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 Feel A Sin Coming On
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her eyes are on me
I shake with temptation
Just knowing what it could be
I oughta go home
You see, I've been here too long
Oh, Lord, yes, I have
I say, I (I feel a sin)
I say I feel a sin right now
I really feel a sin right now
(I feel a sin) coming on
She has smoke rings
That's her halo
How high she flies depends
On how the wine flows
Makes no difference
I know I'm doing wrong
Cause I (I feel a sin)
I tell you, I feel a sin right now
I said I feel a sin right now
(I feel a sin coming on)
I got another world
Right, right, right outside
Outside the door
I got a wife, children, a home
Who could ask for more
Fool that I am
I been here too long
Yes, I have
I say, I (I feel a sin)
Deep down inside my soul
(I feel a sin)
I said I feel a sin right now
(I feel a sin)
(I feel a sin)...
The lyrics of Solomon Burke's "I Feel A Sin Coming On" convey the theme of temptation and the struggle between doing what is right versus what is pleasurable. Burke describes being in the presence of a woman who is tempting him, and though he knows he should leave, he cannot resist the allure of her company. He describes her as having a "halo" of smoke rings and suggests that her level of intoxication determines the height of her "flight." Despite knowing that he is doing something wrong by staying, he cannot deny the pull he feels towards her. The repetition of the phrase "I feel a sin" echoes his inner turmoil and suggests that he is being consumed by the temptation he feels.
The song also offers a commentary on the concept of sin and the idea of choosing between one's personal desires and social expectations. Burke suggests that although he has a family and a home waiting for him, he still finds himself drawn to the temptation before him. He recognizes that he has been in this situation for too long and acknowledges his foolishness for staying. The underlying message appears to be a warning against letting temptation consume one's judgment and the importance of resisting wrongdoing even if it means going against one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
She just sits there
The woman is passively and silently present, possibly a stranger.
Her eyes are on me
The woman is paying close attention to the singer.
I shake with temptation
The singer is physically and emotionally aroused by the possibility of sinning with the woman.
Just knowing what it could be
The artist acknowledges the potential for sinful activity with the woman.
I oughta go home
The artist recognizes that they have been at this place for too long and should leave.
You see, I've been here too long
The singer acknowledges that they have been engaged in questionable behavior for a prolonged period of time.
Oh, Lord, yes, I have
The singer expresses remorse or guilt for their actions.
I say, I (I feel a sin)
The artist recognizes that their actions may lead them to commit a sin.
I say I feel a sin right now
The artist is aware of the immediate danger of engaging in sinful behavior.
I really feel a sin right now
The artist emphasizes the strength of their temptation to sin.
(I feel a sin) coming on
The singer senses the impending risk of sinning with the woman.
She has smoke rings
The woman smokes and creates smoke rings around her, possibly a metaphor for her allure or mystique.
That's her halo
The smoking and smoke rings around the woman are compared to a halo, perhaps symbolizing her seductive power.
How high she flies depends
The woman's level of intoxication or seduction depends on how much she drinks.
On how the wine flows
The woman's level of intoxication or seduction is affected by the amount of wine she drinks.
Makes no difference
The artist acknowledges that their actions are wrong, regardless of the woman's level of intoxication or seduction.
I know I'm doing wrong
The artist acknowledges that their behavior is morally incorrect and goes against their values or beliefs.
Deep down inside my soul
The singer's feelings of temptation and guilt are strong and come from a deep place within them.
(I feel a sin)
The singer recognizes that their actions have the potential to be sinful.
(I feel a sin coming on)
The artist senses the inevitability of sinning with the woman and the potential consequences of their actions.
I got another world
The artist has a personal life outside of this situation.
Right, right, right outside
The artist's personal life and responsibilities are close by and easily accessible.
Outside the door
The singer's personal life and responsibilities are physically close, perhaps just behind a door.
I got a wife, children, a home
The artist has a family and a life outside of this situation.
Who could ask for more
The singer acknowledges the value of their life outside of this situation and wonders why they are risking it for temporary pleasure.
Fool that I am
The singer scolds themselves for their irrational and risky behavior.
I been here too long
The singer acknowledges that they have engaged in this behavior for too long and should have left earlier.
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.