(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go

"(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go" is a funk/soul song originally recorded by Curtis Mayfield for his album Curtis (1970). The song was meant to serve as a warning regarding the state of race relations and the tempest growing in America's inner cities.

"(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go"
Single by Curtis Mayfield
from the album Curtis
B-side"The Makings of You"
ReleasedNovember 1970
Recorded1970
GenreAcid funk,[1] psychedelic soul[2]
Length3:26 (single version)
7:50 (album version)
LabelCurtom CR-1955
Songwriter(s)Curtis Mayfield
Producer(s)Curtis Mayfield

Summary

The song begins with a woman proclaiming the virtues of the Bible's "Book of Revelation" over an introduction of fuzz-bass guitar and conga drums. Mayfield then shouts with a large echo overdub "Sisters! Niggers! Whities! Jews! Crackers! Don't worry, If there's a Hell below, we're all gonna go!" followed by a scream. The song then breaks out with a heavy fuzz bass, Latin percussion, wah-wah guitar and strings.

Albums

The song is performed live on the album Curtis/Live! (1971) and Live in Europe (1987). Studio out-takes of the song have been added to the CD re-issue of the album.

Charts
Chart (1970) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] 29
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles 3

Covers and use

Punk rock band Antiseen have covered the song on their EP Hell. Narada Michael Walden performs this song on A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield.

The Afghan Whigs covered this song on their 1998 live EP "Live at Howlin' Wolf".

D12 samples this song on "That's How" from their album Devil's Night. Kanye West samples the introduction to this song on "Jesus Walks", from his album The College Dropout. N.W.A. also samples this song on "Niggaz 4 Life" from their album Efil4zaggin.

The track was featured in the 1997 Girl Skateboards video Mouse.[4]

The instrumental beginning was featured in season 2 episode 20 of Fresh Off the Boat entitled My Name Is... .

The song was also featured in Dead Presidents.

In 2017, the song was also used as the opening credits theme song for the first season of the HBO drama The Deuce.[5]

The Detroit rapper and producer Black Milk released a 2014 album with the referential name If There's a Hell Below. He samples this song on "What It's Worth" from that album.[6]

References
  1. https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/aug/05/curtis-mayfield-10-best-soul-funk
  2. Lynskey, Dorian (21 May 2014). "Psychedelic soul: 10 of the best". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  3. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  4. "Girl – Mouse – Skatevideosite". Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  5. "The Deuce Season 2: What Is the New Theme Song?". Vulture. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  6. "whoSampled If There's A Hell Below by Black Milk Samples". whoSampled. Retrieved 22 September 2020.



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