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.
I'm in Love
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I bet you're surprised to hear me
I'm so glad you picked up the phone
I guess I owed you an apology
But I've been taking some time alone
I need so badly to believe
You miss me and I miss you
But I'm lonely, and a feelin' true
You know, I need some love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
I need some love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
Now, the difference between lovin' another
Is one thing I understand
Now that I see one from another
I know I can be your man
You need so badly to believe
That my heart would be forever true
Now I'm standing right here
Standing right here
Standing right in front of you
Now, I need some love in my life
(I need some love in my life)
I need some love in my life
(I need some love in my life)
You need some love in your life
(You need some love in your life)
Baby, I need your love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
I miss your midnight invitations
I need you soul, soul confirmation
I need it so badly, oh so much
Baby, I miss your tender touch, oh
You need so badly to believe
That my heart would forever be true
Now I'm standing right here
(Standing right here)
And I'm reaching out to you let me tell ya
I need your love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
Need real love in my life, baby
(Need some love in my life)
I know it (Need some love in my life)
I need it (Need some love in my life)
I know it let it rock ya
(Need some love in my life)
Ooh, Lord, let it roll ya
(Need some love in my life)
Let this love, baby, console ya
(Need some love in my life)
Let this love control ya
(Need some love in my life)
I need, I need some love in my life, y'all
Your sweet, hot love in my life, baby
Come get it, baby, I love it
(Need some love in my life)
I got it, you need it
(Need some love in my life) i give it to you
Got, got, got (Need some love in my life)
Got to have some love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
I wanna give it to ya i wanna give it to ya
I wanna give it, give it, give it
Give it to ya all you need
What you want, you gotta have it
(Need some love in my life)
Squeeze it, tease it, please it
(Need some love in my life)
Love, love, love, love
(Need some love in my life) that's it
There it is, baby
The lyrics of Solomon Burke's song "I'm in Love" convey the singer's desire for love and their realization that they need it in their life. The song begins with the singer reaching out to someone they have previously hurt or neglected, expressing their regret and the time they have spent alone reflecting on their actions. They long for a reconnection and hope that the other person also misses and longs for them.
The singer acknowledges that they now understand the difference between loving someone else and being able to be the right partner for the other person. They assure the other person that they can be their man, indicating their willingness to commit and be devoted to the relationship. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the singer's need for love in their life, emphasizing the importance of this connection and its absence.
Throughout the song, the singer appeals to the other person's need to believe that their love will be honest and enduring. They express their desire to stand in front of the other person, symbolizing their willingness to be vulnerable and present in the relationship. The bridge of the song highlights the singer's longing for the physical and emotional intimacy they shared with the other person, emphasizing their need for their love and touch.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
Greetings, I assume this is unexpected
Well, I bet you're surprised to hear me
I assume that you are taken aback by my presence
I'm so glad you picked up the phone
I am truly grateful that you answered my call
I guess I owed you an apology
I realize that I am in debt for an apology to you
But I've been taking some time alone
Yet, I have been spending time by myself
I need so badly to believe
I have a strong desire to have faith in
You miss me and I miss you
That you long for me, and I long for you as well
There's so much mystery
Many aspects remain unknown
But I'm lonely, and a feelin' true
Nevertheless, I am lonely and experiencing genuine emotions
You know, I need some love in my life
You understand, I require affection in my existence
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
Now, the difference between lovin' another
At this moment, I comprehend the contrast in loving someone else
Is one thing I understand
It is a notion I grasp clearly
Now that I see one from another
Having recognized one in comparison to another
I know I can be your man
I am aware that I can fulfill the role as your partner
You need so badly to believe
You desperately require the belief
That my heart would be forever true
That my heart would remain loyal eternally
Now I'm standing right here
Now I am present in this very spot
Standing right here
Still standing directly in this place
Standing right in front of you
Positioned directly before you
You need some love in your life
You require affection in your existence
(You need some love in your life)
It is essential for you to have some love in your life
I miss your midnight invitations
I long for your requests to spend moments together at midnight
I need your soul, soul confirmation
I require assurance of your deep soul connection
I need it so badly, oh so much
I have an immense, desperate need for it
Baby, I miss your tender touch, oh
Darling, I yearn for your gentle affectionate contact
Now I'm standing right here
Now I am present in this very spot
(Standing right here)
Still standing directly in this place
And I'm reaching out to you let me tell ya
And I am extending myself towards you, allow me to inform you
I need your love in my life
I require your love to exist fully
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
Need real love in my life, baby
I desire authentic love in my life, my dear
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
I know it (Need some love in my life)
I am aware of it, I require some love in my life
I need it (Need some love in my life)
I have a strong need for it, I must have some love in my life
I know it let it rock ya
I am certain of it, allow it to excite you
Ooh, Lord, let it roll ya
Oh, Lord, let it embrace you
Let this love, baby, console ya
Allow this love, my dear, to bring you comfort
Let this love control ya
Allow this love to influence and guide you
I need, I need some love in my life, y'all
I require, I desperately need some love in my life, everyone
Your sweet, hot love in my life, baby
Your affectionate and passionate love in my life, my dear
Come get it, baby, I love it
Come and acquire it, darling, I adore it
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
I got it, you need it
I possess it, and you require it
(Need some love in my life) I give it to you
(Need some love in my life) I offer it to you
Got, got, got (Need some love in my life)
Acquired, acquired, acquired (I must have some love in my life)
Got to have some love in my life
I absolutely must have some love in my life
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
I wanna give it to ya, I wanna give it to ya
I desire to bestow it upon you, I yearn to present it to you
I wanna give it, give it, give it
I want to offer it, offer it, offer it
Give it to ya all you need
Provide it to you, fulfilling all your requirements
What you want, you gotta have it
What you desire, you must possess it
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
Squeeze it, tease it, please it
Embrace it, entice it, satisfy it
(Need some love in my life)
I must have some love in my life
Love, love, love, love
Affection, affection, affection, affection
(Need some love in my life) that's it
(Need some love in my life) that is the essence
There it is, baby
That is the situation, darling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind