Solomon Burke (born March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died… Read Full Bio ↴Solomon Burke (born March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died October 10, 2010 at Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands) was a soul music pioneer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite releasing numerous rnb chart hits in the 1960s, he never had a Top 20 hit on the pop charts. Burke's influence, however, has outstripped his mainstream commercial success. He is considered a legend of American music.

He began his adult life as a young preacher in Philadelphia, where he hosted a gospel radio show. In the 1960s, he signed with Atlantic Records and began moving towards more secular music. His first hit was Just Out Of Reach Of My Open Arms, a cover of a country song. Though well-received by both peers and critics, and attaining a few moderate pop and several major R&B hits, Burke never could quite break through into the mainstream as did his contemporaries like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin.

Nevertheless, his emotive delivery, polished production, as well as the touches of country and pop sensibility in his music won him admirers and imitators. In 1964 he wrote and recorded Everybody Needs Somebody To Love his most prominent bid for an enduring soul standard. Covered by the Rolling Stones the same year, other well-known versions include one by Wilson Pickett and another a decade and a half later in the 1980 feature film by The Blues Brothers. Burke's biggest hit was a 1969 cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Proud Mary.

His career was to some degree revived in 2002, with the release of the album Don't Give Up On Me, produced by Joe Henry, where he sang songs written specifically for the album by a roster of top-rank artists, including Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and Joe Henry himself.

He is featured in the 2004 movie Lightning in a Bottle singing Turn on Your Love Light and Down in the Valley.

As of October 2002 Burke was the father of 14 daughters and 7 sons with 64 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Several of his children and grandchildren have had successful careers in various facets of the music industry, though none as much so as their patriarch.

Burke died, arriving at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam where he was supposed to perform with Dutch band De Dijk with whom he recorded an album, entitled Hold on Tight.

Rock icon Mick Jagger performed a tribute to Burke at the 2011 Grammy Awards, laying down Burke's classic hit "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love".

A cover of Everybody Needs Somebody To Love received huge exposure as the music for Amazon's 2019 Christmas commercial.

A Change Is Gonna Come
Solomon Burke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born by the river
In a little tent
And just like the river
I've been running ever since

It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it is

It's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees

There's been times that I thought
I wouldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it will

Overall Meaning

Solomon Burke's "A Change is Gonna Come" is a powerful and poignant protest song that speaks to the struggles and injustices that African Americans have faced throughout their history in the United States. The opening lines of the song serve as both a description of the singer's own birth and also as a metaphor for the generational oppression and hardship that he and his community have endured. By comparing himself to the river, Burke suggests that he and his fellow black Americans have been in motion, constantly struggling against the obstacles and injustices that have been placed in their way.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "It's been a long, long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come," offering hope and encouragement even in the face of great difficulty and adversity. Burke is acknowledging that the fight for equality and justice has been ongoing for centuries, but he remains optimistic that change is on the horizon. The verse that follows speaks to the fear of death that has been so prevalent in the black community, as well as the uncertainty and doubt about what lies beyond this life.

Throughout the song, Burke acknowledges the struggles that he has faced personally, as well as the ways in which he has been let down by others whom he had hoped would be allies. The idea of turning to one's brother for help is a recurring theme, but Burke also acknowledges that even those who should be offering assistance can sometimes be the ones pushing us backward. Despite these challenges, Burke remains determined to carry on and to keep fighting for a better future.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born by the river
I was born into a life of struggle and hardship

In a little tent
Without the luxury of a permanent dwelling or stable home life

And just like the river
Metaphorically comparing his life to a river that flows, never staying in one place for long

I've been running ever since
Constantly on the move, never able to settle and find peace

It's been a long, long time coming
A reference to a lengthy and difficult journey filled with obstacles and setbacks

But I know a change is gonna come
Despite the hardships, there is hope and an expectation that things will improve

Oh, yes it is
Expressing a strong belief and conviction in the inevitability of positive change

It's been too hard living
Acknowledging the struggle and suffering involved in his life experiences

But I'm afraid to die
Despite the hardships, he is not ready to give up or let go of life

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
He does not know what happens after death or what awaits him in the afterlife

Then I go to my brother
Reaching out to others for help and support

I say brother help me please
Asking for assistance and guidance from those who he trusts

But he winds up knocking me
Some people that he turns to end up causing more harm than help

Back down on my knees
Metaphorically referring to being knocked down and made to feel powerless and defeated

There's been times that I thought
Reflecting upon moments of doubt and hopelessness in his life

I wouldn't last for long
Feeling like he would not be able to persevere through certain hardships

But now I think I'm able to carry on
Despite the hardships, he has found the inner strength to keep going and move forward

Oh, yes it will
Reaffirming his belief that positive change is inevitable and will come to pass

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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