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.
Let Somebody Love Me
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People behind their blinds, peeping out at me
All they ever see is a fool in the dark
Alone in the park, all alone in the park
Sitting here with my heart in my hands
Trying hard to understand
Why am I alone on the outside looking
Please heaven above, let somebody love me
Who I am and where I'm heading
Without love I'm just hopelessly treading
Lost in the park, I cling to her
I refuse to give, I was afraid to live
Silver and gold, were my security
I dreamed of a soul all that was good for me
Well I cried in the hall and oh I tried
I can't make it heard
Those four precious words
Let somebody love me, let somebody love me
I'll never cry about property
I'd be the richest man alive
For someone to love I know
Someone above loves me
Is it too much to ask is it to long to task
To send someone to love me
And who needs me too
She don't have to be a beauty queen
Just someone to
You know you know what I mean
Someone who I can live it on
And all my dreams are gone
Let somebody somebody love me
Let em love even me
Got to have somebody to love me
Somebody to love me
Oh too, love that will see me through
Somebody not peeping behind their blinds
Someone who keeps me on their
Heart and in their mind
Somebody somebody somebody to love me
Solomon Burke's song Let the Love Flow is a soulful plea for love in a world where the singer feels like an outsider, constantly peeping in on the lives of others from the outside. The song opens with a description of a cold, dark city, where neon signs are the only thing that illuminates the streets. The singer laments being alone in the park, wondering why they have been left out of the world of love. They sit with their heart in their hands, trying to understand their isolation.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that they are afraid to live without love. They reveal that they had valued material possessions over love, and have now realized the error of their ways. The singer desperately wishes for someone to love them, even if they are not a beauty queen. They simply want someone to keep them in their heart and in their mind. The song ends with a powerful repetition of the phrase "somebody to love me," and the desperate wish for love to see them through.
Overall, Let the Love Flow is a powerful and poignant song about the human need for connection and love. It speaks to the struggle of feeling like an outsider in a world that values appearances and material possessions over the genuine connections that make us human.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold on the streets, neon signs
The environment around the singer is bleak and lifeless, portrayed through the cold atmosphere and bustling city lights.
People behind their blinds, peeping out at me
The singer feels like he is an outsider, looked down upon by society and judged by others.
All they ever see is a fool in the dark
The singer is perceived as a loser and foolish for not having found romantic love like others around him have.
Alone in the park, all alone in the park
The singer is isolated and alone in an empty space, with no one to turn to for companionship.
Sitting here with my heart in my hands
The singer is emotionally vulnerable and exposed, with his heart representing his deep desire for love.
Trying hard to understand
The singer is grappling with his own feelings of loneliness and confusion about why he is unable to find love.
Why am I alone on the outside looking
The singer is feeling excluded and isolated, watching others find love while he remains an outsider.
In at the world of love
The singer feels excluded from the world of romance and affection that others seem to thrive in.
Please heaven above, let somebody love me
The singer is praying for a romantic connection with someone who will love him unconditionally.
Who I am and where I'm heading
The singer is questioning his own identity and future, wondering if he will ever find love despite his efforts.
Without love I'm just hopelessly treading
The singer feels hopeless and unfulfilled without the promise of a romantic connection.
Lost in the park, I cling to her
The singer is struggling with loneliness and is desperate for someone to share his life with.
I refuse to give, I was afraid to live
The singer is hesitant to open himself up to love because he is afraid of being hurt or rejected.
Silver and gold, were my security
The singer has relied on material possessions to provide him with a sense of security and happiness, but they have ultimately left him unfulfilled.
I dreamed of a soul all that was good for me
The singer has longed for a partner who is kind, loving, and a good match for him.
Well I cried in the hall and oh I tried
The singer has struggled with love in the past, trying to find a match but coming up short.
I can't make it heard
The singer feels like his desire for love is going unheard and unmet.
Those four precious words
The four words the singer is looking for are 'I love you', which would bring him immense joy and fulfillment.
Let somebody love me, let somebody love me
The singer is pleading for someone to give him a chance at love, to accept him for who he is and share a deep connection with him.
I'll never cry about property
The singer realizes that material possessions will not bring him true happiness, and that love is the only thing of real value.
I'd be the richest man alive
The singer believes that finding true love would be priceless and would create a life of abundance and fulfillment for him.
For someone to love I know
The singer is certain that he wants and needs love in his life, and that it will fulfill his deepest desires and needs.
Someone above loves me
The singer believes that there is a higher power that cares for him and has a plan for his life, which may include finding love.
Is it too much to ask is it to long to task
The singer is wondering if his desire for love is too great or too impossible to be granted.
To send someone to love me
The singer is hoping that fate or a higher power will intervene and bring him a partner who will love him deeply.
And who needs me too
The singer wants a partner who not only loves him but also needs him, creating a strong bond and sense of purpose in their lives together.
She don't have to be a beauty queen
The singer isn't looking for someone who is perfect or has a certain physical appearance, but rather someone who is a good match for him emotionally and intellectually.
Just someone to
The singer wants someone who will share life experiences and create memories with him.
You know you know what I mean
The singer is certain that his listeners understand his desire for love and how important it is to him.
Someone who I can live it on
The singer wants a partner who he can build a life with and who will be there for him through thick and thin.
And all my dreams are gone
Without love, the singer's dreams and aspirations feel unfulfilled and incomplete.
Let somebody somebody love me
The singer reiterates his plea for someone to love him, recognizing how important it is for him to find a long-lasting, fulfilling romantic connection.
Let em love even me
The singer is hoping that someone will give him a chance to experience love, even though he may not fit a certain mold or meet certain expectations.
Got to have somebody to love me
The singer recognizes that love is a necessity for his life, as it brings joy, fulfillment, and purpose to his existence.
Somebody to love me
The singer's main desire is to find someone who will love him unconditionally, becoming his life partner and companion.
Oh too, love that will see me through
The singer wants a love that will last and see him through the ups and downs of life, providing a constant source of support and happiness.
Somebody not peeping behind their blinds
The singer wants someone who is open and receptive to his love, without judgment or scrutiny from the outside world.
Someone who keeps me on their
The singer wants a partner who cares for him and is invested in his well-being and success.
Heart and in their mind
The singer wants someone who loves him deeply and thinks about him often, creating a strong, lasting bond between them.
Somebody somebody somebody to love me
The singer's plea for someone to love him continues to ring out, reflecting his deep desire for romantic connection and fulfillment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DaMenke
You're welcome. I love both version, too.