We stay strong. We stay positive, keep our heads up, love one another, spread love. The Devil can't win when you have God on your side. Mavis Staples More Quotes by Mavis Staples More Quotes From Mavis Staples One day, when I was about eight years old, some kids pushed me on stage at school during a talent show because they knew I could sing. Mavis Staples kids years school I started writing letters home to my mother, saying that I wanted to come home, grandma won't let me sing. Mavis Staples grandma mother home Whenever somebody tells me they want me to stop singing, I'm gone. Mavis Staples singing gone want I'm just singing what I feel in my heart. Mavis Staples singing my-heart heart I just had a wonderful life, and I couldn't ask for anything else. Mavis Staples wonderful-life asks wonderful My high-school a cappella teacher would embarrass me in front of the choir. 'Mavis, you're in the basement. Mavis, you're singing with the boys.' I said, 'Mr. Finch, my voice isn't soprano. I can't sing up there with the girls.' So I just got out of the choir. Mavis Staples me you singing teacher I get my voice from my mother's side of the family. My mother and my grandmother both had strong voices. Mavis Staples family voice strong mother The best music of my life I heard at my grandmother's church, this little wooden church up on a hill. Mavis Staples my-life best music life The devil ain't got no music. All music is God's music. Mavis Staples got devil music god If you don't get out among the people, how are you going to know what they need to hear about? Mavis Staples need know you people There are songs that I have to play! Mavis Staples songs play It's been an amazing life. It's really just been the most magical thing for me - and I have these musical friends from all walks of life. Mavis Staples amazing me friends life Pops, he was a singer's singer. I loved to hear my father sing. He just was so laid-back and cool. I always wished I could sing like Pops. Mavis Staples loved cool always father I don't know which way I'm going. My next CD might be country, might be Dylan, might be Mick Jagger. I don't know. I love a challenge. Mavis Staples challenge love country way Pops always taught us that family is the strongest unit in the world. If you stick with your family, nobody can break you, nobody can harm you. You'll always have your family. Mavis Staples nobody you family world I sang with my father for over 50 years, and now all of a sudden he's gone, and I just dropped out. Mavis Staples over just now father I've got to sing for Pops; I've got to keep my father's legacy alive because he started all of this. So I started calling people, and nobody would give me a chance, but I didn't let that stop me. I took money out the bank and I started making me a record, and I did it in this guy's basement. Mavis Staples me money father people We've had a great change. Dr King saw to that. I was so grateful to see the 'colored only' signs come off the water fountains and bathrooms in the south. But the struggle lives on. Mavis Staples king grateful change water The kids today have these fresh faces. It's like they're on pins and needles, waiting to see what I'm going to do. They've never seen me. In the 1960s, those were hippies. They were wired up already. The kids today know me because I've worked with Jeff Tweedy and other young producers. Mavis Staples never me waiting today When I come out of my dressing room, I go to my heart and say a little prayer and go out on stage. There I am, coming to lift you up and to motivate you. I want to bring joy. It's gospel, and gospel is the truth. It's what I do. I'm going to bring you the truth and lift up your spirit. Mavis Staples i-am truth prayer heart
