in the Temple Talking with the elders Who marvel at his wisdom Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Hallelujah Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Down at the Jordan John was baptizing and saving all sinners See him at the seaside Talking with the fisherman And making them disciples Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Keep on pushin now Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Hallelujah now Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Billy Jack Just out of Monday Run into a friend Down the street, down the street Where I live Ah! Ah! Sad things begin I could feel from within From the message From the message He had to give 'Bout a buddy of mine Running out of time His life's running out of time Somebody past noon Shot across the room And now the man no longer lives Too bad about him Too sad about him Don't get me wrong The man is gone But it's a wonder he lived this long Up in the city they called him Boss Jack But down home he was a alley cat Ah! didn't care nothing about being black Ah! Billy Jack Can't be no fun Can't be no fun To be shot, shot with a hand gun Body sprawled out, you without a doubt Running people out, there on the floor Ah! Ah! Bad bloody bloody mess Shot all up in his chest Shot all up in his chest One sided duel, gun and a fool What a way to go Up in the city they called him Boss Jack But down home he was a alley cat Ah! Didn't care nothin' bout being Black Ah, Ah, Billy Jack Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Choice of colors
( The Impressions ) If you had a choice of color Which one would you choose my brothers If there was no day or night Which would you prefer to be right How long have you hated your white teacher Who told you, you love your black preacher Do you respect your brother's woman friend And share with black folks not of kin People must prove to the people A better day is coming for you and for me With just a little bit more education And love for our nation Would make a better society Now some of us would rather cuss and make a fuss Than to bring about a little trust But we shall overcome our beliefs someday If you'll only listen to what I have to say And how long have you hated your white teacher Who told you, you love your black preacher Can you respect your brother's woman friend And share with black folks not of kin I said now people must prove to the people A better day is coming for you and for me With just a little bit more education And love for our nation Would make a better society And if you had a choice of colors Which one would you choose my brothers If there was no day or night Which would you prefer to be right And If you had a choice of colors Which one would you choose my brothers If there was no day or night Which would you prefer to be right
Do Do Wap Is Strong In Here
Well! To keep from dyin', hey! hey! I've been lyin', uh huh! Shot a man, hey! and I stole and ran Well! Well! we tried to beat 'em And I lost my freedom My woman know that I'm in need So save some of mine for me If you got to give it up. don't desert me 'Cause leavin' me you know it would hurt me Snake pits and lucifer burns Can't take the strength I've earned and learned Grease, it just ain't greasy And nasty baby come so easy Ain't no heaven. ain't no heaven, this devil level All alone, all alone, all alone, all alone I get stoned, I get stoned Saw him pile him in the shower Hey! Now I plan to be a bad titty sucker And I plan to stay a black motherfucker Stepped in depth of the same livin' hell So I ain't too proud to die here as well Aw! Do Do Wap is strong in here Do Do Wap is strong in here Waking 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 My woman's candy makin' him sick But when I cop there won't be nothin' to lick Give her some of all the hard, hard pain Make her achin' body call for my name My woman know my passion of needs So save some of mine if you please If you got to give it up, don't desert me If you leave me, babe, know it would hurt me, hey! Do Do Wap is strong in here Do Do Wap is stro'ng in here 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 lucifers 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! Do Do Wap is strong in here Do Do Wap is strong in here
Fool For You ( The Impressions )
Never liked nobody That's been mean to me I've got a heart full of stone And I hate the misery Then you came along Into my life Destroying my mind Mounting up the toil and strife But I'm a fool for you I'm a fool for you But I'm a fool for you I'm a fool for you Guess I'll always be And I claim it famously 'Cause I'm a fool for you It's a doggone shame Knowin' you don't love me You go on and use me So continuously I don't know why I love you like I do When you're breaking my heart And you know it's true But I'm a fool for you I'm a fool for you But I'm a fool for you I'm a fool for you Doggin' me every day But child, I'm here to stay 'Cause I'm a fool for you You don't want me to stay But I'm a fool for you Do me wrong now every day Child, I'm a fool for you Ah-ha-ha-hoo I'm a fool for you Gypsy Woman
From nowhere through a caravan Around the campfire light A lovely woman in motion With hair as dark as night Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark That hypnotized me with love She was a gypsy woman She was a gypsy woman She danced around and round to a guitar melody From the fire her face was all aglow How she enchanted me Oh, how I'd like to hold her near And kiss and forever whisper in her ear I love you, gypsy woman I love you, gypsy woman All through the caravan She was dancing with all the men Waiting for the rising sun Everyone was having fun I hate to see the lady go Knowing she'll never know That I love her, I love her She was a gypsy woman A gypsy woman A gypsy woman A gypsy woman
I'm So Proud
Prettier than all the world And I'm so proud, I'm so proud of you. You're only one fella's girl. And I'm so proud, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of being loved by you. And it would hurt, hurt to know If you ever were untrue. Sweeter than the taste o a cherry so sweet. And I'm so proud, I'm so proud of you. Compliments to you from all the people we meet. Yes, and I'm so proud, Believe me I love you, too. I'm so proud of being loved by you. And it would hurt, hurt to know If you ever were untrue. Sweeter than the taste of a cherry so sweet. Yeah, and I'm so proud of you, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of being loved by you.
It's All Right
( The Impressions ) Say it's all right (it's all right) Say it's all right (it's all right) It's all right, have a good time 'Cause it's all right, whoa, it's all right We're gonna move it slow When lights are low When you move it slow, it sounds like more And it's all right, whoa, it's all right Now listen to the beat Kinda pat your feet You got soul, and everybody knows That it's all right, whoa, it's all right When you wake up early in the morning Feelin' sad like so many of us do Hum a little soul Make life your goal And surely something's got to come to you And say it's all right (it's all right) Say it's all right (it's all right) It's all right, have a good time 'Cause it's all right, whoa, it's all right Now everybody clap your hands Give yourself a chance You got soul, and everybody knows That it's all right, whoa, it's all right Someday I'll find me a woman Who will love and treat me real nice Then my woe's got to go And my love, she will know From morning, noon, and night And she's got to ... Say it's all right (it's all right) Say it's all right (it's all right) It's all right, have a good time 'Cause it's all right, whoa, it's all right Now everybody clap your hands Now give yourselves a chance You got soul...
Keep On Pushing
( The Impressions )
Keep on pushing I've got to keep on pushing (mmm-hmm) I can't stop now Move up a little higher Some way, somehow 'Cause I've got my strength And it don't make sense Not to keep on pushin' Hallelujah, hallelujah Keep on pushin' Now maybe some day I'll reach that higher goal I know that I can make it With just a little bit of soul 'Cause I've got my strength And it don't make sense Not to keep on pushin' Now look-a look (look-a look) A-look-a yonder What's that I see A great big stone wall Stands there ahead of me But I've got my pride And I'll move on aside And keep on pushin' Hallelujah, hallelujah Keep on pushin' Keep on pushin'... Love's Sweet Sensation
Ooh... Baby, baby, it's a dream here with you Alright (Don't do it) Alright Don't say it's over Don't say goodbye Just come on over And we'll talk about it, you and I (You and me) I won't try to tell you [Don't try to tell me] When our love has gone [I don't believe it's gone, naw] No one can tell me There's good in cryin' What's the use in trying Or the need to carry on (Carry on, carry on) Love's sweet sensation (Got a hold of me) Love's sweet sensation [Got a hold of me] Love's sweet sensation (Got a hold of me) Love's sweet sensation Love's sweet sensation Love's sweet sensation Love's sweet sensation Love's sweet sensation Love's sweet sensation (Sweet) You sho'nuff got it, sho'nuff got it Sho'nuff got a sweet hold on me (Got a hold of me) Love's sweet sensation Yeah, sho'nuff got a hold of me [I think it's got a hold of both of us] I tell you what [Hmm] You that bird that's better than two in the bush [You know you talk some mess, don't you] Yummy, yummy, yummy, you're so good to the tummy [Ooh, ha-ha-ha] Ey, I like your hair [You like that] Love's sweet sensation [I like everything about you] So sweet [Huh] You're so sweet Love's sweet sensation Oh, for me [Ooh] I'm all for you too, baby [That's the way it's gonna be] Get down for me, baby, baby [Look out, daddy] Love's sweet sensation Sweet [Sing your song] Sweet [Yeah] I feel that sensation comin' on Love's sweet sensation I mean it's done gotten serious [Very, very] Very Oh, shucks [That's too much, yes] Ooh Move on Up
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 Bight your lip and take a trip Though there may be wet road ahead You cannot slip So move on up and peace you will find Into the steeple of beautiful people Where there's only one kind So hush now child and don't you cry Your folks might understand you by and by Just move on up and keep on wishing Remember your dreams are your only schemes So keep on pushing Take nothing less - not even second best And do not obey - you must have your say You can past the test Move on up! People Get Ready
People get ready, there's a train comin' You don't need no baggage, you just get on board All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin' You don't need no ticket you just thank the lord People get ready, there's a train to Jordan Picking up passengers coast to coast Faith is the key, open the doors and board them There's hope for all among those loved the most There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner whom would hurt all mankind Just to save his own Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner For there is no hiding place against the kingdoms throne 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. She Don't Let Nobody But Me
Other guys try to hold her hand Other guys want a one night stand They all stare when she's around I'm so proud how she puts them down She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody Nobody but me I don't worry 'cause we're so tight See each other 'most every night She let me have the master key That's why I kiss her explicitly She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody Nobody but me Some dudes, they think she's teasing They think she wants to play But she's so dog-gone pleasing And hey, that's just her way And no-one's gonna steal her She does what she wants to She only lets me feel her And then I know it's true She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody Nobody but me In a day and age when you can't be sure I've got one with a love that's pure Guess you'd call her my lucky star She goes out, but she don't go far She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody Nobody but me Some dudes, they think she's teasing They think she wants to play But she's so dog-gone pleasing And hey, that's just her way And no-one's gonna steal her She does what she wants to She only lets me feel her And then I know it's true She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody, no, no She don't let nobody Nobody but me The Makings Of You A little sugar, honey suckle lamb Great expression of happiness Boy, you could not miss with a dozen roses Such would astound you The joy of children laughing around you These are the makings of you It is true, the makings of you, oh It's been a miracle for what you've done Please stay right by my side Two can be one for the righteous way to go Anyone would know I believe I thought I told you so You're second to none Love of all mankind should reflect some sign Of the words I'm trying to recite They're close, but not quite Almost impossible to do Describing the makings of you We're A Winner ( The Impressions ) We're a winner And never let anybody say Boy, you can't make it 'Cause a feeble mind is in your way No more tears do we cry And we have finally dried our eyes And we're movin' on up (movin' on up) Lawd have mercy We're movin' on up (movin' on up) We're living proof in alls alert That we're two from the good black earth And we're a winner And everybody knows it too We'll just keep on pushin' Like your leaders tell you to At last that blessed day has come And I don't care where you come from We're all movin' on up (movin' on up) Lawd have mercy We're movin' on up (movin' on up) Hey, Hey We're movin' on up (movin' on up) Lawd have mercy We're movin' on up (movin' on up) I don't mind leavin' here To show the world we have no fear 'Cause we're a winner And everybody knows it too We'll just keep on pushin' Like your leaders tell you to At last that blessed day has come And I don't care where you come from We're just go move on up (movin' on up) Lawd have mercy We're movin' on up (movin' on up) We'll just keep on pushin' We're a winner Lawd, baby Everybody Hey, you know we're movin' on up We're a winner
We've only just begun We've only just begun to live White lace and promises A kiss for luck and we're on our way Before the rising sun we fly So many roads to choose We start our walking and learn to run Sharing horizons that are new to us Watching the signs along the way Talking it over just the two of us Working together day to day Together And when the evening comes we smile So much of life ahead We'll find a place where there's room to grow And yes we've just begun Sharing horizons that are new to us Watching the signs along the way Talking it over just the two of us Working together day to day Together And when the evening comes we smile So much of life ahead We'll find a place where there's room to grow And yes we've just begun
You Have Been Cheatin'
( The Impressions ) I've been trying hard to forget That you've been cheating Wishin' you I'd never met 'Cause you've been cheating Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes And from wrong you'll never be free While you sit cryin', you've been lyin' You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me Yeah, you made me suspect and I know (who-who) You don't want me (you don't want me) Cookies crumble, and that's how it goes (who-who) You don't want me (you don't want me) Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes And from wrong you'll never be free While you sit cryin', you've been lyin' You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me Another lover you discover Our love's gone and I don't know why It's just as well, though at last I do know All you said was just a lie So I'm trying hard to forget That you've been cheating Wishin' you I'd never met 'Cause you've been cheating Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes And from wrong you'll never be free While you sit cryin', you've been lyin' You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me Ooh, ooh, baby (you've been cheating) You must not love me (you've been cheating) You must not want me (you've been cheating) You just don't care...