You ever hear a song that just feels like a humid, lazy Sunday afternoon where nobody has anywhere to be? That’s the vibe. But honestly, if you actually look at the let’s do it again staple singers lyrics, there’s a whole lot more going on than just a catchy hook. It’s one of those tracks that’s been sampled to death—shout out to Ice Cube and John Legend—but the original has this weird, beautiful tension you don't find in modern R&B.
It’s basically a masterclass in being suggestive without being gross.
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Back in 1975, this wasn't just another hit; it was a bit of a scandal for the people involved. Think about it. You’ve got the Staple Singers, a family group that practically defined the sound of the Civil Rights Movement with "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There." They were gospel royalty. Then, suddenly, they’re singing about "sweet love in the midnight" and "getting good love" until the morning light.
It was a pivot that almost didn't happen.
The Curtis Mayfield Connection
The song was written and produced by the legendary Curtis Mayfield for a Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby movie of the same name. Mayfield was a genius at blending social consciousness with smooth-as-butter soul, but for this soundtrack, he went full-on romantic.
Mavis Staples has told the story a hundred times. When they first saw the let’s do it again staple singers lyrics, her father, "Pops" Staples, was not having it. He was a man of the church. He looked at the lines about "diggin' on the clothes you wear" and "doing it again" and thought it was too much.
Mayfield actually had to sit him down and convince him. He told Pops that the Lord wouldn't mind a song about love between a man and a woman. It wasn't "dirty"—it was human. Eventually, the sisters talked their dad into it because they really wanted their voices on a movie soundtrack.
Pops still looked a little unsure, but he delivered that iconic solo line: "Now, I like you, lady / So fine with your pretty hair." It’s arguably the smoothest thing a 60-year-old gospel patriarch has ever recorded.
What the Lyrics are Actually Saying
People get it twisted. They think because it’s a soul song from the 70s, it’s just about "the act." But if you really listen to the let’s do it again staple singers lyrics, it’s about the aftermath as much as the moment.
- The Morning Flower: "The smell of the morning flower / As we pass away by the hour." This isn't about a quickie. It’s about that time-stopping feeling when you’re with someone and the rest of the world just doesn't exist.
- The Butterfinger Line: "I'm not a girl that could linger / But I feel like a Butterfinger." This is Mavis being playful. She’s saying she’s usually independent, maybe a bit tough, but this person makes her "melt" or lose her grip.
- The Bedtime Vibe: "Good sleep come morning light / No worrying about nothing." That last part is key. In 1975, the world was a mess. The Staple Singers had spent a decade singing about the struggle. This song was a permission slip to just... be happy. To be in love. To stop fighting for three minutes and thirty seconds and enjoy being alive.
Why it Works (Even Today)
Most "sexy" songs today are very... literal. There’s no mystery. "Let’s Do It Again" is all about the atmosphere. The instrumentation—that skippy guitar, the soft bass, the harp flourishes—it all sounds like golden hour.
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It’s also surprisingly wholesome? Mavis has always insisted the song is about "personal connection." It’s not about some random hookup. It’s about a relationship where you’re so comfortable that "doing it again" refers to the whole experience—the talking, the laughing, the "sweet breeze in the summertime."
The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 27, 1975. That was literally the day before Pops Staples’ 61st birthday. Talk about a birthday present. It ended up being the group's last massive #1 hit, but man, what a way to go out.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Appreciate the Staples Today
If you’ve only ever heard "Let's Do It Again" on a "70s BBQ" playlist, you’re missing the context of the group's journey. To really "get" why these lyrics were such a big deal, you should do a quick chronological listen:
- Start with "Uncloudy Day" (1956): Hear the raw, acoustic gospel roots.
- Listen to "Freedom Highway" (1965): Feel the weight of the Civil Rights era.
- Blast "Respect Yourself" (1971): The peak of their funky, "message music" era.
- Then play "Let's Do It Again" (1975): Notice how Mavis’s voice shifts from a preacher’s roar to a velvety, intimate whisper.
It’s one of those rare tracks that manages to be timeless because it doesn't try too hard. It’s just a family from Chicago, led by a Mississippi guitar man, singing about the one thing more powerful than the struggle: love.
Next time you hear it, don't just hum along. Listen to the way Mavis handles those syllables. She’s not just singing lyrics; she’s telling you a secret.
To truly understand the impact, look up the live performances from the mid-70s. You can see the shift in their body language—they went from standing tall like soldiers for justice to swaying and smiling. They were having fun. And honestly, after what that family did for American music and culture, they earned it.