Erma's best known record is the original version of Piece of My Heart. The song was covered in different arrangements by Janis Joplin, Faith Hill, Beverley Knight, and Dusty Springfield, and used as the basis of a song by Shaggy.
She was born in Shelby, Mississippi, but moved several times during her childhood before settling in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother Barbara, who was a gospel singer, left the family when Erma, her two sisters, and her brother were young children.
Though her sister Aretha went on to great fame, Carolyn, like Erma, was a struggling musician. Their brother, Cecil, became a minister like their father and managed Aretha's career for a while.
Her career was hampered by misfortune and by contracts with recording companies who could not find appropriate material for her. In the 1970s she left the music business, apart from engagements with her sister Aretha. She died in 2002 at the age of 64 after a long battle with throat cancer. In addition to Aretha, she was survived by her daughter Sabrina.
Pledging My Love
Erma Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always and forever Ill love only you
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My hearts at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
Ill forever love you
For the rest of my days
Ill never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My hearts at your command dear
To keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire dear
Loving you is my goal
Ill forever love you
For the rest of my days
Ill never part from you
Or your loving ways
Just promise me darling your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
Erma Franklin's "Pledging My Love" is a soulful ballad that speaks of unbreakable love and devotion. In this song, the singer professes her love to her partner, and promises to love them forever. The song expresses the depth of the singer's feelings and the sincerity of her intentions. She seeks a reciprocal declaration of love from her partner, and vows to keep their love strong and lasting.
The opening lines, "Forever my darling our love will be true, Always and forever Ill love only you," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The song conveys the message that true love is timeless, and that nothing can ever come between two people who have pledged their love to each other. The lines, "My hearts at your command dear, To keep love and to hold, Making you happy is my desire dear, Keeping you is my goal," reiterate the singer's commitment to her partner and her willingness to do whatever it takes to make their love last.
The lyrics of "Pledging My Love" speak to the heart of anyone who has ever been in love. It is a timeless classic that has resonated with generations of lovers. With a soulful melody and heartfelt lyrics, this song captures the essence of true love and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Forever my darling our love will be true
Our love will always remain true no matter what happens in the future.
Always and forever Ill love only you
I will always have eyes only for you. My love for you will never fade away.
Just promise me darling your love in return
All I am asking for is your promise to love me back and never let go.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
The passion I feel for you is beyond words. I hope it never dies down.
My hearts at your command dear
My heart belongs to you and will do whatever you tell it to.
To keep love and to hold
I will always hold onto our love and protect it from anything that tries to harm it.
Making you happy is my desire dear
All I want in this world is to see you happy and content, my love.
Keeping you is my goal
I will go to any lengths to keep you by my side, forever and always.
Ill forever love you
My love for you is eternal and will never change.
For the rest of my days
My love for you will last as long as I live, and even beyond that.
Ill never part from you
I will never leave your side, my love. We are in this together, forever.
Or your loving ways
I will always cherish and appreciate the way you love me. It is the best thing in my life.
Just promise me darling your love in return
All I need is your promise to love me back and make my heart sing forever.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
I feel so alive and passionate with you. I hope this feeling never fades away.
My hearts at your command dear
My heart is yours to do with as you please. I trust you to always guide it towards the right direction.
To keep love and to hold
I will always hold on tight to our love, no matter what life throws our way.
Making you happy is my desire dear
Seeing you happy and fulfilled is my ultimate life goal. It is what makes me truly happy too.
Loving you is my goal
My purpose in life is to love and take care of you, always and forever.
Ill forever love you
No matter what the future holds, my love for you will always burn bright.
For the rest of my days
There is nothing that could ever make me stop loving you, my dear. I am in this for life.
Ill never part from you
We are in this together, forever. Nothing will ever tear us apart.
Or your loving ways
I will always treasure the way you show your love for me. It is the most special thing in my life.
Just promise me darling your love in return
I only need your promise to love me back, to make my heart sing with joy and happiness forever.
May this fire in my soul dear forever burn
My love for you is a flame that will never die out. It will keep burning bright for eternity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Robey, Fats Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind