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Curtis Mayfield — Superfly
Album: Superfly
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 191









Released: 1972
Length: 3:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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

Ooh, 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
Wooh, Superfly

The aim of his role
Was to move a lot of blow
Ask him his dream
What does it mean? He wouldn'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

Ooh, 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' 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
Comments (52)add comment
 Skydog wrote:
not playing
i was just checking to see if this was in the library
Bill, how about 'Pusherman' from this album
thanks 
 

I don't think Bill has played this one in 14 years
not playing
i was just checking to see if this was in the library
Bill, how about 'Pusherman' from this album
thanks 
intothevast67 wrote:
Oh, yucko. I hate this crap. Gag... Gag.... Hurry get me a bag....
I wouldn't go quite that far. Not quite.
Before there was "Hustle and Flow", there was Superfly. Curtis got it right.
Could it get much cooler? Excellent choice.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Great song. Also a big fan of Egg Man by Beastie Boys, who sampled this song heavily.
Faked me out for a few seconds; I thought B/R had finally accepted something from Paul's Boutique. Not complaining though; this is smooth and fine.
trekhead wrote:
Ooooh, can something actually be TOO funky?? A 4.
My friend, I'm disappointed in you! Actually, no, "TOO funky" is oxymoronic. That bassline, that deep down groove with bright riffing horns and Curtis's own tenor wail on top is just irresistible. Curtis was King (or was it King Curtis who was King? I forget). He is missed. Complete 10 if ever there was.
not a big rap fan, but nelly and cristine aguilera do this really cool song called tilt ya head back that lifts the baseline from this song. funny i didn't recognize until i heard this.
Follow this up with Isaac Hayes "Shaft" or some Stevie Wonder!
Looked out the window, seen his bald head Ran to the fridge and pulled out an eg...
intothevast67 wrote:
Oh, yucko. I hate this crap. Gag... Gag.... Hurry get me a bag....
dang get a life!
Fun song
Curtis Mayfield was way ahead of his time. This soundtrack nailed the blight of US inner cities during the 1970's. His voice will never be forgotten. Good memories of listening to his music as a child.
Aw yeah... dig it baby.
timeless classic...huge following in his prime... Mari wrote:
for a new subsciber like myself there seems to be an endless number of tracks if not albums i haven't heard before like this one for example..like it!
This is the first 45 I ever bought with my own money, I hate to say how many years ago. At that tender age I was unaware of Curtis Mayfield's importance in music; I just liked it and still do.
Oh, yucko. I hate this crap. Gag... Gag.... Hurry get me a bag....
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Great song. Also a big fan of Egg Man by Beastie Boys, who sampled this song heavily. But hip-hop is roundly rejected around here...
as it should be
Groovy
CURTIS MAYFIELD "Superfly" Darkest of night With the moon shinin' 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' cards on ghetto streets Tryin' ta get over (That's what he tryin' to do, y'all) Takin' all that he can take Gamblin' 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 wouldn'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 Superfly Superfly "Tryin' ta get over... <9x>
Skeletor wrote:
Can Shaft be far behind?
J-O-H-N Shaft!
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Great song. Also a big fan of Egg Man by Beastie Boys, who sampled this song heavily. But hip-hop is roundly rejected around here...
The egg a symbol of life Go inside your house and bust out your wife Pulled out the jammy he thought it was a joke The trigger I pulled his face the yoke Brilliant Beastie Boy Lyrics!
When future historians attempt to recreate the real meaning behind, and the feel of, "cool," will they point to Arthur Fonzarelli or will they, more correctly, turn to this song?
A classic...
Franlrc wrote:
You're too generous. I so rarely give a 1 but I had to here. This was the worst thing I've heard on here in a long time. I mean, this was cringe-bad stuff, IMHO. Not campy-good.
No love for the Supafly! It is a shame, a shame man. Keep tryin' to get over!
Now - I'm tryin' to get over..
trekhead wrote:
Ooooh, can something actually be TOO funky?? A 4.
You're too generous. I so rarely give a 1 but I had to here. This was the worst thing I've heard on here in a long time. I mean, this was cringe-bad stuff, IMHO. Not campy-good.
What a shame we lost Curtis. This was far from his best work, but it was the best known. Too bad you don't have "Move On Up" -- the long version of that was a truly great recording by Curtis with The Impressions.
Bring da' funk !
Ooooh, can something actually be TOO funky?? A 4.
Like a bad 1970's b-movie...
all hail the chief!
tonypf wrote:
The accident that incapcitated him essentially ended a long and productive career for Curtis. Check out his work w/ the Impressions to get a sense of the range this guy had.
Super! Let's hear "Freddie's Dead" too. Haven't had a '70s soul/funk transfusion in quite some time.
Great song. Also a big fan of Egg Man by Beastie Boys, who sampled this song heavily. But hip-hop is roundly rejected around here...
The accident that incapcitated him essentially ended a long and productive career for Curtis. Check out his work w/ the Impressions to get a sense of the range this guy had.
I once saw him live at the North Sea Jazz Festival and was rather unprepared. He was one of the many, many artists there and I wasn't that familiar with his repertoire. The concert was strangly overwhelming, though I probably didn't get all the subtle finesses at the time. Surely playing in a different league.
Uh-Huh! 8)
Just listen to that guitar...Just pure time travelling...
Great tune. Hope they play Beastie Boys' "Eggman" next.
maceo wrote:
Damn straght
Shuchomouf. Right On. Excellent Tune. Wa-Wa-Wah-Waooow.
I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW SEEN HIS BALD HEAD, I RAN TO THE FRIDGE & PULLED OUT AN EGG- SCOPED HIM IN MY SCOPE - HE HAD NO HAIR LAUNCHED THAT SHOT HE WAS CAUGHT OUT THERE ..OOPS, WRONG SONG!
More, more, more!!!
Damn straght
Can Shaft be far behind?
(pimp) damn, baby.
Wooooooo-hoooooooo!
hooo, baby... that's good stuff.