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.
We Don
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was afraid, to get out of the car
So I just sat there, I just sat there
How was I gonna tell them?
That I lost my job
Gotta go in there, gotta go in there
So we gathered 'round the table
And the look of desperation
Nearly broke me in two
Son, I know you wanted
Them running shoes
Gonna have to wait, they going have to wait
Darling, I know you wanted
That dress in the window
We gonna get it,
But it won't be now
Then my little girl looked at me,
With those big round eyes
And the words she told me,
Almost made me cry!
We don't need it,
We can do without it,
We going to make it
No doubt about it
We're going stick together
Make it better
We don't need it
All we need is you
My son said
Daddy, I got sixteen books
Why don't you take it, I want you to take it
The next door neighbor
Asked me to rake the leaves
And I'm gonna do it, I'm sure gonna do it
'Cause I wanna help you out
Anyway I can
It's about time I learn, just to be a man
My wife said
Darling, we got so much stuff
Just sitting around here, just sitting around
Like grandmom's china, and the sterling silverware
Just sitting around here, just gathering dust
Ever since she past away
We ain't used it yet
So let's put it out in the front yard
And see what we can get
And we don't need it
We can do without it,
We gonna make it
No doubt about it
We're going stick together
Make it better
We don't need it
All we need is you
Days and weeks,
And months went by
The big boss called,
In a lickup town (?)
Got my check
And brought it home
Yeah, it's been tough
But we've been blessed
Let's get them shoes
And that brand new dress!
We don't need it
We can do without it,
We gonna make it
No doubt about it
We're going stick together
Make it better
We don't need it
All we need is you (you)
We don't need it
We can do without it,
We gonna make it
No doubt about it
We're going stick together
And make it better
We don't need it
All we need is you (loving you)
We can do without it
We gonna make it
No doubt about it
We're going stick together (begin fading)
And make it better
We don't need it
All we need is you
The song "We Don't Need It" by Solomon Burke is about a man who has lost his job and is struggling to provide for his family. The first few lines of the song describe his reluctance to tell his family the bad news. He finally decides to tell them and their reaction is one of support and love, assuring him that they don't need material things to be happy.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that they don't need material possessions to make them happy, and they will make it through tough times as long as they stick together. The song ends on a positive note, with the singer landing a new job and the family celebrating by buying the children new shoes and a new dress.
The lyrics portray a heartwarming tale of a family that values each other above anything else. The song emphasizes the message that material possessions don't bring true happiness or fulfillment. Rather, it is the support and love of family and loved ones that help us through tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am at home (hrum, hrum hrum)
The singer is at home, possibly after a difficult day.
I was afraid, to get out of the car
The singer was scared to talk to his family after losing his job.
So I just sat there, I just sat there
The singer didn't know how to break the news to his family.
How was I gonna tell them?
The singer was unsure of how to tell his family about his job loss.
That I lost my job
The singer is revealing his secret, that he has lost his job.
Gotta go in there, gotta go in there
The singer is trying to give himself courage to talk to his family.
So we gathered 'round the table
The family sits down at the kitchen table to discuss the news.
Told them the news
The singer tells his family about his job loss.
And the look of desperation
The family's worried expressions affect the singer emotionally.
Nearly broke me in two
The singer is deeply affected by his family's reaction.
Son, I know you wanted
The singer refers to his son's desire for running shoes.
Them running shoes
The son wants a pair of running shoes.
Gonna have to wait, they going have to wait
The family can't afford the shoes at the moment.
Darling, I know you wanted
The singer refers to his wife's desire for a dress.
That dress in the window
The wife saw a dress in a shop window that she wants.
We gonna get it,
The family will eventually buy the dress.
But it won't be now
The family can't afford the dress at the moment.
Then my little girl looked at me,
The singer's daughter catches his attention.
With those big round eyes
The daughter looks at the singer with an innocent expression.
And the words she told me,
The daughter says something to the singer.
Almost made me cry!
The daughter's words almost bring the singer to tears.
We don't need it,
The daughter is saying that the family doesn't need unnecessary things.
We can do without it,
The family can survive without material possessions.
We going to make it
The family will persevere through tough times.
No doubt about it
The family is sure that they will be okay.
We're going stick together
The family will stay strong and united.
Make it better
The family will make their situation better through hard work and support.
All we need is you
The family has each other and that's what matters most.
My son said
The singer's son has something to say.
Daddy, I got sixteen books
The son offers to give his father his books to sell for money.
Why don't you take it, I want you to take it
The son insists that his father take the books.
The next door neighbor
The singer's neighbor has something to contribute.
Asked me to rake the leaves
The neighbor offers to help out the family by doing yard work.
And I'm gonna do it, I'm sure gonna do it
The neighbor is determined to help in any way they can.
'Cause I wanna help you out
The neighbor is motivated by kindness to support the family.
Anyway I can
The neighbor will do anything to help the family.
It's about time I learn, just to be a man
The neighbor wants to learn the importance of helping others by becoming a responsible adult.
My wife said
The singer's wife has something to say.
Darling, we got so much stuff
The wife notices that the family has unnecessary possessions.
Just sitting around here, just sitting around
The possessions are just taking up space in their home.
Like grandmom's china, and the sterling silverware
The singer's family has inherited valuable items from their grandmother.
Just sitting around here, just gathering dust
The items are not being used and are covered in dust.
Ever since she pass away
The grandmother has passed away.
We ain't used it yet
The family has not used the inherited items yet.
So let's put it out in the front yard
The family decides to sell the items for money by displaying them in their front yard.
And see what we can get
The family is curious what buyers will offer for the items.
Days and weeks,
Time has passed since the family's hardship began.
And months went by
The family has been enduring their financial struggles for a while.
The big boss called,
The singer's former employer has contacted him.
In a lickup town (?)
It is unclear where the call comes from, possibly a small or out-of-the-way location.
Got my check
The singer has received a paycheck.
And brought it home
The singer has brought his paycheck home to share with his family.
Yeah, it's been tough
The family has endured a difficult period of time.
But we've been blessed
The family still has much to be grateful for.
Let's get them shoes
The family is finally able to afford the son's desired shoes.
And that brand new dress!
The family can now buy the wife's desired dress.
All we need is you (you)
The family's love and support for each other is their greatest asset.
All we need is you (loving you)
The love within the family is what really matters.
We can do without it
The family doesn't need material possessions to be happy.
And make it better
The family will continue to work towards improving their situation.
Begin fading
The song slowly fades out.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Allan Rich, Kevin R. Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@4rowsee174
To Willow Bean
You too lol! Recently I stumbled upon this epic song by accident😯 I was listening to an old Sam Cooke song "Bring It On Home To Me"...one thing led to another and Solomon Burke's name came up as one of the many great Blues/Soul masters that joined the likes of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, BB and Benny King, and others before them...I watched Solomon's performance and was blown away! His voice, style, stage presence, was magical! I wondered how the hell had I missed knowing of him!? Everyone's heard of the late great Otis Redding even though he tragically died at the tender age of 26, so not able to be around for decades of hits, but still is way famous and known world wide.
I then searched for more songs of Solomon's, especially wanting to see vids actually showing his performance, not some lyrics with a a few pics in the background.
I finally found one video of a young Solomon Burke singing the highly addictive Cry To Me"😍😵💫😯 After I kept having to replay this epic masterpiece, I set it to Loop! That wasn't enough, because everyday I keep coming back to watch and listen to this:
"When your baby leaves you all alone..
And nobody call you on the phone...
Doncha feel like crying
Doncha feel like crying
Well, here I am, my honey c'mon baby, cry to me...
Doncha feel like crying (cry to me)
Don't you feel like cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cry (cry to me) cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-crying? (cry to me)
Don't you feel like cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cry (cry to me) cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-cr-crying?"
Wow! To me, Solomon Burke is the epitome of coolness, a real King, the master of soul and blues, and no future generations can compare to his talent, nor the other masters from that magical era that created these masters from the past. In many ways I wished I had been a teenager, young adult back in the 1960's that for me, had the best epic songs, singers, groups, etc...who can top the "Blue eyed soul" of the Righteous Brothers & Elvis. Then there's Dion, and other hot smooth voiced ones like him...the there's the unrivaled mega Masters of groups like The Stones,Beatles, CCR, Led Zeppelin, Small Faces {Itchicoo(?sp) Park} the Eagles, ...the epic hit White Rabbit by Grace Slick..
Then solo artists like Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Tina (the legs) Turner...
then there's Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker, who are in a league of their own, just for their sheer unbridled performances and never forgotten uniqueness!
I could go on and on with how mind blowing the 🎶🎵 songs and singers that era produced.
Damn, I need to stop lol. Anywho, if I had been old enough in that era, I most likely be deceased by now, or too damn old to discover and realize just how amazing those many masters the 60s had, and jazzed and pleased how technology has advanced decades later that allow us to see, watch, and hear so many of them right from our homes, even though the majority have been long gone.
@voyeurette1
I'm 73 year old woman living alone. I play this and slow dance with my dish towel. What a sight to envision but this man's version is the BEST! Can't get enough. Not too old to wish I had a man my age to dance for in a fringy dress!
@kathrynralli4557
He's out there. Go dancing. My mother is 87 looking for Mr. Right, dancing 3 days a week!
@dtschuor459
I vote with the gal whose 87 year old mother still goes out.
If there isn’t anything in your area, maybe it’s gonna be up to you to find a senior gathering place and put on a sock hop?
But, I always have a gratitude for the fact that my legs still allow me to dance💝
@elizabethbeauchamp6580
Try dancing with the broom... it's fun😂!
@mrfreeland123
You dont have to be alone, your dance partner is out there doing the same thing and waiting for you
@yagsmoodley6654
Stay strong, sister.❤
@treborrenrac
73 years old, can't breathe with emphysema, can barely talk and still find myself trying to sing alone with Solomon Burke. Crazy
@chevychelios4672
Jesus loves you
@dianagreen5700
God bless you ❤️
@lizzrobb2313
Aww God love u 😥😥, I was born mid 70s, but grew up loving all the 50s, 60, 70, & now my teenageers are doing the same, can't beat the oldies