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.
Keep the Magic Working
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep the magic working never let me drop
Out of this heaven you have lifted me to
I don't know how you work it
But I'm glad you do
Have you got Alladin's lamp my love
To make me feel this way
I don't know what powers you possess
Is keep the magic working
Cause it feels so fine and keep it working
Keep your lips on mine
Have you got Alladin's lamp my love
To make me feel this way
I don't know what powers you possess
So all that I can say
Is keep the magic working
Cause it feels so fine and keep it working
And a working and a working
Keep your lips on mine
Umm keep your lips on mine
Yeah keep your lips on mine mine mine mine
Everyday
The lyrics of Solomon Burke's song "Keep the Magic Working" explore the idea of a magical experience within a romantic relationship. The singer expresses his gratitude and amazement for the love that his partner has given him, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining the magical feeling that they share. The repetition of the phrase "keep the magic working" acts as a plea to his partner to continue creating that feeling of enchantment in their love.
The singer compares his experience of love to a fairy tale by asking if his partner has "Aladdin's lamp," an allusion to the magical lamp which grants wishes in the story of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. The singer acknowledges that he doesn't understand how his partner creates this magic, but he's grateful for it nonetheless. The repetition of "I don't know" underscores the mystery and wonder that he feels about the love he shares with his partner.
The singer concludes by encouraging his partner to maintain the magic between them by keeping their lips on his. This romantic and physical metaphor reinforces the intimate connection between the two and suggests that the magic of their love is sustained through physical touch.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep the magic working never let it stop
Maintain the special aura in our relationship without any pause.
Keep the magic working never let me drop
Please don't let me fall back into my old ways, keep the magic alive.
Out of this heaven you have lifted me to
Your love has elevated me to a better place, it feels heavenly.
I don't know how you work it
I don't understand how you make it happen, but it's amazing.
But I'm glad you do
However it works, I am grateful for it.
Have you got Alladin's lamp my love
Do you possess a magic lamp like in the story of Aladdin?
To make me feel this way
Is that the reason why I feel so enchanted by you?
I don't know what powers you possess
I don't know what qualities you have that make me feel so enchanted.
So all that I can say
Therefore, all I can express is
Is keep the magic working
Please keep doing whatever it is that creates this magic.
Cause it feels so fine and keep it working
Because it feels so great and please keep the magic going.
And a working and a working
Continually keeping the magic alive.
Keep your lips on mine
Keep kissing me, let our bodies and souls stay connected.
Umm keep your lips on mine
I really need you to keep kissing me.
Yeah keep your lips on mine mine mine mine
Repeatedly, don't break the connection.
Everyday
Continuously, every single day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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