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 Need Your Love In My Life
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 missed me and I miss you
But I'm lonely, and a-feelin' true
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 bad 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 missed your midnight invitations
I need you soul, soul confirmation
I need it so badly, oh so much
Baby, I miss your tender touch
You need so bad 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, I need it
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)
Take it slow, Baby, console ya
(Need some love in my life)
Let the flow control ya
(Need some love in my life)
I need, I need some love in my life
Your good hot sweet love in my life, Baby
Come get it, Baby, I love ya
(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
(Some love in my life)
Got to have some love in my life
(Love in my life)
I'm here to give it to ya
I wanna give it to you
I wanna give it, give it, give it, give it to you
All you need
What you want, you gotta have it
Squeeze ya, tease ya, need ya
Love, love, love, love
That's it
There it is, Baby
The song "I Need Your Love In My Life" by Solomon Burke is a classic soulful blues track. The song is about a man who realizes that he needs the love of someone special in his life. He expresses his longing for a physical and emotional connection with someone that he has missed deeply. The chorus repeats the phrase "I need some love in my life" as a mantra for what he desires, and he pleads with his lover to feel the same way.
Burke sings about the difference between loving someone and loving another, acknowledging the uniqueness and value of each relationship. He tells his lover that he can be the man for her and wants her to believe that his heart will forever be true. In the final verses, he emphasizes the urgency of his need for love and reassures his lover that he is ready to give it all to her.
The song's lyrics are simple, but Burke's powerful and soulful voice brings a depth of emotion to the words that make the song unforgettable. "I Need Your Love In My Life" is a timeless classic that captures the essence of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello!
Opening greeting
Well, I bet you're surprised to hear me
Acknowledging the unexpectedness of the call
I'm so glad you picked up the phone
Expressing gratitude for the receiver answering the call
I guess I owed you an apology
Admitting fault and the need to apologize
But I've been taking some time alone
Explaining the reason for silence and absence
I need so badly to believe
Expressing the desire to have faith in something
You missed me and I miss you
Describing mutual feelings of longing
There's so much mystery
Recognizing the complexity of the situation
But I'm lonely, and a-feelin' true
Acknowledging the emotion of loneliness and authenticity of feelings
I need some love in my life
Expressing the desire for romantic love
(Need some love in my life)
Repeating the desire for emphasis
Now the difference between lovin' another
Recognizing the distinction between love for different people
Is one thing I understand
Reflecting on a personal realization
Now that I see one from another
Noting the ability to distinguish between different romantic interests
I know I can be your man
Expressing the desire and confidence to be a suitable romantic partner
You need so bad to believe
Noting the emotional need of the other person
That my heart would be forever true
Describing the expectation of faithfulness in a romantic relationship
Now I'm standing right here, standing right here
Indicating physical presence
Standing right in front of you
Emphasizing the proximity of the singer to the listener
(I need some love in my life)
Reiterating the desire for love
(You need some love in your life)
Highlighting the mutual need for love
(Need some love in my life)
Repeating the desire for emphasis
Baby, I need your love in my life
Expressing a specific romantic interest
I missed your midnight invitations
Describing a past pattern of behavior
I need you soul, soul confirmation
Expressing the desire for emotional validation and intimacy
I need it so badly, oh so much
Reiterating the intensity of the need for emotional connection
Baby, I miss your tender touch
Recalling physical affection and touch
Let me tell ya
Introducing a statement
I know it, I need it
Expressing certainty and importance of need
Let it rock ya
Encouraging listener to enjoy music
(Need some love in my life)
Reiterating the desire for love
Ooh, Lord, let it roll ya
Encouraging listener to enjoy music in smooth and fluid way
Take it slow, Baby, console ya
Encouraging comfort and steadiness
Let the flow control ya
Encouraging listener to surrender to the emotional experience
Your good hot sweet love in my life, Baby
Describing the specific nature of romantic interest
Come get it, Baby, I love ya
Inviting physical affection
(I need some love in my life)
Reiterating the desire for love
(Need real love in my life, Baby)
Clarifying the kind of love desired
Got to have some love in my life
Reiterating the importance of love
(Love in my life)
Repeating the desire for emphasis
I'm here to give it to ya
Expressing willingness to provide love
I wanna give it to you
Reiterating the desire to provide love
All you need
Assuring listener that the singer can provide what is needed
What you want, you gotta have it
Stating the importance of meeting desires and needs
Squeeze ya, tease ya, need ya
Describing romantic affection and desire
Love, love, love, love
Emphasizing the concept and importance of love
That's it
End of the song
There it is, Baby
Final statement before end of song
Contributed by Scarlett V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.