Latest Mavis Staples Quotes from Interviews

• The Devil is a liar. He cannot win. And that's all we're seeing is a bunch of devils [Donald Trump]. So we have to pray and just look out for one another. Keep your chest out, stick your head up and walk tall.

  Mavis Staples

  Liars, Winning, Devil

  "Mavis Staples Interview: Staple Singers, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and that one time in Memphis". Interview with Ed Masley, www.azcentral.com. March 1, 2017.

• 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

  Stay Strong, Winning, Your Side

  "Mavis Staples Interview: Staple Singers, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and that one time in Memphis". Interview with Ed Masley, www.azcentral.com. March 1, 2017.

• I'm so blessed that I can still be here to bring the music and have new generations of fans. My Pops would be so proud.

  Mavis Staples

  Blessed, Fans, Would Be

  "Mavis Staples Interview: Staple Singers, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and that one time in Memphis". Interview with Ed Masley, www.azcentral.com. March 1, 2017.

• My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said "Mavis, this record company want to give you a million dollars." I said, "No daddy, I want to sing with the family." And I did. I never wanted to branch out by myself. But I've had to now. It's my mission. I've been left here to do it. And I'm grateful.

  Mavis Staples

  Grateful, Voice, Daddy

  "Mavis Staples Interview: Staple Singers, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and that one time in Memphis". Interview with Ed Masley, www.azcentral.com. March 1, 2017.

• Well Lord, I'm still on the case. I'm still doing what Dr. King and Pops want me to do. I'm still on that freedom highway, and I'm going to walk on it until Dr. King's dream is realized.

  Mavis Staples

  Dream, Kings, Drs

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I just had a wonderful life, and I couldn't ask for anything else.

  Mavis Staples

  Wonderful, Wonderful Life, Asks

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I'm old enough to be Obama's grandmom. But I still like seeing good-looking things. Nothing wrong with that.

  Mavis Staples

  Enough, Looking Good, Stills

  Source: pitchfork.com

• There's still injustice happening in my world. I sing my songs at concerts and I'm so grateful that the people are ready to hear them.

  Mavis Staples

  Song, Grateful, People

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I was not fortunate enough to run into Obama. We were at the same church per se, but I would never be there when he was there.

  Mavis Staples

  Running, Church, Enough

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I have to pinch myself sometimes. It's unbelievable, but it's not. Because I know that this would not be happening if it hadn't been for Dr. Martin Luther King.

  Mavis Staples

  Kings, Drs, Dr Martin Luther King

  Source: pitchfork.com

• If I wasn't my age, I would turn a flip. I would do some cartwheels. That's how I feel.

  Mavis Staples

  Age, Flip, Cartwheels

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I would get in fights a lot. My voice was so heavy, kids would say you sound like a boy, so I would start beating them up.

  Mavis Staples

  Kids, Fighting, Boys

  Source: pitchfork.com

• I started writing letters home to my mother, saying that I wanted to come home, grandma won't let me sing.

  Mavis Staples

  Mother, Grandma, Home

  Source: pitchfork.com

• 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

  School, Kids, Years

  Source: pitchfork.com

• My uncle was 16, in junior high, and he heard me singing and snatched me off the stage. I thought he was happy and was going to pat me on the head and say I was good. But he took me home and told my grandmother this youngin' was at school singing the blues.

  Mavis Staples

  Uncles, School, Home

  Source: pitchfork.com

• There is a great feeling in a small venue, with the closeness of the people and the intimacy.

  Mavis Staples

  People, Feelings, Intimacy

  Source: pitchfork.com

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