A better day is coming

Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” is a gospel-inspired soul classic that has become a timeless anthem of hope and unity. The song was written by Curtis Mayfield in the early 1960s, at a time when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum and the struggle for racial equality was at the forefront of American consciousness.

Part of the inspiration for the song came from Mayfield’s own upbringing in a religious family, and the music he heard in church. The lyrics, “People get ready, there’s a train a-comin'” were a metaphor for the civil rights movement, suggesting that everyone needed to be ready to get on board and work towards a brighter future. Mayfield was also inspired by the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists who traveled by bus through the South to challenge segregation in the early 1960s. Mayfield saw their bravery and determination as a sign of hope for a better future, and he wanted to capture that feeling in a song.

The song’s message of hope and unity has resonated with listeners for over half a century, and it has been covered by numerous artists in a wide range of styles. It is also considered one of the most influential songs in the civil rights movement and has been included in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.