Impressions lead singer Curtis Mayfield wrote this song. Mayfield got his start performing with the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, competing with other gospel acts in the Chicago area. Grounded in church music, he wrote many songs in that style, including "People Get Ready." The song embodies a deep sense of spirituality and community, but with enough popular appeal to make it a hit.
Mayfield based the song's lyric on various sermons he heard in church. He wrote the music first, and the gospel feel dictated the words.
This song resonated with African Americans during the civil rights struggles of the '60s. The song speaks for the downtrodden, and Mayfield made it clear that transcended race. "It doesn't matter what color or faith you have," he told Goldmine in 1997. "I'm pleased the lyrics can be of value to anybody."
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