1) Albert Austin "Sonny" … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists named Sonny Burgess:
1) Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess (May 28, 1931 – August 18, 2017) was an American rockabilly guitarist and singer.
In the early 1950s, Burgess played boogie woogie music in dance halls and bars around Newport. Burgess, Kern Kennedy, Johnny Ray Hubbard, and Gerald Jackson formed a boogie-woogie band they called the Rocky Road Ramblers. In 1954, following a stint in the US Army (1951–53), Burgess re-formed the band, calling them the Moonlighters after the Silver Moon Club in Newport, where they performed regularly. After advice from record producer Sam Phillips, the group expanded to form the Pacers.
The band's first record was "We Wanna Boogie" in 1956 for Sun Records, in Memphis, about 80 miles southeast of his birthplace. The flip side was "Red Headed Woman." Both were written by Burgess. The songs have been described as "among the most raucous, energy-filled recordings released during the first flowering of rock and roll." Their onstage antics in performance were similarly described. Like other artists such as Ray Harris, Hayden Thompson, Billy Lee Riley and Warren Smith, chart success largely eluded him.
Burgess disbanded the group in 1971 but later found a new audience in Europe.
In 1990 (possibly before and afterward), Burgess toured with The Sun Rhythm Section. This group was composed of former session musicians from the Sun Recording Studio. Beside Burgess, band members included Paul Burlison (electric guitar), J.L. "Smoochy" Smith (piano), Stan Kessler (bass), Marcus Van Story (acoustic guitar & lead vocals), and D.J. Fontana on drums. Fontana was a member of Elvis Presley's band (1955-1968).
Burgess was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe in 1999. His group, now called The Legendary Pacers, was a hit that same year in a rockabilly concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. It recorded Still Rockin’ and Rollin’ in 2000, voted the best new album in the country and roots field in Europe. The group was inducted in 2002 into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers performed at the 2006 National Folk Festival in Richmond, Virginia to large, enthusiastic audiences.
Burgess hosted a weekly radio program called We Wanna Boogie with co-host June Taylor. The program, named after his first record, aired Sunday nights from 5-7pm Central Time on 91.9FM KASU in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Burgess was born on a farm near Newport, Arkansas to Albert and Esta Burgess. He graduated from Newport High School in 1948. Burgess had two brothers, and three sisters. Burgess was formerly married to Joann Adams starting in 1956, and they have two sons, Peyton and John. Between performances, Burgess lived in Newport until his death in 2017. Burgess died on August 18, 2017 at the age of 86.
2) Sonny Burgess is a country music artist, who released his debut album, When in Texas, in 2001.
A Little Bit Stronger
Sonny Burgess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you can fix
Girl I've heard those words before
I've tried everything known to a man to numb the pain
And there's one thing for sure
Chorus : I need something just a little bit stronger
Something that'll take me just a little bit higher
Whiskey never helped a lot
Go ahead, give it your best shot
'Cause I need something a little bit stronger
Thought I could ride it out
Just needed time to heal
Some things a man can't do alone
Thought I had the will
To change the way my heart feels
Baby I was wrong
Repeat Chorus
Oh, the whiskey never helped a lot
Go ahead, give it your best shot
'Cause I need something a little bit stronger
Oh I need something a little bit stronger
A little bit stronger
These lyrics from Sonny Burgess's "A Little Bit Stronger" speak to the pain of heartbreak and the search for something to help ease that pain. The singer has a broken heart and has tried everything to "numb the pain," but nothing seems to work. The person speaking has heard empty promises before of how others can fix their heart, so they need something more powerful to help them. They ask for "something just a little bit stronger," to take them "just a little bit higher" for "a little bit longer." They know that "whiskey never helped a lot," but they are still asking for something more powerful because they need something a little bit stronger.
The second verse shows the singer's struggle to heal and move on from their heartbreak. They thought they could "ride it out" and heal with time, but they soon realize that some things are too difficult to handle alone. They thought they had the willpower to change their feelings, but they were wrong. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's need for something to help them through this difficult time.
The lyrics of "A Little Bit Stronger" are relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and the struggle of trying to move on. The request for something stronger than whiskey highlights the singer's desperation and need for something more powerful to help them. The lyrics also show the power of music and how it can connect people through shared experiences of heartbreak and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got this broken heart
I am experiencing emotional pain due to a broken heart
You say you can fix
You claim to have the ability to heal my heart
Girl I've heard those words before
I have been promised healing many times in the past, without results
I've tried everything known to a man to numb the pain
I have attempted every method to alleviate my emotional pain, but none have been successful
And there's one thing for sure
I am certain of one thing
Chorus: I need something just a little bit stronger
I require a stronger method to overcome my emotional pain
Something that'll take me just a little bit higher
I require a method that will elevate me from my current state
For a little bit longer
I require a continuous and prolonged solution to my emotional pain
Whiskey never helped a lot
Alcohol has never been an effective remedy for me
Go ahead, give it your best shot
I am willing to try any suggestion, regardless of past failures
'Cause I need something a little bit stronger
I require a solution more powerful than what has previously been attempted
Thought I could ride it out
I believed that time alone would cure my emotional pain
Just needed time to heal
I required a period of time to recover from my emotional pain
Some things a man can't do alone
Some problems cannot be solved without external assistance
Thought I had the will
I believed that I had the determination to overcome my emotional pain
To change the way my heart feels
To alter my emotional state and no longer experience heartbreak
Baby I was wrong
My previous belief was incorrect
Repeat Chorus
The need for a stronger solution to my emotional pain is reiterated
Oh, the whiskey never helped a lot
The inefficacy of alcohol as a remedy is reinforced
Oh I need something a little bit stronger
The need for a more powerful solution to my emotional pain is reiterated
A little bit stronger
A solution that is more effective and powerful than previous attempts
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.