Superfly

Curtis Mayfield

About Superfly

"Superfly" is a song by Curtis Mayfield, the title track from his 1972 soundtrack album for the film of the same name. It was the second single released from the album, following "Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)", and reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The lyrics celebrate the craftiness and determination of the film's main character. The song plays over the film's closing credits. The bassline and the rototom percussion break from the song's introduction (performed by Joseph "Lucky" Scott and "Master" Henry Gibson, respectively) have repeatedly been sampled in songs including Beastie Boys' "Egg Man", The Notorious B. I. G.'s "Ready to Die Intro", and Nelly's "Tilt Ya Head Back" featuring Christina Aguilera. Mayfield himself sampled the original song in "Superfly 1990", a duet he recorded with rapper Ice-T. The song appeared in the 2009 film Madea Goes to Jail. The song also appeared in the 2012 movie Dark Shadows. The song also appeared in the 2019 supernatural horror film The Curse of La Llorona. 


Year:
2009
3:52
32 

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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

Oh, 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

Oh, 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' ta get over
(That's what he tryin' to do, y'all)
Taking all that he can take
Gambling with the odds of fate
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Woo, superfly

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

Oh, 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
Superfly
Superfly

Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over
Tryin' ta get over

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Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of politically conscious African-American music. He was also a multi-instrumentalist who played the guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, and drums. Mayfield is a winner of both the Grammy Legend Award (in 1994) and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (in 1995), and he was a double inductee into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted as a member of The Impressions into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame i… more »

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Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Historical Context
"Superfly" is a song and single by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1972, and is a part of the soundtrack for the Blaxploitation film of the same name, which Mayfield scored.
Musical Impact
The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was #5 on the R&B chart, becoming a significant commercial success.
Socio-Political Impact
The lyrics to "Superfly" address the dark side of the drug culture, criticizing it rather than glorifying it, a stance that was pioneering and unusual for the time period in the music industry.
Artistic Collaboration
The movie "Superfly" was one of the few films at the time where African-Americans had prominent roles, both in front of and behind the camera, which adds further significance to Mayfield's contribution on the film's soundtrack.
Award Recognition
"Superfly" has been recognized as one of the greatest songs of all time. In 2004, it was ranked #69 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Cultural Influence
The song's influence is still seen today, with references in films, television shows, other songs, and even video games. The Superfly album, including the title track, has been sampled countless times in various hip hop tracks since the 1990s.
Techniques of Delivery
Mayfield's falsetto vocals, the soulful groove, and the socially conscious lyrics are all distinctive features of the song "Superfly."
Innovative Sound Design
The song features several overdubs, exemplifying Mayfield's innovative use of multi-tracking to create a richer sound texture.
Song's Legacy
The album and "Superfly" the song, are credited with helping shape '70s soul and have been considered as precursors to the socially conscious hip hop music.
Uncommon Aspect
Unlike most soundtracks, the "Superfly" album outsold the movie's box office earnings, standing as a testament to Mayfield's musical genius and the timeless appeal of the song.

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    Superfly

    15.1M
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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #8


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