It doesn’t get better than this. I was very fortunate to see Mavis Staples in 2016 open up for Bob Dylan. She was open to the audience and told us that she dated “Bobby” back in the day and thought the world of him. It was a typical hot humid June day in Nashville at a now-defunct amphitheater. She commanded the stage and that voice filled the summer air.
Dylan and Staples first got together during the Newport Folk Festival, possibly in 1963 — though the year was not mentioned. The festival was held annually from 1959 to 1969, barring two years of inactivity in 1961 and 1962. Mavis Staples said, “We would write letters back and forth because we wouldn’t see each other until we were on a festival together. And we’d smooch!”
It has been said that Dylan proposed to Mavis back in 1963. She turned him down because she thought she was too young. Mavis Staple recently said: “I often think about what would have happened if I’d married Bobby, though. If we’d had some little plum-crushers, how our lives would be. The kids would be singing now, and Bobby and I would be holding each other up.”
This song sounds spiritual and very close to a gospel song. There is a reason for that…it came out of a tragic event. Al Bell wrote the song. He signed the band to Stax Records and was an executive and co-owner of Stax Records. His little brother was shot and killed. After returning from the funeral he wrote this song. He said “I went out in the backyard in my father’s home. He had an old school bus there parked that was not running. I went back there and sat on the hood of that bus thinking about all that was happening. And all of a sudden, I hear this music in my head. And I heard these lyrics: ‘I know a place, ain’t nobody worried, ain’t nobody crying, and ain’t no smiling faces lying to the races, I’ll take you there.’ I heard it, and I heard the music. And it wouldn’t leave, it stayed there. kept trying to write other verses, but I couldn’t. Nothing worked – there was nothing left to say.”
It’s a beautiful song that builds hope that there is something better will be in the future. The song peaked at #1 in the Billboard 100, #20 in the UK, and #21 in Canada. The song was released in 1972 on Stax Records. It surprises me that it didn’t go much higher in the charts.
The first time I noticed who the Staple Singers were…was in the Last Waltz singing a beautiful version of The Weight. I started to look for more by them and I realized this song, which I knew from childhood, was them. That’s how some of us learn about new music…like a giant tree with roots and a lot of musical branches. With me, it started with the Beatles > Dylan > The Band > The Staple Singers. I found most of the music I like from The Beatles, Stones, and The Who. I followed their influences and what came after.
Mavis Staples: “I sing, ‘Play it, Barry, play your piano…,’ that was Barry Beckett. Then ‘Help me, Daddy…,’ and that was my father playing the guitar. My dad plays that solo, none of that stuff was rehearsed. The only thing that was rehearsed was the verse, but all of the other stuff that I’m doing just came to me in the studio. It wasn’t written down, it all comes from what you feel. And God blessed me to be able to do that. It comes from inside me.”
Al Bell: “Mavis couldn’t get into it, she couldn’t feel it, so I stood there on the floor and tried to sing it to the guys, as they got the music and they got into it. After getting it down, later on, I came back and sat with Mavis and, after a while, she started feeling it and giving in to that rhythm. Of course, she took it to heights that only a Mavis Staples can take it. Nobody else could do it justice, and I guess it was supposed to be that way.”
“Ill Take You There”
Oh mmm I know a place
Ain’t nobody cryin’
Ain’t nobody worried
Ain’t no smilin’ faces
Mmm, no no
Lyin’ to the races
Help me, come on, come on
Somebody, help me now (I’ll take you there)
Help me, ya’all (I’ll take you there)
Help me now (I’ll take you there)
Oh! (I’ll take you there)
Oh! Oh! Mercy! (I’ll take you there)
Oh, let me take you there (I’ll take you there)
Oh-oh! Let me take you there! (I’ll take you there)
Play your, play your piano now
All right Ah do it do it
Come on now
Play on it, play on it
Daddy daddy daddy
Ooh, Lord
All right now
Baby, easy now
Now, come on, little lady
All right
Dum-dum-dum-dum
Sock it, sock it
Ah, oh, oh!
I know a place, ya’all (I’ll take you there)
Ain’t nobody cryin’ (I’ll take you there)
Ain’t nobody worried (I’ll take you there)
No smilin’ faces (I’ll take you there)
Uh-uh (Lyin’ to the races) (I’ll take you there)
Oh, no Oh! (I’ll take you there)
Oh oh oh! (I’ll take you there)
Mercy now! (I’ll take you there)
I’m callin’ callin’ callin’ mercy (I’ll take you there)
Mercy mercy! (I’ll take you there)
Let me (I’ll take you there)
Oh oh! I’ll take you there (I’ll take you there)
Oh oh oh oh Wanna take you there! (I’ll take you there) Just take me by the hand
Let me (I’ll take you there)
Let me, let me, let me lead the way
Oh! (I’ll take you there)
Let me take you there (I’ll take you there)
Let me take you there! (I’ll take you there)
Ain’t no smilin’ faces (I’ll take you there)
Up in here, lyin’ to the races (I’ll take you there)
You oughta, you gotta gotta come let me, let me (I’ll take you there)
Take you, take you, take you over there (I’ll take you there) Ooh! Oh! Oh! All right (I’ll take you there)
Oh-oh! All right! (I’ll take you there)
Oh! Oh! (I’ll take you there)
Mmmm ah Oh! Yeah! (I’ll take you there)
Whoa! (I’ll take you there)
Let me lead the way (I’ll take you there)
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Such a great song! It would have been something to see Mavis, I didn’t know she and Bob were that close! I missed my one chance to hear her sing, still regret it.
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I’m surprised this song didn’t chart higher, because I heard it a lot, and still hear it occasionally. The story behind the lyrics is heartbreaking but uplifting. He knew not to force more words into it. I love that story of Bob and Mavis. I wasn’t aware they had a connection. I bet the concert you saw in 2016 was great.
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It was a great concert and the hottest I’ve ever went to. It felt like 100…I can’t imagine how they felt.
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That sounds miserable, but I would have been there suffering through it too, for those two artists. I’m amazed that performers are willing and able to put on a show in some of the most miserable weather conditions.
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Bob only played one or two songs made before 2000….my son knew all of them but I’m not as up on 2000 and after but it was very enjoyable. Mavis was great…as I said in another comment if this makes sense…she humanized Bob. Calling him honey and things like that….the audience ate it up.
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That is sweet how she countered his less social demeanor. Bob did a set of mostly newer songs on the first weekend of Desert Trip, which was also 2016. I went the 2nd weekend, and he did his old classics, which I really appreciated. I don’t know his 2000 and later stuff, but maybe I need to get familiar with it. I might be glad I did.
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He does have some good songs and I knew the Sinatra songs he covered as well. I remember that Desert Trip…it seemed like everyone was there. You saw him right after I did.
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Mavis has a great voice, no debate there! Interesting read, I had no idea she and Bob Dylan were an ‘item’ once. Like she suggested, boy if they had had kids, that could have been some new generation of musicians.
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I know…it would have been an interesting pairing. Bob seems so to himself and it was fun watching Mavis just go on and on about him. She humanized him in a lot of ways that night.
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Yeah, that’s not a bad thing at all. Glad they apparently remained friends at least
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It surprised me that he was alright with her just talking about him on stage….I guess he doesn’t care at all.
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I adore Mavis Staples. I’ll be seeing her in August with Trombone Shorty … and am definitely looking forward to this song. 🙂
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She was a lot of fun and a trooper because it felt like 100 out that day.
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Great! It is fun to imagine Mavis and Bob as a couple.
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Man, talk about a true blessing. This was real soul music, funky and inspirational all at once. Their songs were always positive, always came with a big helping of “Jesus loves you, man” on top. They were unique. When Mavis sang “I’ll take you there,” you actually looked forward to the trip. When she and her sisters and Pops sang “respect yourself,” you did, because their singing that was all the confidence you needed. The world needs the Staples more than ever now…
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Yes it does John… they were so positive but not preachy.
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I used to get the Staple Singers confused with the Pointer Sisters, but I have them straightened out now.
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I got the Pointer Sisters mixed up with Sister Sledge at times.
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Hey Max, newsflash, newsflash, I’m with you I’ve always dug this tune!
Mavis Staples remains a compelling vocalist to this day. I envy you to have seen her. That must have been really cool – and made Zimmy look like a real lousy vocalist by comparison! 🙂
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LOL… she was so open as a person on that stage. You felt like you had known her forever. This song is so tight and on the mark.
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I never caught this lyric until today, ” Ain’t no smilin’ faces, mm-mm, no no
Lyin’ to the races.” That’s a good lyric.
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Yes it is…I never looked at them either until I read why and how he wrote it.
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I was oblivious of the history between Staples and Dylan and very surprised to read it. That quote about ‘plum-crushers’ made me laugh. Yeh, the Staple Singers in the The Weight was fantastic.
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Yes they were great on The Weight. I didn’t know they were together either until I read it not long back. Super song by them.
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Bob got to “smooch” with Mavis. CB is a little jealous. Great tune. Love this group. I like the subtle style they have. Sounds like Mavis is restraining her self on the vocals but is just there ready to release and sometimes it does.
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She was such a character in person…and then she let out that voice and I forgot all about the extreme heat that day.
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I prefer Mavis’s vocals over some of her contemporaries. Watched a doc on her with Jeff Tweedy. Was a scene where she went to see Levon Helm. Very cool. Check it out if you havent already. I wasnt going to comment. Im getting to regular.
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I’ll check that out CB…how much more would someone want? Mavis and Levon in the same doc…
Well you are always welcomed.
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Yeah, I saw her when she opened for Wilco here a few years back, and then she and Jeff Tweedy won a Grammy for ‘You Are Not Alone,’ which I still have on a playlist. Great song, great vocals.
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CB just mentioned a documentary with Tweedy, Mavis, and Levon Helm… I never knew she hung with those guys.
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Sounds like a great show you caught Max.
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Though I consider Mavis Staples a national treasure, and like several Staples Singers’ songs, I’ve never liked “I’ll Take You There”. Not back in 1972, and not today. I realize it’s beloved by just about everyone else who’s ever heard it, but I can’t stand it.
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The Magical Mystical Mavis. Can’t think of anybody else who could sing this one better. The divine gift of the lyrics in time of grief make it all that much better. Great choice, Max.
I’m late again, went out for lunch with my brother from Texas, his fiance, and my baby brother. I hadn’t seen my TX brother in over 40 years! So good to connect with him again.
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Oh WOW…that is awesome! Glad you got that time and hopefully you will not go a long time again.
Tomorrow is Jen’s and I 24th anniversery… yea I picked July 4 so I would never forget.
Tomorrow night I hope to catch up on posts I missed.
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Wonderful idea to pick a holiday for your anniversary. Happy Anniversary #24 to You and Jen! (it’s after midnight so officially the day)
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That way I would never forget! We both liked the idea so it worked for us.
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p.s. Also love what you say here: “That’s how some of us learn about new music…like a giant tree with roots and a lot of musical branches.”
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Thanks Lisa…I totally believe it. One thing leads us to another.
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Yeppers. One example for me: I first saw Doyle Bramhall II as one of the lead guitarists in Roger Waters In the Flesh Live and have been following him ever since. Also Nick Valensi who played in the Dhani Harrison George Fest on Wah Wah. And Tommy Morello, I followed him every which way after hearing him with Bruce Springsteen on The Ghost of Tom Joad. Since musicians are always coming together and breaking apart we have to follow the threads.
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That is great…I do the same thing.
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Yes it will keep you busy. Most of the really good ones are networked all over.
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In UK in late ’60s / ’70s as I was growing up, there were several ‘variety act’ groups of singers who would perform on Saturday evening television / as guests on shows by top comedians etc. I can’t remember, but likes of The Kings Singers, or other similarly blandly named outfits.
For many, many years, I just assumed this Staple Singers lot were the same and never gave them a passing listen!
When I did hear Mavis on the radio some years later I was blown away by her voice … and her personality … she was doing an interview piece on a radio show I always listen to and that’s how I heard her.
Then the penny dropped … duh! The Staple Singers! Been checking them out ever since and even bought a CD in recent years. 🙂
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Yea I really didn’t know much about them until the 80s mostly. Yea she really impressed me with her voice…I didn’t know how good it was until I saw her.
I do like soul/gospel sounding music.
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