We're a Winner

The Impressions

About We're a Winner

"We're a Winner" is a 1967 single recorded by The Impressions for the ABC-Paramount label. Written and produced by Impressions lead singer Curtis Mayfield, the song is notable as one of the most prominent popular recordings dealing with the subject of black pride. The single peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was the number-one single on the Billboard R&B Chart during the week of March 1, 1968. The concept for "We're a Winner" came to Curtis Mayfield one night in a dream; the musician quickly woke himself and ran with his inspiration. The resulting song was an uplifting composition whose lyrics encouraged the listener that the time for self-pity is over, and that one should acknowledge his or her worth, even in the face of opposition. Intended as an inspirational song for the group's primarily African-American audiences, Mayfield urges his audience to "Keep on pushin'/like your leaders tell you to" - the "leaders" being figures involved in the Civil Rights Movement such as Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and others. To accentuate the song's uplifting feel, "We're a Winner" was recorded with a live audience in the RCA Victor and Universal studios in the Impressions' homebase of Chicago, Illinois. 


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We're a  winner
And never let anybody say
Boy you can't make it cause
A feeble mind is in your way
No more tears do we cry
And we have finally
Dried our eyes
And we're movin on up
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up
We're living proof
In alls alert
That we're true
From the good black dirt
And we're a winner
And everybody knows it too

We'll just keep on pushin
Like your leaeder tell you to
At last that blessed day
Has come
And I don't care 
Where you come from
We're all movin' on up
I don't mind leavin' here
To show the world
We have no fear
‘cause we're a winner
we're a winner
and never let anybody say,
boy you can't make it, ‘cause
a feeble mind is in your way.
No more tears do we cry
The black boy done dried his eyes.
We're movin' on up,
Lawd have mercy, we're movin' on up
There'll be no more Uncle Tom
At last that blessed day has come
And we're a winner
And everybody knows it too.
We'll just keep on pushin'
Like Martin Luther King told us to.
And I don't mind leavin' here
To show the world we have no fear
‘cause we're movin on up.
Lawd have mercy,
We're movin on up
So people get ready,
I've got good news for you
How we got over
Like we're all supposed to do.
Let us all say amen
And together we'll clap our hands
‘cause we're movin' on up,
Lawd have mercy,
We're movin' on up.

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The Impressions

The Impressions are an American music group from Chicago, originally formed in 1958. Their repertoire includes doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B. more »

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Written by: Curtis L Mayfield

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

We're a Winner" Release
The song "We're a Winner" was released by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions in 1967.
We're a Winner" Message
The progressive message in the song uplifts African Americans, encouraging them to think positively about their color and believe in their abilities to succeed.
We're a Winner" Contributor
The song is considered to have contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement.
We're a Winner" Chart Performance
"We're a Winner" reached number one on Billboard's R&B chart and was also a top 20 pop hit.
We're a Winner" Album
The song was included in the album "The Fabulous Impressions."
We're a Winner" Billboard Ranking
It stayed on the Billboard chart for 12 weeks and reached the 14th spot on the Pop Singles chart.
We're a Winner" Lyrics Controversy
The song's use of the word "negro" caused some controversy – Many radio stations banned this song because they felt the lyrics were too contentious due to its perceived politically charged message.
We're a Winner" Impact
The song's success helped to set the stage for Mayfield's landmark solo album "Super Fly" and its smash title song in 1972.
We're a Winner" Live Performance
In most live performances, Mayfield changed the lyrics from "We're a winner, and never let anybody say" to "We're a winner, and never let a soul in the world tell you."
We're a Winner" Legacy
"We're a Winner" continues to be seen as a major contribution to the community empowerment ethos of the 1960s. It follows the model of an anthem, defining a group's struggle and a path to overcoming it.

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    "We're a Winner Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/242700/The+Impressions/We%27re+a+Winner>.

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    We're a Winner

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

    Billboard #14


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