As a member of the Five Stairsteps, Burke wrote the group's first minor hit "You Waited Too Long" in 1966, but the group would see their biggest success with the million-selling song "O-o-h Child" in 1970. The group went on to sign with George Harrison's Dark Horse Records in 1975, and had their next hit with the Burke-penned "From Us to You", from their 1976 album 2nd Resurrection. The group disbanded soon after.
Skilled as a guitarist and bassist, Burke continued to work for the Dark Horse label as a session musician, while burgeoning a solo career of his own. In 1977, he released his self-titled debut album, which featured the songs "Keep on Singing", "Shuffle", and "From Me to You".
During this period he contributed instrumentation to songs by a diverse range of artists such as Sly & the Family Stone, Natalie Cole, Billy Preston, Terry Callier, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross, and Gladys Knight.
In 1981, Changes, Burke's best-selling album to date, was released, containing the singles "Hang Tight" and his signature hit "Rising to the Top"—a big success in Chicago. The song has become a popular sampling choice for hip hop artists, having been borrowed by artists such as Big Daddy Kane ("Smooth Operator"), LL Cool J ("Around the Way Girl"), Pete Rock & CL Smooth ("Take You There"), Mary J. Blige ("Love No Limit"), O.C. ("Born 2 Live") and once again by LL Cool J for the song "Paradise", with Amerie, though a lot of these songs have been mistakingly thought to use the bass line from the 1983 song "All Night Long" by the Mary Jane Girls. In 2006, "Rising to The Top" appeared in the soundtrack for the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, on fictional Quiet Storm station Vice City For Lovers.
Burke's next release was the 1982 self-produced You're the Best.
Throughout the '80s and into the '90s, Burke continued his session and production work for artists such as Peabo Bryson, The O'Jays, The Jones Girls and Keith Sweat, and in 1998 released his last album to date Nothin' but Love, containing the hit "Indigenous Love", which was popular in the United Kingdom.
Risin' to the Top
Keni Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because we won't let go
And yet we go Let's start thinking what we're doing
Don't let nothing change your mind
Let's start heading homeward bound
Get off the ground Stop losing, yeah losing
Keep risin' to the top
-1-(Give it all you got) You gotta wake up your body and wake up your body and wake up your bodyand move it around
-2-Keep on believing
All the dreams inside of you
And don't stop achieving yeah
Let some love shine on through
And don't fight the feeling
Keep on dealing Everybody, keep on moving
'Cause I know we can get it over, so baby
You gotta wake up your body and wake up your body and wake up your bodyand move it around
Wake up your bodywake up your bodywake up your body and move it around
-3-Big time illusions
Create a lot of confusion
But the time has finally come
Let's get it done
Keep moving, yeah moving
-3-Let's keep rising to the top
And don't let nobody stop us
Just keep trying, yeah
Keep on giving to each other(Give it all you got)
Spread some love a little farther(Give it all you got)
Keep on giving all you got(Give it all you got) Said we're rising to the top
We won't let nobody stop
What we're doing, yeah(Give it all you got)
Keep moving your body(Give it all you got) The feeling's getting stronger (Give it all you got)
What we're doing(Give it all you got)
Just keep moving your body(Give it all you got)
The feeling's getting stronger(Give it all you)
The song "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke is a motivational and inspirational track that aims to encourage listeners to keep striving for their goals and to never give up on their dreams. The song highlights the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and determination in achieving success despite the obstacles and challenges that life may bring. The opening lines of the song, "I know we're doing everything that we want to, meanwhile are we losing? Because we won't let go and yet we go, let's start thinking what we're doing," suggests that even though we may be pursuing our dreams, we might still lose sight of our destination if we don't stay focused and committed to the journey.
The chorus of the song, "Keep risin' to the top, give it all you got, you gotta wake up your body and move it around," emphasizes the importance of physical and mental stamina in pursuing our goals. Burke encourages listeners to let love shine through, to keep believing in their dreams, and to keep working hard towards achieving them. The song advises against giving up in the face of adversity or setbacks and to always push forward towards success. The lyrics "Big time illusions create a lot of confusion, but the time has finally come, let's get it done, keep moving, yeah moving," suggest that despite the distractions and illusions that life may bring, we should always remember to stay focused and determined to achieve our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
I know we're doing Everything that we want to Meanwhile, are we losing?
Even though we're living the way we want to, are we really making progress or just stagnating?
Because we won't let go And yet we go Let's start thinking what we're doing
We're holding onto something that's not helping us grow, so it's time to reassess and make changes.
Don't let nothing change your mind Let's start heading homeward bound Get off the ground
Don't let external factors sway your decisions, let's focus on our goals and start making progress.
Stop losing, yeah losing Keep risin' to the top
Stop stagnant behaviors that lead to setbacks and continue striving towards success.
-1-(Give it all you got) You gotta wake up your body and wake up your body and wake up your bodyand move it around Wake up your bodywake up your bodywake up your body and move it around
Physical motion is necessary to keep pushing towards goals, energize yourself and stay motivated to chase your dreams.
Keep on believing All the dreams inside of you And don't stop achieving yeah Let some love shine on through And don't fight the feeling Keep on dealing Everybody, keep on moving 'Cause I know we can get it over, so baby
Believe in yourself and your dreams, and don't let obstacles stop you from reaching your full potential. Have a positive attitude and keep pushing forward, success is within reach.
-3-Big time illusions Create a lot of confusion But the time has finally come Let's get it done Keep moving, yeah moving
Chasing grandiose goals can lead to confusion and distraction, but it's time to focus and get things done by staying motivated and productive.
-3-Let's keep rising to the top And don't let nobody stop us Just keep trying, yeah Keep on giving to each other(Give it all you got) Spread some love a little farther(Give it all you got) Keep on giving all you got(Give it all you got) Said we're rising to the top We won't let nobody stop What we're doing, yeah(Give it all you got) Keep moving your body(Give it all you got) The feeling's getting stronger (Give it all you got) What we're doing(Give it all you got) Just keep moving your body(Give it all you got) The feeling's getting stronger(Give it all you)
Continue striving for success and don't let anyone discourage you. Spread love and be generous to others while also pushing yourself towards success. Keep moving forward with motivation, and the feeling of success will get stronger with every step.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Allan Felder, Kenneth Burke, Norma Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bigmack6344
This song Makes me think of the 80s! My dad grilling and drinking a brew! Me and friends out front riding our bikes in the neighborhood! No worry of gangs, drugs, or violence! Just family and friends! I don’t care what anyone says music dictates the culture and we need music like this back!
@NateTheGr8ness
U ain't neva lied 💯!
@aaronvaldez8209
Drugs and gangs were a big thing in the 80s depends where you are from lol
@bigmack6344
@@aaronvaldez8209 my neighborhood didn’t change until the 1990s by the way I grew up ⬆️ on the south side of Chicago.
@houstonbuckley8466
A
@benbembridge3284
Amen sir 🙏 🙌
@pamelabostick1293
A Timeless Classic, I was Blessed to Grow Up with this Song! I Am 56yrs Old 🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️
@original_roots
Amen
@powerhouse5007
You are blessed to have witnessed this era
@apostleladyk2002
Me too I’m 58! Cook outs in DC & family reunions in New Jersey!😊