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.
Why Why Why
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me why is happiness here to stay?
And why is that shiny fortune in view?
I found my one and only you
Darlin, why? Why do my arms hold you so tight?
And why? Why does every kiss feel so right?
And why will two hearts soon be one for all times?
Why, why is my world brighter today?
Tell me why, is happiness here to stay?
Oh, why is that shiny fortune in view?
I know I found my one and only you, oh darlin'
Darling, sometimes I usually ask myself
This silly little three letter word, huh
But from the first day I met you
I realized this is what I heard
I heard bells ringin' in my heart
And it was like a mornin' glow of mist
From that very first moment you told me, you love me
To the very last sweet tender kiss
That's why my world is brighter today
That's why true happiness is here to stay
I know why I'll love you forever and always
'Cause I found my one love in you
Oh, why
Oh why, why, why, why
Oh darlin' why, why
The lyrics to Solomon Burke's song "Why Why Why" is a poetic expression of love and romance. The song is essentially about finding that one person who brings joy and happiness into one's life, and how their love can transform everything - making the world brighter, happiness staying, and fortune coming into view. The first stanza of the song lays out how the singer's life has become happier and more fulfilling since they met their significant other, and how they cannot help but hold them tight and feel every kiss feels right. The second stanza delves deeper into the singer's love for his partner as they reflect on the significance of their union and the reason they will be together forever.
The chorus repeats the questions in the first stanza, emphasizing the joy and happiness that the singer's love brings to their life. The third stanza reveals that the singer has been questioning themselves since they met their partner, yet the answer to every question was always their partner's love. The fourth stanza continues to describe how profound and meaningful their love is, the emotions it evokes, and the tenderness of every kiss.
Overall, "Why Why Why" is a song that celebrates love, encapsulating the rapture, and bliss associated with finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me why is my world brighter today?
What is making my life better today?
Tell me why is happiness here to stay?
Why do I feel like I will be happy forever?
And why is that shiny fortune in view?
What has caused my good fortune?
I found my one and only you
I have found the person I want to spend my life with
Darlin, why? Why do my arms hold you so tight?
Why do I feel the need to hold you so close?
And why? Why does every kiss feel so right?
What makes every kiss so perfect?
And why will two hearts soon be one for all times?
Why are we meant to be together forever?
I know why, love is mine
I understand that love is the reason for all of this
Darling, sometimes I usually ask myself
I often find myself asking
This silly little three letter word, huh
The word 'why', which seems so small, can hold great meaning
But from the first day I met you
Since the first day we were together
I realized this is what I heard
I knew that the answer was you
I heard bells ringin' in my heart
My heart was filled with joy
And it was like a mornin' glow of mist
I felt surrounded by love and happiness
From that very first moment you told me, you love me
The moment you said you loved me
To the very last sweet tender kiss
Up until the last time we kissed
That's why my world is brighter today
This is why my life is better now
That's why true happiness is here to stay
That's why I feel like I will be happy forever
I know why I'll love you forever and always
I understand that my love for you will last forever
'Cause I found my one love in you
Because I have found the one I love in you
Oh, why
Oh, why
Oh why, why, why, why
Continued questioning of why
Oh darlin' why, why
Asking my love why
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.