is still so untouchable

this jam is on a par with A love supreme

it has an ethreal beauty which is still pretty much unmatched

This is SOUL

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PANDURITO said:

Kip Blackshire (or was it Johnny? can't remember) KILLED that song during the Hit N Run 2001 Tour.

I LOVE Donny Hathaway. That is my favorite song of his. Hands down.

Yes it still is the BOMB.

gorgeouse song.

1 for my funeral

^^ Eh I don't like that down pitch, I love this pitch better haha:

For those that don't know, the song is about uplifting yourself from depression.

[Edited 11/2/11 13:23pm]

That Hathaway song always puts a lump in my throat.

Timmy84 said:

^^ Eh I don't like that down pitch, I love this pitch better haha:

For those that don't know, the song is about uplifting yourself from depression.

[Edited 11/2/11 13:23pm]

Yes. I found that out a couple of years ago that this song was inspired by Donny's depression and mind state at the time of this recording. It disturbed me profoundly, knowing what he went through, but I like to think of it as a deeply inspirational masterpiece. It works on the religious, patriotic, and personal side of things.

I also liked Aretha's version from the Malcolm X soundtrack. It worked perfectly at the credits of that film:

And Teena's small cover is superb as well:

^ Yeah it can be intepreted as a gospel song (like Aretha put so eloquently) or anything but I always found it as a means to uplift someone from a bad day. I used to relate it to "the struggle" but now I think it's deeper than that. Whenever I'm feeling down or wanna be inspired, this is one of the songs I listen to.

Timmy84 said:

^ Yeah it can be intepreted as a gospel song (like Aretha put so eloquently) or anything but I always found it as a means to uplift someone from a bad day. I used to relate it to "the struggle" but now I think it's deeper than that. Whenever I'm feeling down or wanna be inspired, this is one of the songs I listen to.

Agreed! It's definitely inspirational and it moves me deeply when I hear it...almost to tears at times.

The lyrics were written by Edward Howard, for and about the mental pain that Donny Hathaway was experiencing at the time. Edward Howard said:

"What was going through my mind at the time was Donny, because Donny was a very troubled person. I hoped that at some point he would be released from all that he was going through. There was nothing I could do but write something that might be encouraging for him."

Years later, the song began to interpreted as being written about black rights, primarily dueSpike Lee featuring it at the end of his biographical film Malcolm X. However, as Howard said:

"A lot of black people have taken the song for some sort of anthem. That's fine. I didn't write it for that, though. It doesn't have that significance for me. I take it with a grain of salt. I'm glad it has some significance."

Donny Hathaway himself particularly loved the song and as Eulalah Hathaway stated:

"He loved that song. Donny literally sat in the studio and cried when he heard the playback of his final mix. It's pretty special when an artist can create something that wipes them out."

Although the song did not chart, the B-side of the single, "Love, Love Love" peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the R&B charts^[1]

HOLY MOLY---it didnt even chart!!

doesa nyone have any info on edward the cat who wrote it??

A beautifull song i disscoverd on this forum. One of my all time favorites now. How is this on par with a love supreme ? Thats a coltrane album right ?

motownlover said:

A beautifull song i disscoverd on this forum. One of my all time favorites now. How is this on par with a love supreme ? Thats a coltrane album right ?

yeah also ill pop down Prince power fantastic

dunno just that otherwordly ethereal quality....just perfect soulful music

jonylawson said:

Years later, the song began to interpreted as being written about black rights, primarily dueSpike Lee featuring it at the end of his biographical film Malcolm X. However, as Howard said:

The beauty of a great song (IMHO) is that it can be interpreted in many ways.

Rented two seasons of the tv show "Maude" last night. Crazy weird. What do the young peopel think of the clothes and themes and the times on that show? Donny sings the theme song. By the third episode we watched the tune was scratching my head. The credits rolled and BAM!, it was Donny.

allsmutaside said:

Rented two seasons of the tv show "Maude" last night. Crazy weird. What do the young peopel think of the clothes and themes and the times on that show? Donny sings the theme song. By the third episode we watched the tune was scratching my head. The credits rolled and BAM!, it was Donny.

Wow..............I never thought about it but that is Donny. Good catch.