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.
You Can Make It If You Try
Solomon Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can make it if you try
You're gonna make it if you try
Oh, baby you're gonna make it if you try
Sometimes you have to cry
They tell me sometimes you just wanna sigh
Makes me feel so bad sometimes
You feel like you wanna lay down and die
If your baby treats you wrong
Don't run around being the fool
Remember my friends everybody can't win
You know there's sometime you gotta lose
You're gonna make it if you try
They've always told me that
You can make it if you try right now
I'm gonna make it if I try help mе
Help me make it if I try
The lyrics to Solomon Burke's song "You Can Make It If You Try" convey a message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The repetition of the lines "You can make it if you try" and "You're gonna make it if you try" emphasizes the belief that success is attainable with effort and determination.
The line "Sometimes you have to cry" acknowledges that life can be difficult and filled with hardship. It suggests that it's natural to experience moments of sadness or frustration, such as wanting to sigh. The reference to feeling bad and wanting to lay down and die reflects a sense of despair and hopelessness.
However, the song encourages the listener not to give up. It reassures that despite the challenges and negative emotions, they have the ability to overcome and succeed. The phrase "But you can make it if you try" serves as a reminder that even when faced with adversity, perseverance is key.
In the subsequent verses, the song offers advice and perspective. It cautions against becoming a fool by engaging in destructive behavior or seeking revenge when one's partner mistreats them. It highlights the importance of understanding that everyone cannot always win and that losing is a part of life.
The repetition of "You're gonna make it if you try" reinforces the underlying message of the song, empowering the listener to believe in their own capabilities. It suggests that with determination and perseverance, they can overcome challenges and obstacles. The final plea, "Help me make it if I try," indicates a request for support and encouragement from others, highlighting the importance of a collective effort in achieving success.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Can Make It If You Try" encourage resilience, offering hope in times of difficulty and reminding listeners of their own strength and potential for triumph.
Line by Line Meaning
You can make it if you try
Believe in yourself and put in the effort, and you will be able to succeed
You're gonna make it if you try
With determination and perseverance, you will achieve your goals
Oh, baby you're gonna make it if you try
Hey, my dear, if you give it your all, you'll certainly succeed
Sometimes you have to cry
There are moments when it's necessary to express your emotions through tears
They tell me sometimes you just wanna sigh
Others say there are moments when you feel the need to let out a deep breath
Makes me feel so bad sometimes
It can be quite distressing at times
You feel like you wanna lay down and die
You may experience moments when you feel utterly defeated and hopeless
But you can make it if you try
However, if you persevere and put in the effort, you'll be able to overcome those feelings
If your baby treats you wrong
If your loved one mistreats you
Don't run around being the fool
Don't act foolishly or make unwise decisions in response
Remember my friends everybody can't win
Keep in mind, my friends, that not everyone can achieve victory
You know there's sometime you gotta lose
There are occasions where you must accept defeat
They've always told me that
People have consistently shared this advice with me
You can make it if you try right now
At this very moment, you have the ability to succeed if you put in the effort
I'm gonna make it if I try help me
I, too, will succeed if I make the effort. Please assist me
Help me make it if I try
Assist me in achieving success through my efforts
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind