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.
It's Just a Matter of Time
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, darling, you're going to need me again
It's just a matter of time
Go on, go on, until you reach the end of the line
But I know you'll pass my way again
It's just a matter of time
You laughed and called me a clown
Remember, in your search for fortune and fame
What goes up must come down
I know, I know that one day you'll wake up and find
That my love was a true love
It's just a matter of time
Solomon Burke's song "It's Just a Matter of Time" is a classic soulful ballad that speaks about the inevitability of love. The song was released in 1960 and quickly became a hit, reaching number 4 on the R&B charts and number 24 on the Pop charts. The lyrics of the song speak about a lover who has been taken for granted and left behind, and the singer's conviction that the lover will come back.
The first verse of the song speaks to the lover's blindness, suggesting that they will one day realize their mistake and come back to the singer. The second verse continues to hammer home the inevitability of the lover's return, even as they "go on, go on, until you reach the end of the line." The third verse is perhaps the most powerful, as the singer recounts how they were laughed at and mocked for giving everything to their lover, and yet still remains faithful.
Throughout the song, the singer's message is clear: love will always triumph over everything else. No matter how rich or famous a person may become, they will always long for true love, and when they do, they will return to it. It's just a matter of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday, some way, you'll realize that you've been blind
At some point in the future, you'll come to the understanding that you've been unable to see an obvious truth
Yes, darling, you're going to need me again
You'll come back to me when you realize the mistake you made
It's just a matter of time
It's inevitable that you'll realize your error and come back to me
Go on, go on, until you reach the end of the line
Keep going until you can't go any further
But I know you'll pass my way again
Despite moving on, you'll come back to me
It's just a matter of time
It's inevitable that you'll come back to me
After I gave you everything I had
I gave you all that I could possibly give
You laughed and called me a clown
You made fun of me for loving you
Remember, in your search for fortune and fame
Don't forget that as you aim for success and recognition,
What goes up must come down
You'll eventually fall from your high place, and need someone there for you
I know, I know that one day you'll wake up and find
I'm confident that eventually you'll come to realize
That my love was a true love
My love for you was real
It's just a matter of time
You'll eventually come to that realization
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Belford Hendricks, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hamstersniffer
Never heard this recording before. Thanks so much for sharing.
jmary smyth
Although somewhere in the back of my mind in a distant time I had heard of Solomon Burke, I have never listened to any of his songs till tonight! - - Yeah I'm moved!!
Matthew Cromwell
He has a lot of great songs. I have been listening to him for 30 plus years.
Theresa St.Clare
I love Solomon Burke...None of Us Are Free was my introduction.
Patrick k
Wonder why I haven't come across this version before? Nice.
lanc star
there is so much classic music i have to listen to will i ever catch up
Irene Mccann
Not far behind BROOK Benton's version, love it .
Carol Nelson
so smooth~
samy samy
Hhhhaaahh so nice so smooth i love it oohhuuuuuuuuu by samy form nakupenda TANZANIA any one who know Tanzania just like here plz chiiiiiii
Sherry Perry
Yes it’s just s matter of time, it will happen to you. We should try s little harder