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.
Lucky
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Up in the mornin' out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin'
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Solomon Burke's song "That Lucky Old Sun" is a heartfelt song about the strenuous and repetitive nature of daily work and the desire to escape it all. The lyrics describe the difficulties of working hard every day, providing for one's family, and barely making ends meet. Despite all the hard work, the singer feels envious of the sun, which has nothing to do but "roll around heaven all day." The sun is seen as "lucky" because it is free to roam around without any care or responsibilities, while the singer is trapped in his work.
The singer pleads to the "Good Lawd above" to send down a silver lining that will lift him to paradise. He wants to escape his troubles and be taken to a river that will wash them all away. He longs to have nothing to do but roll around in heaven all day like the sun. This song is a heartfelt plea for a break from the drudgery of daily life.
Overall, "That Lucky Old Sun" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the desire for a better life, free from the hardships of work and responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like the devil for my pay
I wake up early every morning and work hard at my job just to earn a living
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun, on the other hand, has no responsibilities and leisurely rolls around in the sky all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
I also have the additional burden of taking care of my family, causing me to work even harder and show physical wear and tear
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
Meanwhile, the sun continues to have no obligations or worries and simply moves through its day effortlessly
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin' Tears all in my eyes
I am feeling distressed and sad, and I am crying out to God for help
Send down that cloud with a silver linin' Lift me to paradise
I am requesting that God send me a sign of hope, to help me escape my daily struggles and experience happiness again
Show me that river Take me across and wash all my troubles away
I am yearning for an escape from my troubles, hoping to find relief by crossing over to a new, better place
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
I wish to have a carefree life like the sun, where I don't have to worry about work or family, and where I can simply relax and enjoy paradise for eternity
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Beasley Smith, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sergio Flores
Muchísimas gracias Thank you very much beautiful Melody Hello desde León Guanajuato México Good morning
Beto D
Huh? What's this🤔🤔 wth..