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.
When A Man Loves A Woman
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else
He’d trade your world for the good thing he’s found
If she is bad, he can’t see it, she can do no wrong
He'll turn his back on his best friend if she puts him down
When a man loves a woman he spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to everything he needs
If she'll say that’s the way it's gotta be
Oh, this man loves this woman
I give everything I have
Trying to hold on to her sweet fine precious love
Baby please don’t make me feel so bad
When a man loves a woman
Deep down inside his soul she can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool, he’s the last one to know
Lovin' eyes always too blind to see
When a man loves a woman he can do her no wrong
He can only love one woman at a time
When a man loves a woman he got to treat that woman right
If he don't he'll lose that woman
That woman surely someday'll be mine
When a man loves a woman he got to do the best he can
Love her and keep her and treat her in every way
When a man loves a woman he should make that sacrifice
Promise he got to give to her his life
Solomon Burke’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” speaks volumes on the devotion and sacrifice that come with being in love. The song delves into the complexities of a man’s love for a woman, and how it can become all-encompassing, causing him to abandon friends and possessions just to hold onto the love he’s found. The lyrics convey that a man in love is willing to make all sorts of sacrifices, even something as fundamental as shelter and comfort, if it means staying with the woman he loves.
The lyrics also touch upon the vulnerability that accompanies love. A man can do no wrong when he loves a woman, and even if she’s bringing him misery, he’ll still love her. His eyes are always too blind to see that he’s being played for a fool, and he can’t keep his mind on anything else besides his love. Ultimately, the song speaks about how love isn’t just an emotion but a commitment. A man in love must treat his woman in every way, making her happiness his life’s promise.
Line by Line Meaning
When a man loves a woman
The start of a declaration of the unique and pure love of a man towards a specific woman.
Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else
The man's feelings for the woman take over his mind and remain an eternal preoccupation.
He’d trade your world for the good thing he’s found
The most valuable thing the man has found is the love of this particular woman, which he values above all else, even the world.
If she is bad, he can’t see it, she can do no wrong
The man is unable to see any negative qualities in the woman he loves because of his affection and devotion to her.
He'll turn his back on his best friend if she puts him down
The man is prioritizing his devotion and loyalty to his woman above his friendship, and will support and defend her against anyone who criticizes or attacks her.
When a man loves a woman he spend his very last dime
The man is so driven by his love for the woman that he is willing to expend all his resources and wealth to keep her in his life.
Trying to hold on to everything he needs
The man will make every effort to fulfill the woman's every need and desire, doing everything in his power to keep her happy and satisfied.
He’ll give all of his comforts just to sleep out in the rain
If the woman demands it of him, the man will sacrifice even his basic needs and comforts, such as shelter and warmth, just to make her happy.
If she'll say that’s the way it's gotta be
The man will conform to the woman's wishes and desires, putting her needs before his own.
Oh, this man loves this woman
A reaffirmation of the depth and intensity of the man's love for the woman mentioned throughout the song.
I give everything I have
The man is willing to give up all his possessions, wealth and comfort to appease the love of this specific woman.
Trying to hold on to her sweet fine precious love
The man is determined to hold onto the woman's love, due to its immense value to him.
Baby please don’t make me feel so bad
The man is pleading with the woman not to hurt him or cause him pain because of his love for her.
Deep down inside his soul she can bring him such misery
The woman's love can impact the man deeply, bringing with it both great joy and immense pain.
If she plays him for a fool, he’s the last one to know
The man's love for the woman blinds him to the possibility of her betrayal or deceit, making him a potential target for emotional manipulation and exploitation.
Lovin' eyes always too blind to see
The man's love makes him unable or unwilling to see the woman's flaws and shortcomings, no matter how obvious they may be.
When a man loves a woman he can do her no wrong
When a man is truly in love with a woman, his actions are governed by his love, and he is incapable of wrongdoing against her.
He can only love one woman at a time
The man can only devote his love and affection to one woman, the one he truly loves, and not to any other woman.
When a man loves a woman he got to treat that woman right
The man is duty-bound to treat the woman he loves with respect, kindness, and devotion, and to avoid betraying her trust and love.
If he don't he'll lose that woman
If the man fails to treat the woman he loves with the respect and devotion she deserves, he runs the risk of permanent loss of her love, and she may leave him.
That woman surely someday'll be mine
The man is confident that, given the depth of his love and devotion, the woman he loves will eventually return his love and be his forever.
When a man loves a woman he got to do the best he can
The man is responsible for giving his all, and his best to the woman he loves, and nothing less.
Love her and keep her and treat her in every way
The man is to demonstrate his love for the woman at all times and in every way possible, treating her with the utmost respect, devotion and kindness.
When a man loves a woman he should make that sacrifice
The man is expected to make great personal sacrifices for the woman he truly loves, placing her interests and needs above his own.
Promise he got to give to her his life
The man must pledge his life to the woman he loves, becoming devoted to her and always ensuring that she is happy and loved.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Calvin Houston Lewis, Andrew James Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind