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.
Upthight Good Woman
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along the road to Gundagai
Where the blue gums are growing, the Murrumbidgee's flowing
Beneath that sunny sky
Where my Mummy and Daddy are waiting for me
Where the pals of my childhood are waiting for me
So no more will I roam till I'm headed right for home
There's an old fashioned Ford made of rubber, tin and board
Along the road to Gundagai
The radiator's hissing, and half the engine's missing
The oil tank's running dry
There's water in the petrol and sand in the gears
And it hasn't seen a garage for more than twenty years
But O lord hear the roar when the pedal hits the floor
Along the road to Gundagai.
The lyrics to Solomon Burke's song, "Upthight Good Woman," may seem like a strange mix of a track back to a shack and a Ford made of rubber, but they actually work together to convey a message about the longing for home and a simpler time. The track back to the old fashioned shack along the road to Gundagai represents the singer's desire to return to a place where he feels welcome and comfortable. The blue gums and sunny sky evoke a sense of tranquility and familiarity, while the waiting Mummy and Daddy and childhood pals give a sense of safety and belonging. The singer vows to no longer roam until he's headed right for home, suggesting that he's learned to appreciate the value of stability and familiarity, and that he is ready to return to a simpler life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a track winding back to an old fashioned shack
There's a path taking me back to a humble home
Along the road to Gundagai
While travelling towards Gundagai
Where the blue gums are growing, the Murrumbidgee's flowing
Where there are tall eucalyptus trees and a river named Murrumbidgee
Beneath that sunny sky
Underneath the clear and bright sky
Where my Mummy and Daddy are waiting for me
Where my parents eagerly await my arrival
Where the pals of my childhood are waiting for me
Where my childhood friends anticipate my return
So no more will I roam till I'm headed right for home
I won't wander anymore until I'm on my way back
There's an old fashioned Ford made of rubber, tin and board
There's a vintage Ford vehicle constructed from unconventional materials
The radiator's hissing, and half the engine's missing
The radiator makes a hissing sound and the engine is partially damaged
The oil tank's running dry
The oil tank is running out of oil
There's water in the petrol and sand in the gears
Water has mixed with the petrol and sand has accumulated in the gears
And it hasn't seen a garage for more than twenty years
And it hasn't been in a garage for more than twenty years
But O lord hear the roar when the pedal hits the floor
But oh lord, listen to the engine roar when the pedal is fully pressed
Along the road to Gundagai
While travelling towards Gundagai
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY JOHNSON, SPOONER OLDHAM, DAN PENN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind