Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Listen to the full album: antircrds.io/3X9ifpF
"Anthem" by @mavisstaples from the album 'Sad And Beautiful World', out now
Order, stream & download at mavisstaples.ffm.to/sadandbeautifulworld
Written by Leonard Cohen
Produced by Brad Cook
Engineered & mixed by Brad Cook and Paul Voran
Mastering by Tim Smiley
Lead Vocals - Mavis Staples
Background Vocals - Kara Jackson, Anjimile
Acoustic Guitar - Nathan Stocker
Electric Guitar - Nathan Stocker, MJ Lenderman
Bass - Brad Cook
Drums - MJ Lenderman
Piano - Phil Cook
Synths - Brad Cook, Phil Cook
Saxophone - Matt Douglas
Trumpet - Will Miller
Lyrics
The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah, and the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
Learn more about ‘Mavis!,’ the first feature documentary on Mavis Staples and her family group, The Staple Singers, here: mavisfilm.com
Mavis Staples
➤ Store: mavisandlevon.ffm.to/store
➤ Website: mavisstaples.com
➤ Facebook: facebook.com/mavisstaples
➤ Instagram: instagram.com/mavisstaples
➤ Twitter: twitter.com/mavisstaples
➤ Spotify: spoti.fi/3gRcoAj
➤ Apple: apple.co/3rZbyrK
➤ Amazon: amzn.to/3tcgdGa
________________________
FOLLOW ANTI RECORDS
▶ Website: anti.com
▶ Instagram: instagram.com/antirecords
▶ Facebook: facebook.com/antirecords
▶ Twitter: twitter.com/antirecords
▶ TikTok: tiktok.com/@antirecords
▶ Spotify: spoti.fi/3F8wIHU
▶ Apple: apple.co/3mh6Wdc
▶ Store: anti.ffm.to/store
#mavisstaples #anthem #sadandbeautifulworld #antirecords
Listen to the full album: antircrds.io/3X9ifpF
"Anthem" by @mavisstaples from the album 'Sad And Beautiful World', out now
Order, stream & download at mavisstaples.ffm.to/sadandbeautifulworld
Written by Leonard Cohen
Produced by Brad Cook
Engineered & mixed by Brad Cook and Paul Voran
Mastering by Tim Smiley
Lead Vocals - Mavis Staples
Background Vocals - Kara Jackson, Anjimile
Acoustic Guitar - Nathan Stocker
Electric Guitar - Nathan Stocker, MJ Lenderman
Bass - Brad Cook
Drums - MJ Lenderman
Piano - Phil Cook
Synths - Brad Cook, Phil Cook
Saxophone - Matt Douglas
Trumpet - Will Miller
Lyrics
The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah, and the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
Learn more about ‘Mavis!,’ the first feature documentary on Mavis Staples and her family group, The Staple Singers, here: mavisfilm.com
Mavis Staples
➤ Store: mavisandlevon.ffm.to/store
➤ Website: mavisstaples.com
➤ Facebook: facebook.com/mavisstaples
➤ Instagram: instagram.com/mavisstaples
➤ Twitter: twitter.com/mavisstaples
➤ Spotify: spoti.fi/3gRcoAj
➤ Apple: apple.co/3rZbyrK
➤ Amazon: amzn.to/3tcgdGa
________________________
FOLLOW ANTI RECORDS
▶ Website: anti.com
▶ Instagram: instagram.com/antirecords
▶ Facebook: facebook.com/antirecords
▶ Twitter: twitter.com/antirecords
▶ TikTok: tiktok.com/@antirecords
▶ Spotify: spoti.fi/3F8wIHU
▶ Apple: apple.co/3mh6Wdc
▶ Store: anti.ffm.to/store
#mavisstaples #anthem #sadandbeautifulworld #antirecords
