You know that smooth, hazy groove that sounds exactly like a Sunday afternoon in 1974? That one with the "diamond in the back" line? Most people bet their house that it’s a Curtis Mayfield track. It isn't. Not even close, actually.
The song is Be Thankful for What You Got, and the man behind it was a regular guy named William DeVaughn who worked as a government drafting technician. He wasn't a superstar. He was just a guy with a message and $900 in his pocket.
That $900—his own savings—bought him a recording session that changed the DNA of soul music. Honestly, the story of these lyrics is way deeper than just a catchy hook about cars. It's basically a sermon dressed up in a velvet suit.
The Cadillac That Became a Prayer
Back in the early '70s, DeVaughn was a Jehovah's Witness. He wasn't trying to write a club banger. He was trying to talk to the "brothers and sisters" who felt like they weren't enough because they didn't have the flashy stuff.
The original title was actually "A Cadillac Don't Come Easy." You can hear that struggle in the final version. When you look at the Be Thankful for What You Got lyrics, you'll notice they're split into two distinct worlds.
First, there’s the reality check:
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- "You may not drive a great big Cadillac."
- "Gangsta whitewalls... TV antennas in the back."
- "You may not have a car at all."
Then comes the pivot. The "But." It’s the part where he reminds you that you can still "stand tall." It’s a radical idea for 1974. In a decade defined by the "Blaxploitation" aesthetic—where the car you drove defined your status—DeVaughn was telling people their worth was internal.
Why the "Gangsta Lean" Changed Everything
Wait, what is a gangsta lean anyway? It’s that specific way of driving where you grip the wheel with your left hand and lean hard toward the passenger seat. It looks cool. It feels cool.
But here’s the irony. DeVaughn wasn't glorifying the lean. He was saying you can have the "diamond in the back" and the "sunroof top," or you can have absolutely nothing, and the gratitude remains the same.
The "diamond in the back" refers to the small, diamond-shaped rear window found on high-end luxury cars of the era. By describing these status symbols so vividly, DeVaughn makes the renunciation of them even more powerful.
The Ghost of Curtis Mayfield
If you thought this was Curtis Mayfield, don't feel bad. Everyone did. Even the radio DJs back in '74 were confused. The vocal delivery is that high, effortless tenor that Mayfield pioneered, and the arrangement is pure Philadelphia soul.
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The session players were actually members of MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother), the house band for Philadelphia International Records. These guys were the architects of the "Sound of Philadelphia." We're talking about the same musicians who played on hits by The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
They took DeVaughn's simple folk-soul idea and turned it into a seven-minute trance.
From Soul Classic to Hip-Hop DNA
The legacy of these lyrics didn't stop in the seventies. Not by a long shot. If you grew up in the 90s or 2000s, you probably heard these lines before you ever heard the original song.
N.W.A. famously sampled it in "Gangsta Gangsta." Ludacris basically rebuilt the hook for his track "Diamond in the Back." Ice Cube used the "stand tall" line to ground his own narratives.
It’s kind of funny. A song written by a religious government worker about being humble became the blueprint for the most swagger-heavy genre in history. But that’s the beauty of the Be Thankful for What You Got William DeVaughn masterpiece—it’s flexible.
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Notable Covers You Should Hear
- Massive Attack: Their 1991 version on Blue Lines is a trip-hop essential. It strips the song down to a dark, brooding pulse.
- Yo La Tengo: Proof that the song’s message works even in an indie-rock setting.
- Arthur Lee and Love: A psychedelic take that keeps the soul but adds a bit of grit.
What Most People Miss
People get so caught up in the "diamond in the back" part that they forget the second half of the song. The extended version of the track is almost like a meditation. DeVaughn repeats the mantra over and over.
It’s not just about money. It’s about the "random element," as some critics put it. It’s about finding peace when the world is telling you to want more.
In 2026, where we’re all constantly bombarded by "hustle culture" and social media feeds showing us everyone else’s "Cadillac," the lyrics feel more relevant than ever. DeVaughn didn't stay in the spotlight long. He released a few more tracks, but eventually, he just went back to his life.
He practiced what he preached. He was thankful for what he had.
Next Steps for the Soul Searcher
To truly appreciate the nuance of this track, you should listen to the full 7-minute album version rather than the radio edit. Pay attention to the way the percussion—handled by the legendary Earl Young—stays perfectly in the pocket, allowing the message to breathe.
If you're building a playlist, pair this with Curtis Mayfield’s "Right on for the Darkness" or The Main Ingredient’s "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend." You'll see exactly how DeVaughn’s "secular hymn" fits into the wider tapestry of conscious soul music.