In July 1967, watching a television newscast of the aftermath of the 12th Street riot in Detroit, Michigan, Hayes noted that black residents had marked buildings that had not been destroyed during the riots – mostly African-American owned and operated institutions – with the word "soul". Relating this occurrence to the biblical story of the Passover, Hayes and songwriting partner David Porter came up with the idea, in Hayes's words, of "a story about one's struggle to rise above his present conditions.
In July 1967, observing a television news broadcast of the aftermath of the 12th Street riot in Detroit, Michigan, Hayes observed that black residents had marked intact buildings, mostly African-American owned and operated establishments, with the word "soul". Relating this event to the biblical narrative of the Passover, Hayes and songwriting partner David Porter conceived the idea, as described by Hayes, of "a story about one's struggle to overcome his present circumstances.