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The Staple Singers — Respect Yourself
Album: Be Altitude: Respect Yourself
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1323









Released: 1972
Length: 4:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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If you disrespect anybody that you run in to
How in the world do you think anybody's s'posed to respect you
If you don't give a heck 'bout the man with the bible in his hand, y'all
Just get out the way, and let the gentleman do his thing
You the kind of gentleman that want everything your way, yeah
Take the sheet off your face, boy, it's a brand new day

Respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself

If you're walking 'round think'n that the world owes you something 'cause you're here
You goin' out the world backwards like you did when you first come here yeah
Keep talkin' bout the president, won't stop air pollution
Put your hand on your mouth when you cough, that'll help the solution
Oh, you cuss around women and you don't even know their names, no
Then you're dumb enough to think that'll make you a big ol' man

Respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself

Respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself, respect yourself
Respect yourself, yeah yeah respect yourself, respect yourself yeah, respect yourself
You oughta you oughta respect yourself yeah, respect yourself
Comments (105)add comment
love it but hear it too often here
Posted 7 months ago by Rcallinjr    [ Reply ]
Just a plain, simple, WOW
Posted 8 months ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
 dstehle wrote:

I saw Muddy Waters at Rhodes On The Pawtucket my freshman year of college. Great show and great venue. They don't make buildings like that any more!


that's cool. but...
this is the staples singers...
Posted 10 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
I saw Muddy Waters at Rhodes On The Pawtucket my freshman year of college. Great show and great venue. They don't make buildings like that any more!

Posted 1 year ago by dstehle    [ Reply ]
And 2 years later, even more timely. Cover your damn mouth. 😷
Posted 2 years ago by KudaRey    [ Reply ]
"Take the sheet off your face, boy, it's a brand new day"
Posted 3 years ago by DelightedIdiot    [ Reply ]
 zenhead wrote:
How timely this song still is. 
 
Uh huh. Should'a listened in '72. Should listen now.
Thank you Pops, Mavis, Cleotha, and Yvonne.
Posted 3 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
It got an instant 9 until it kept on going as I guess it must be the album version which I don't recall hearing before. Definitely a 10
Posted 3 years ago by gbuk    [ Reply ]
This bangs right on the spot

Also found this live version which is groooovy
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
Still relevant after all these years, perhaps even more...
Posted 3 years ago by grhorn    [ Reply ]
How timely this song still is. 
Posted 5 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Sure miss Pops.
Posted 5 years ago by Angry_Old_Man    [ Reply ]
 wolfkiss wrote:
There is no relationship between carrying a bible and deserving respect from oneself, let alone others.

 
Oh, please....
Posted 5 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
 lshinkawa wrote:
Hmmm. Sounds familiar. One could use Madonna's own words and say her "Respect yourself" is "reductive" when compared to the Staple Singers.

Hmm, not sure I follow your line of reasoning.
This was recorded prior to '72 and if you meant  Express yourself  by Madonna, wasn't that a '90's tune?
Perhaps you actually meant 'redactive" in which case, FIIKWYM.
OR, I am particularly a GOM today. Yep, must be that.

.
Posted 6 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
One of the best songs ever written.  Easy.
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
 SmackDaddy wrote:
This song goes right over Trumps head. Not even his hair can catch it.

 
"Put your hand over your mouth when you cough (or TALK), that'll help the solution"
Posted 6 years ago by benhardt57    [ Reply ]
 SmackDaddy wrote:
This song goes right over T***ps head. Not even his hair can catch it.

 
Why even bring him up?
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
So dang good!  The volume just hit 11....
Posted 7 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
damn, music did have a different feel in those years... this will ever age and will always bring a smile to whoever listens to it. It´s irresistible, so groovy. How not to like it ?
Posted 7 years ago by ChrisVIII    [ Reply ]
This song goes right over Trumps head. Not even his hair can catch it.
Posted 7 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
Hmmm. Sounds familiar. One could use Madonna's own words and say her "Respect yourself" is "reductive" when compared to the Staple Singers.
Posted 7 years ago by lshinkawa    [ Reply ]
 clwguy wrote:
One of those things that gets better with age... not that it was bad when it was just young grapes... or maybe it was me who was the young grape {#Eek}

 
made me laugh, nice one clwguy, indeed a nice vintage! {#Cheers}
Posted 7 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
Only an 8?!? What was I thinking? 9. Minimum.
Posted 7 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
 {#Bananajam}hayduke2 wrote:
Love The Staples  (no prune juice baby, fine wine ; )

 


Posted 8 years ago by fitmartin    [ Reply ]
Love The Staples  (no prune juice baby, fine wine ; )
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 clwguy wrote:
One of those things that gets better with age... not that it was bad when it was just young grapes... or maybe it was me who was the young grape {#Eek}

 
Loved it as a young grape and now as an old prune too.  It's is worthy!
Posted 10 years ago by MirageRF    [ Reply ]
One of those things that gets better with age... not that it was bad when it was just young grapes... or maybe it was me who was the young grape {#Eek}
Posted 10 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]
Yeah, the seventies B-) 
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lichenia,    [ Reply ]
 bchartier wrote:
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
 
Zed's dead, baby.
Posted 11 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Oh yea!!!  {#Notworthy}
Posted 11 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
 just git out the way boy, and let the gentleman do his thing wolfkiss wrote:
There is no relationship between carrying a bible and deserving respect from oneself, let alone others.
 


Posted 11 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Well , I  , for one , do give a good cahoot .
So there . 
Posted 12 years ago by btt    [ Reply ]
There is no relationship between carrying a bible and deserving respect from oneself, let alone others.
Posted 12 years ago by wolfkiss    [ Reply ]
 bchartier wrote:
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
  
 daveshel4 wrote:


I was just thinking the same thing.  Damn him.
 
Not to add to your pain, but I think this is pretty sacrilegious: his version is on a "Best of Motown in the 80s" anthology: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/20th-century-masters-the-millennium/id3575567
You also have to ding Bruce for being in so many dumb action movies where he bellows "NOOOO!" at least once. I think that line's in his contract. 

 
Posted 12 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]

I have a Bruce Willis cover of this on a 45. Almost as good.


Posted 12 years ago by citybiker    [ Reply ]
 bchartier wrote:
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
 

I was just thinking the same thing.  Damn him.
Posted 12 years ago by daveshel4    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Jimmy Johnson
 Drive-By Truckers founder Patterson Hood is David's son, the song continues...

Posted 12 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
 cc_rider wrote:

Buncha white dudes, if you can believe it. From North Alabama to Motown, those cats have quite a story.

 
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Jimmy Johnson


Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 tompoll wrote:
We get to see Mavis in a small place here in Seattle in late October. Should be wonderful!
 
Coolness!  I think wilco is in order now, since JT produced Mavis' new LP!!

Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
We get to see Mavis in a small place here in Seattle in late October. Should be wonderful!
Posted 13 years ago by tompoll    [ Reply ]
 cc_rider wrote:
'twas a joke. Referencing another RP thread.
 
Sorry!  I sit corrected. . .


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
 vandal wrote:

Slap yourself!

This isn't a "Christian" song. . . its an R&B icon. . .

{#Devil_pimp}

  'twas a joke. Referencing another RP thread.


Posted 14 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 sandpebble wrote:
Much better than the Office Depot Singers!
{#Drunk}...........................................sorry
 
It's OK. I laughed.

Posted 14 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
 bchartier wrote:
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
 
Who?

Posted 14 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 RParadise wrote:
Except they were never with Motown.  They were in Memphis, with Stax.  That's the Muscle Shoals studio band backing this track.
 
Buncha white dudes, if you can believe it. From North Alabama to Motown, those cats have quite a story.

Posted 14 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 morgsy67 wrote:
OH MY GAWD!!! Another Christian song on RP!!!!
 
Slap yourself!

This isn't a "Christian" song. . . its an R&B icon. . .

{#Devil_pimp}


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Respect!
Posted 14 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
Much better than the Office Depot Singers!
{#Drunk}...........................................sorry
Posted 14 years ago by sandpebble    [ Reply ]
And backing them STRONG, if I may say!

 RParadise wrote:


Except they were never with Motown.  They were in Memphis, with Stax.  That's the Muscle Shoals studio band backing this track.
 


Posted 14 years ago by etcarroll    [ Reply ]
 bchartier wrote:
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
 
           Huh?
Posted 14 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Bruce Willis ruined this for me.
Posted 14 years ago by bchartier    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:

Yeah! Love that your playing this! Motown forever! Good choice!
 

Except they were never with Motown.  They were in Memphis, with Stax.  That's the Muscle Shoals studio band backing this track.
Posted 14 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]
 cstetler wrote:
We love the Staple Singers here at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music!!  Come Visit!!!

I have visited, and your house ROCKS!  Got a 50th anniversary CD set of Stax tunes, too, with over a dozen killer tunes.  Great slice of history next door to Beale Street and the Gibson factory/museum. 
Posted 14 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 oilydwarf wrote:
Love it!!!
 
Yikes! My favourite self esteem anthem.

Posted 14 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 redeyespy wrote:
The real deal.
 
Yeah! Love that your playing this! Motown forever! Good choice!
Posted 14 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
I've always thought that this would make a good pairing with ZZ Top's "Thank You"—there's something similar about the groove of the two of them to me.
Posted 14 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
 jadedragon wrote:
I am ancient...... remember listening to this on a transistor radio...
 
Holy smokes! Your profile says you were born in 1901. You are ancient.

Posted 14 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
Two Staples Singers songs within 10 hours of one another? Did one of them die?
Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
We love the Staple Singers here at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music!!  Come Visit!!!
Posted 15 years ago by cstetler    [ Reply ]
Weird - second Staple Singers song of the day.  And it's two songs after the second TV on the Radio song for the day.
Posted 15 years ago by vivakitty    [ Reply ]
Love it!!!
Posted 15 years ago by oilydwarf    [ Reply ]
I am ancient...... remember listening to this on a transistor radio...
Posted 15 years ago by jadedragon    [ Reply ]
Rock the Fricken House.............
Posted 15 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
what a horrible song...

Posted 15 years ago by ehudros    [ Reply ]
RP at its best is mixing in tasty R&B singles like this. I miss the real deal of free-form commercial radio, like WBCN in Boston back in the mid-70s. Yes, I was a pre-pubescent punk, but I remember it well.
Posted 15 years ago by steve_san_carlos    [ Reply ]
That rocked!! Bruce Willis' version in the 80s wasn't bad either come to think of it.
Posted 15 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
This song kicks *ss! Something about the phrasing/sound & rhythm of the keyboards reminds me of Donald Fagen. I wonder if they influenced him?
Posted 15 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
Very interesting...Thanks for that.Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
You might want to be careful, when invoking Papa Legba.
Posted 15 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Gregorama wrote:
AMG says that Pops passed away in December 2000 @age 85. What a loss. RIP Papa Legba!
You might want to be careful, when invoking Papa Legba.
Posted 15 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
NICE long version..
Posted 15 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
TheLoneIguana wrote:
Somebody did a cover of the Bruce Willis song? (Kidding, kidding!)
hehe
Posted 16 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
TheLoneIguana wrote:
Somebody did a cover of the Bruce Willis song? (Kidding, kidding!) I saw Mavis Staples at a show recently. Short set (~1 hr) but still amazing.
Yeah, she played last year at the local Paramount Theater's 91st Anniversary. Short set, but DANG she rocked the place! Git down! c.
Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
morgsy67 wrote:
OH MY GAWD!!! Another Christian song on RP!!!!
Only Christians have self respect? I didn't know that!
Posted 16 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Gawd forbid! morgsy67 wrote:
OH MY GAWD!!! Another Christian song on RP!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by eastcoast    [ Reply ]
OH MY GAWD!!! Another Christian song on RP!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by morgsy67    [ Reply ]
"put your hand over your mouth when you cough, that will help the solution" This is one of my all time "get down" songs.
Posted 16 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
Testify!
Posted 16 years ago by plaid    [ Reply ]
Just get out the way and let the gentleman do his thing !
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Way .
Posted 16 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Hey, that's quite crazy: four songs ago we had Somewhere down the Crazy River, and now this! It reminds me of a tape I compiled more than ten years ago, where both songs follow each other immediately, if my memory doesn't play me tricks....
Posted 16 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
Somebody did a cover of the Bruce Willis song? (Kidding, kidding!) I saw Mavis Staples at a show recently. Short set (~1 hr) but still amazing.
Posted 16 years ago by TheLoneIguana    [ Reply ]
The real deal.
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
I feel somewhat naive for not knowing this was the inspiration for Madonna's tune...
Posted 18 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Zygomatic wrote:
How 'bout that delta R&B? I need to make a run over to Memphis to the Stax Museum one of these days.
Come on down. It is really well done.
Posted 18 years ago by ruthless    [ Reply ]
Very powerful message and danceable, too. What more do you want?
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
From Lyle to the Staple Singers Amen
Posted 18 years ago by rixtar99    [ Reply ]
tom4513 wrote:
This song is the epitomy of
Hell YES!
Posted 18 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
This song is the epitomy of
Posted 18 years ago by Alt-Ctrl-Tom    [ Reply ]
i love this song. when mavis comes in towrds the middle gives me goosebumps.
Posted 18 years ago by rasta_tiger    [ Reply ]
That David Usher guy on the last song should listen to this song. He should "respect himself" a little better not to be going around saying that Jesus was his Girl......
Posted 18 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Excessive repetition soon kills even what would otherwise have been very, very good, for me. I won't rate, up or down--but that' my feeling. . . .
Posted 19 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
i just love this song... PBS last week was shoing some absolutely fantastic footage of these guys playing the Watt's festival oh, probably 30 years ago. anyone know what eventually happened for these folks?
AMG says that Pops passed away in December 2000 @age 85. What a loss. RIP Papa Legba!
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
poprocker1 wrote:
reminds me alot of the Madonna song. seems now like Madonna was either ripping this off or paying it homage. i think i like this better :-)
yes. the former. me too (by a wide margin).
Posted 19 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
How 'bout that delta R&B? I need to make a run over to Memphis to the Stax Museum one of these days.
Posted 19 years ago by Zygomatic    [ Reply ]
How can ya not move to this...?
Posted 19 years ago by BluEyes    [ Reply ]
Don't tell my wife, but I'm secretly in love with Mavis Staples...
Posted 19 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
ChardRemains wrote:
love this song!!!!!
Was just about to post the same thing. Man, this makes me feel good.
Posted 19 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
love this song!!!!!
Posted 19 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
i just love this song... PBS last week was shoing some absolutely fantastic footage of these guys playing the Watt's festival oh, probably 30 years ago. anyone know what eventually happened for these folks?
Last time I saw Mr, Staples was on True Stories By David Byrne, where we acted as a black magic "enchanter"
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
never heard this before. reminds me alot of the Madonna song. seems now like Madonna was either ripping this off or paying it homage. i think i like this better :-)
Posted 19 years ago by poprocker1    [ Reply ]
defines classy for me
Posted 19 years ago by 4999thnewuser    [ Reply ]
8)
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
i just love this song... PBS last week was shoing some absolutely fantastic footage of these guys playing the Watt's festival oh, probably 30 years ago. anyone know what eventually happened for these folks?
Mavis and her sister Yvonne (Yvette?) still perform and have been involved with the newly establish Stax Museum and school Soulsville, USA. I believe they live in Chicago now.
Posted 19 years ago by Hairfarmer    [ Reply ]
i just love this song... PBS last week was shoing some absolutely fantastic footage of these guys playing the Watt's festival oh, probably 30 years ago. anyone know what eventually happened for these folks?
Posted 19 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]