Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Listen to the full album: antircrds.io/3X9ifpF
"Chicago" by @mavisstaples from the album 'Sad And Beautiful World', out now
Order, stream & download at mavisstaples.ffm.to/sadandbeautifulworld
Written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Produced by Brad Cook
Engineered & mixed by Brad Cook and Paul Voran
Mastering by Tim Smiley
Lead Vocals - Mavis Staples
Background Vocals - Sam Beam
Acoustic Guitar - Phil Cook
Electric Guitar - Rick Holmstrom, Buddy Guy
Slide Guitar - Derek Trucks
Synth Bass - Brad Cook
Drums, Percussion - Matt McCaughan
Drum Programming - Brad Cook
Saxophone - Matt Douglas
Lyrics
The seeds are planted here
But they won't grow
We won't have to say goodbye
If we all go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
To leave all we've ever known
For a place we've never seen
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Well It's brave for us to stay
Even braver to go
Wherever she goes I go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
What we need the lord will give us
All we want we carry with us
You know where I can be found
Where the rainbow hits the ground
I'm not alone
I'm not afraid
'Cause this bird has flown from his cage
There's so much magic we have known
On this sapphire we call home
With my coat and my hat
I say goodbye to all that
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
All aboard
All aboard
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 #chicago #sadandbeautifulworld #antirecords
Listen to the full album: antircrds.io/3X9ifpF
"Chicago" by @mavisstaples from the album 'Sad And Beautiful World', out now
Order, stream & download at mavisstaples.ffm.to/sadandbeautifulworld
Written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Produced by Brad Cook
Engineered & mixed by Brad Cook and Paul Voran
Mastering by Tim Smiley
Lead Vocals - Mavis Staples
Background Vocals - Sam Beam
Acoustic Guitar - Phil Cook
Electric Guitar - Rick Holmstrom, Buddy Guy
Slide Guitar - Derek Trucks
Synth Bass - Brad Cook
Drums, Percussion - Matt McCaughan
Drum Programming - Brad Cook
Saxophone - Matt Douglas
Lyrics
The seeds are planted here
But they won't grow
We won't have to say goodbye
If we all go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
To leave all we've ever known
For a place we've never seen
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Well It's brave for us to stay
Even braver to go
Wherever she goes I go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
What we need the lord will give us
All we want we carry with us
You know where I can be found
Where the rainbow hits the ground
I'm not alone
I'm not afraid
'Cause this bird has flown from his cage
There's so much magic we have known
On this sapphire we call home
With my coat and my hat
I say goodbye to all that
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
All aboard
All aboard
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 #chicago #sadandbeautifulworld #antirecords
