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.
All For The Love Of Sunshine
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The flowers are blooming it's a beautiful day
There's a girl with a heart as big as the sky she's sunshine and I know why
All for the love of sunshine all for the love of sunshine
The Lord smiled down on this life of mine and sent me the love of sunshine
Though sunshine can always make my days seem bright
Sunshine can warm up a cold cold night
All for the love of sunshine
Through winter the springtime the summer and fall
The moonlight the starlight she outshines them all
In a world filled with fear with pain and such harm my sunshine can be so warm
All for the love of sunshine
All for the love of sunshine
All for the love of sunshine
In Solomon Burke's song "All for the Love of Sunshine," the singer describes how the love of his life, his sunshine, has brought him out of a dark place and into a beautiful world filled with love and light. The metaphor of sunshine represents the hope and warmth that his love has brought him. He sings about how his love fills him up, makes his days brighter, and warms up his cold nights. The woman he loves has a heart as big as the sky, which emphasizes how much she means to him. The singer also sings about how his love is like an angel filled with love, who has been sent from above. It's clear that his love is a gift from God, and he's grateful for it.
The lyrics of "All for the Love of Sunshine" are lovely and poetic, and they express the importance of having love in our lives. The song's message is that love can bring us out of the darkness and into the light. It can make us feel warm, safe, and happy, even in a world filled with fear, pain, and harm.
Line by Line Meaning
The darkness of my world was all cleared away
My troubles and problems vanished when I found my love, who brightens up my life.
The flowers are blooming it's a beautiful day
The world feels full of life and beauty when I'm with my love, every day feels joyful.
There's a girl with a heart as big as the sky she's sunshine and I know why
The person I love is full of warmth and love, making my life brighter, as if they carry the sunshine with them.
All for the love of sunshine all for the love of sunshine
All my joys and contentment stem from the love and warmth of my partner, who brings sunshine to every moment of my life.
The Lord smiled down on this life of mine and sent me the love of sunshine
I believe that my love was sent by a higher power to brighten up my life, and their values align with mine.
Though sunshine can always make my days seem bright
Even on my darkest days, the presence of my love makes everything brighter and more positive.
Sunshine can warm up a cold cold night
The presence of my love brings comfort and warmth even during cold, lonely nights.
I know my sunshine was sent from above an angel that's filled with love
I feel like my love is a gift from a divine power, someone with pure love in their heart.
Through winter the springtime the summer and fall
No matter what season or time passes, my love remains a constant source of joy and positivity.
The moonlight the starlight she outshines them all
My love is the brightest star in my world, overshadowing any other sources of light or beauty.
In a world filled with fear with pain and such harm my sunshine can be so warm
Even in a world full of sadness and negativity, my love brings warmth and comfort to me and helps me endure.
All for the love of sunshine
Everything good in my life comes from the presence and love of my partner, who makes every moment feel like sunshine.
All for the love of sunshine
My love for my partner is solely because of their ability to bring radiance and warmth to my life, as if they carry the sunshine with them always.
All for the love of sunshine
Everything I do and feel is motivated by the deep love and gratitude I have for the person who brings sunshine to my life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Integrity Music
Written by: MIKE CURB, HARLEY EUGENE HATCHER, LALO SCHIFRIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Norman Robinson
This guy have a wonderful voice go ahead and do your thing !!!