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.
Send Me Some Loving
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send it, send it I pray so I can love you
Every night and every day
My days are so lonely
My lonely nights are so blue
I'm here and I'm lonely, lonely
Baby, I'm waitin', waitin' for you
Won't you send me your picture
It would mean so much
I long for your lovin', lovin'
Baby, I'd die for your touch
Oh, my days are so lonely
I want you to know my nights are so blue
I'm here and I'm lonely
Baby, I'm waitin', waitin' for you
Please, please send me your loving
Baby, I'm waitin', waitin' for you
In "Send Me Some Loving," Solomon Burke expresses his longing for love and companionship. The repetition of the plea "send me some loving" highlights his desperation and desire to receive affection from someone. He prays for love to come his way, emphasizing his eagerness to experience love and be able to reciprocate it with the same intensity and devotion. By requesting love both "every night and every day," Burke implies that he craves a constant and enduring connection.
Burke admits that his current state is one of loneliness and sadness. He describes his days as "so lonely" and his nights as "so blue." This indicates that he is suffering from a deep sense of emptiness and longing, further emphasizing how much he yearns for love and companionship in his life. His loneliness is overwhelming, and he feels as if he is stuck in this state, hence referring to himself as being "here and lonely." This line captures his despair and reinforces his hope that someone can bring him out of this emotional rut.
Burke's plea for love becomes more poignant as he asks for a picture of his desired partner. This request suggests that he longs to have a physical representation of the person he desires, implying that seeing their image would provide him some solace. He confesses that he longs for their love and is willing to go to great lengths for it. The phrase "I'd die for your touch" reveals the intensity of his emotions, indicating the depths of his yearning.
The repetition of his state of loneliness and longing conveys the sincerity of his plea. Burke reiterates that his days are lonely, his nights are blue, emphasizing that his emotional state remains unchanged. By stating "I'm here and I'm lonely, Baby, I'm waiting for you," he expresses his anticipation for someone to come into his life and bring him the love and companionship he so desperately craves. The repetition reaffirms his vulnerability and their potential impact on his emotional well-being.
In conclusion, Solomon Burke's "Send Me Some Loving" is a heartfelt plea for love and companionship. Through his lyrics, he conveys a deep sense of longing, loneliness, and sadness. He prays and waits for someone to fill his life with the love he yearns for, expressing his willingness to do anything for their affection. The repetition and intensity of his plea emphasize the magnitude of his emotional state and his eagerness for a connection with someone to alleviate his loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Please, send me some loving
I'm longing for your love and affection, so please show me some kindness and send me your love.
Send it, send it I pray so I can love you
Please, send me your love so that I can reciprocate and shower you with my own love and affection.
Every night and every day
I desire your love and presence in my life both during the night and throughout the day.
My days are so lonely
Without your love, my days feel empty and devoid of joy.
My lonely nights are so blue
During the lonely nights, I can't help but feel sad and melancholic without you by my side.
I'm here and I'm lonely, lonely
I am physically present, but my heart aches with loneliness and yearns for your companionship.
Baby, I'm waitin', waitin' for you
My anticipation grows as I patiently await your arrival and the love you bring.
Won't you send me your picture
It would bring me immense joy and comfort if you were to send me a photograph of yourself.
It would mean so much
Receiving your picture would hold significant emotional value to me and deepen our connection.
I long for your lovin', lovin'
I yearn deeply for your affectionate love, and it consumes my every thought and desire.
Baby, I'd die for your touch
The touch of your hands is so precious to me that I would be willing to sacrifice everything, even my own life, for it.
Please, please send me your loving
I implore you with utmost sincerity to send me your love and affection.
Baby, I'm waitin', waitin' for you
My patience endures as I eagerly await your presence and the love you bring into my life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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The Reritee
One of the greatest masters of soul music.