The Rap

Album: Caught Up (1974)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On the Caught Up album, Millie Jackson sings the first side from the perspective of a woman who is having an affair with a married man, and the second side is from the perspective of the wife. "The Rap" is from the side of the mistress, who explains why she likes being with a married man (all the sex without the laundry). Where did Jackson get her insights on this kind of relationship? In a Songfacts interview with Millie Jackson, she explained: "I've had a few married men in my life, but the songs weren't about them. It just gave me a reflection of what it's like."
  • Most of this song is spoken; kind of an extended interlude. Early in her career, Jackson started doing rap interludes to get the attention of the audience. They were so popular that she incorporated many of them into her songs. This song played to one of Jackson's strengths, which is poetry. Her poems become the lyrics for her songs, and she relies on collaborators to write the music.
  • Jackson recorded Caught Up in Alabama with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. As the producer, she gave the musicians direction. Said Jackson: "They followed me, really. And then Brad (Shapiro) musically told them what to do to get what I wanted. Most of the time I would be singing the melody, and the bass player would pick up the bass. Now, the guitar player would have to deal with me and where I'm going, and Brad would take the bass player where he needs to go. The keyboard player would listen to me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.