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.
Up To The Mountain
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because you asked me to
Up over the clouds
To where the sky was blue
I could see all around me
Everywhere
I could see all around me
Everywhere
Sometimes I feel like
I've never been nothing but tired
And I'll be walking
Till the day I expire
Sometimes I lay down
No more can I do
But then I go on again
Because you ask me to
Some days I look down
Afraid I will fall
And though the sun shines
I see nothing at all
Then I hear your sweet voice, oh
Oh, come and then go, come and then go
Telling me softly
You love me so
The peaceful valley
Just over the mountain
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It's there I will go
Sooner or later
It's there I will go
Solomon Burke’s “Up to the Mountain” is a song that reflects on life’s trials and tribulations and how the love and support of someone special can give you the strength to keep going. The opening of the song, “I went up to the mountain because you asked me to, up over the clouds to where the sky was blue,” symbolizes a journey towards a higher power and taking refuge in their embrace. In the next stanza, Burke describes feeling tired and worn out, but nevertheless persevering because of the support of the person he is singing to. The line “I’ll be walking till the day I expire” expresses a sense of determination to continue pushing forward even if it takes every last bit of energy.
In the next verse, the singer expresses feeling lost and hopeless, saying “some days I look down, afraid I will fall, and though the sun shines, I see nothing at all.” But then hearing the “sweet voice” of the person he is singing to gives him strength and reassurance, telling him that he is loved. The final stanza describes a “peaceful valley just over the mountain” that the singer may never reach in this lifetime, but is hopeful he will eventually reach someday. This could be interpreted as either a literal place or a metaphor for an afterlife or a dream that they want to one day achieve.
Line by Line Meaning
I went up to the mountain
I took the journey towards higher heights
Because you asked me to
You inspired me to take the journey with your request
Up over the clouds
I ascended beyond the visible obstacles
To where the sky was blue
I arrived at a serene and peaceful state of being
I could see all around me
I had a panoramic view of my surroundings
Everywhere
In every direction I looked
Sometimes I feel like
Occasionally, I get the sense that
I've never been nothing but tired
I've always been fatigued and drained
And I'll be walking
I'll keep moving forward
Till the day I expire
Until the day of my passing
Sometimes I lay down
At times I take a moment to rest
No more can I do
I feel like I've reached my limit
But then I go on again
Yet, I find the strength to carry on
Because you ask me to
Your encouragement gives me the will to go on
Some days I look down
Occasionally I contemplate my circumstances
Afraid I will fall
Fearful that I may falter
And though the sun shines
Although there may be positive aspects
I see nothing at all
I am unable to appreciate those positive aspects
Then I hear your sweet voice, oh
However, your kind voice catches my attention
Oh, come and then go, come and then go
Reassuring me with levels of consistency
Telling me softly
Speaking words of comfort softly to my ears
You love me so
Expressing your affection towards me
The peaceful valley
An area of tranquility and serenity
Just over the mountain
Located beyond the elevated terrain
The peaceful valley
An area of tranquility and serenity
Few come to know
Only a limited number of people have the privilege of discovering it
I may never get there
I might not reach that peaceful place
Ever in this lifetime
At any point in this temporal existence
But sooner or later
Regardless of the time frame
It's there I will go
I will ultimately find myself in that tranquil place
Sooner or later
At some point in the future
It's there I will go
I will eventually arrive in that peaceful location
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Patricia J. Griffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jafuni9349
I have listened to 8 covers today. No one does it like Solomon Burke. Simply fantastic. And the strings add a nice touch.
@FXMAN66
Patty Griffin is pretty damn close. Who just happens to be singing in the background here.
@jafuni9349
@@FXMAN66 well thanks, now I went down the rabbit hole and had to look up some of her songs. 😹Amazing songwriter and performer!
@FXMAN66
@@jafuni9349 glad you liked her. Living with Ghosts has been one of my favorites from the day it came out!
@markdewein1733
If you can listen to this and not tear up...man.
@drummerdem50
Solomon owns this great song..Rest easy Sol....
@tatianasirbu411
So beautiful song
@janezciuha3189
How easily HE makes wonderfull song even better.
@martabittencourt3080
Very beautiful! Unforgatable!!!!!
@cekiya752
truly beautiful