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.
My Heart Is a Chapel
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the lord is always there
When I walk he walks beside me
My thoughts are his to share
My cupboard may be empty
But my heart is never bare
See my heart is a chapel
My heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
Each day to me is Sunday
Each day to say a prayer
That's when I count my blessings
I find them everywhere
See my heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
My heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
When I walk he walks beside me
My thoughts are his to share
They say my cupboard may be empty
But my heart is never bare
See my heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
My heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
Each day to me is Sunday
Each day to say a prayer
That's when I count my blessings
I find them everywhere
See my heart is a chapel
And the lord is always there
Solomon Burke's "My Heart is a Chapel" is a deeply spiritual song that is reminiscent of a gospel hymn. The singer begins by metaphorically comparing his heart to a chapel, a sacred space where he can worship and connect with God. He believes that the Lord is always with him, walking beside him and sharing his thoughts. This suggests a strong sense of divine connection and a belief that God is always present in his life, guiding and supporting him.
Despite any material or worldly possessions he may lack, the singer finds solace in the fact that his heart is never bare. He believes that he can find abundance within himself, in his spiritual connection to God. Every day is like Sunday for him, a day to reflect, pray and be grateful for the blessings in his life. He counts his blessings and finds that they are everywhere, underscoring his faith in a loving and benevolent God who provides for him in numerous ways.
The repetition of the chorus throughout the song reinforces the message of the song, that the singer's heart is a sacred space that is always accessible to him. The simplicity of the lyrics and melody add to the song's spiritual and emotional impact, making it a powerful testament to the singer's faith and his conviction that God is always present in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is a chapel
My heart is a place of worship and prayer
And the lord is always there
God is ever present in my heart
When I walk he walks beside me
I feel His presence and guidance with me as I go
My thoughts are his to share
I offer my innermost thoughts to God as a form of prayer
My cupboard may be empty
I may lack material wealth or possessions
But my heart is never bare
Despite any physical or material lack, my heart is full of faith and love for God
Each day to me is Sunday
Every day holds the same spiritual significance as a day of worship
Each day to say a prayer
Each day is a new opportunity to offer up prayers and connect with God
That's when I count my blessings
Taking time to acknowledge the good things in my life helps me feel closer to God
I find them everywhere
Blessings can be found in even the smallest, everyday moments of life
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.