The Essential Aretha

Aretha Franklin The Essential Aretha Lyrics
1.Nobody Like You(feat. Robert Mersey)

Lyricist:James ClevelandRobert Mersey
Writer(s):James Cleveland
Mixing:Robert Mersey

I've looked around all over town
And I'm so lonely and so blue
I've looked around and all over
But I can't find nobody like you you you yeah

Now it's all so lonely since you went away
And I don't know what to do
I've looked around all over over
I just can't find nobody nobody like you

Tears seem to fall when I'm away oh when I'm away from you
And I've tried to understand the reason why
And now I know it's all it's all because I love you I love you
so much
My heart is yours until the day that I die

And oh why don't you hold me
Hold me and never never let me go?
Why don't you why don't you love me love me
And vanish all thoughts of sorrow?
I love you I love you just can't find nobody like you


2.Once In A While

Lyricist:L. C. CookeBobby Scott
Writer(s):L. C. Cooke
Mixing:Bobby Scott

My soul can't last my soul can't last

Once in a while I will dream dear
Knowin' dreams will seldom come true
Yes but once in a while I will dream dear
And I hope you'll be thinkin' of me too

Yes I must confess that I will miss you
Like the stars would miss the sky
Like a whale would miss its water
If it should ever happen to run dry

Although I cried when you left me
Yes I cried for a year and a day
You know my soul can't last my soul just can't last
Please answer me right away

You know that my soul just can't last
My my my my my soul just can't last
Soul just can't last please answer me please answer me
I said that my soul just can't last


3.Maybe I' m A Fool

Lyricist:J. L. McFarlandJ. Leslie McFarland
Writer(s):J. L. McFarland
Mixing:J. Leslie McFarland

Maybe I'm a fool for loving you so and
Maybe maybe I'm a fool I don't I don't really know
But I can't I can't stop loving you darling oh yes
Though I tried oh yes

And maybe maybe your goodbye was so mean so mean and unfair
Though you made me cry my love's still there
And I know I know that I'll long for your kisses oh
Until I die oh yes until I die

Well I said all of my friends all of my friends have told me
They said 'Aretha why don't you find
You really need to find somebody new' yeah oh oh yeah
But what they don't know
What they just don't know is in my heart
I'd be wishing oh that that someone was you

So oh it's all for you to decide
If you should decide to trap me once more
All you got to do all you got to do is knock on my door
And I'll say I'll say that I've taken you back

Yeah taking you back would be foolish
Then maybe oh maybe I'm a fool
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah


4.Muddy Water


5.Bill Bailey, Won' t You Please Come Home ?(Alternate Version)


6.Hard Times(No One Knows Better Than I)

Lyricist:Ray CharlesRobert Mersey
Writer(s):Ray Charles
Mixing:Robert Mersey

They call it hard times yeah yeah
Oh oh yeah yeah hmm
Oh one more time yeah
One more one more one more time yeah oh hmm yeah
said it was high time that I feel alright
You know yeah yeah yeah


7.Today I Sing The Blues

Lyricist:CURTIS LEWIS
Writer(s):CURTIS LEWIS
Mixing:CURTIS LEWIS

Without a word of warnin' blues
walked in this mornin'
and circled 'round my lonely room.

i didn't know why i had that sad
'n lonely feelin' until my baby called
and said we were through, hooo.

for yesterday this time
i sang a lovesong but today
... i'm singing the blues.

Hmmmm...

strikes me kinda funny how love can be this way
we were lovin' 'til last night honey, yeah.
i'm alone again today

and it strikes me kinda funny
how fate can be unfair
that i come right on the losin' end
in every, every love affair!

yes it must be, it must be meant for me
that i should be the one,
be the one to always lose, hooo.

for yesterday!
yesterday this time i'd sing a love song whoaoohhh!
yeah, but right now - im singin the blues!
who-o-oh ye-he-heah! -- today i sing the blues


8.Won' t Be Long(feat. The Ray Bryant Combo)

Lyricist:J. Leslie McFarlandCURTIS LEWIS
Writer(s):J. Leslie McFarland
Mixing:CURTIS LEWIS

Baby here I am
By the railroad track
Waiting for my baby
He's coming back

Coming back to me
On the 503
And I won't be long
No I won't be long

I get so lonesome
Since the man has been gone
There ain't a thing worth mentioning
Nothing been going on

And that's why I know
When the whistle blows
Yeah that I won't be long
No no I won't be long

My daddy told me
When he said goodbye yes he did
'I'll be back baby
Baby bye and bye'

And that's why I waited
So doggone long yeah
Can't you see how happy I am?
Because the man is coming home

So now here I be
By the railroad track
Oh waiting for my baby
He's coming back

Coming back to me
On the 503
Yeah and I won't be long
No no I won't be long

I ain't had no loving
Since you know when
He's a long gone rooster
And I'm a lonesome hen

And that's why I'm sure
When the whistle blows
Yeah that I won't be long
No no I won't be long

I'm so excited
My knees are shaking yeah
Mr. Engineer
Don't you keep me waiting

Hear me telling you
Hurry hurry hurry hurry
Hurry hurry hurry hurry

Baby here I am
Oh by the railroad track
Waiting for my baby
He's coming back

Coming back to me
Lord on the 503
Yeah and I won't be long
No I won't be long

Yeah I know
When the whistle blows
Hey that I won't be long
No no I won't be long


9.Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning

Lyricist:T. DelaneyP. DelaneyRobert Mersey
Writer(s):P. DelaneyT. Delaney
Mixing:Robert Mersey

Nobody knows nobody knows
The way I feel this morning
I said nobody knows
The way I feel this morning

Well if I only had my way
Let me tell you that
The graveyard would be the place
Where my man would lay
Nobody nobody knows
The way I feel this morning

Well I pawned everything
Pawned everything I had this morning
Everything everything
Said that I pawned everything
Everything that I had this morning yes I did

I pawned my ring
My gold watch and chain
Let me tell you I mighta pawned myself
But I've got just a just a little bit of shame
Nobody knows nobody knows
The way I feel this morning

Well I feel like screaming
Screaming and crying this morning
Yeah this morning
Said that I feel like I could scream and cry
Oh yes I do scream and cry this morning
Screaming this morning

I feel like I could scream and cry
Don't you know I'm just a little too cold hearted
I'd I'd rather lay right down here and die
Nobody nobody knows nobody understands
How I really really feel this morning
Oh early this morning

And I'm and I'm
And I'm leaving here leaving
Leaving here on a southbound train this morning
Oh yes I am early this morning

Said that I'm oh oh oh yeah
I'm leaving here yeah yeah
Leaving here on a southbound train
This morning oh yes I am
I'm going all the way south

Well I am leaving here
Leaving here on a southbound train
And let me tell you that nothing is
Ever gonna bring your sweet sweet baby back again
Nobody nobody knows nobody knows
The way I feel this morn morning morning


10.Evil Gal Blues


11.Lee Cross


12.Walk On By

Lyricist:Hal DavidBurt Bacharach
Writer(s):Burt BacharachHal David
Aretha Franklin
(Bandits)

If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by
Make believe
That you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve
In private 'cause each time I see you
I break down and cry
And walk on by(don't stop)
And walk on by(don't stop)
And walk on by

I just can't get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by
And walk on by
And walk by(don't stop)

Walk on by, walk on by
Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by(don't stop)
And walk on by(don't stop)
And walk by(don't stop)


13.I Wonder(Where Are You Tonight)

Lyricist:Aretha FranklinTed WhiteRobert Mersey
Writer(s):Aretha FranklinTed White
Mixing:Robert Mersey

Where are you tonight?
Are you lonely like I am tonight?
Have we lied to each other about this affair?
If so don't make me suffer just tell me you still care

Have you cried tears like I have at all?
And do you wonder as I do should I call?
I'll hurt for a lifetime not knowing my fate
Is there still any hope here or am I too late?

I wonder I wonder
Where are you tonight?
Are you painting the town while I just sit around?
It's so wrong when you know our love is so right

Have you cried tears like I have at all?
And do you wonder as I do should I call?
I'll hurt for a lifetime not knowing my fate
Is there still any hope here or am I too late?

I wonder I wonder
Where are you tonight?
I wonder I wonder
Where are you tonight?


14.God Bless The Child


15.Blue Holiday(feat. Robert Mersey)


16.Looking Through A Tear


17.Tiny Sparrow


18.Here Today And Gone Tomorrow


19.Little Brown Book


20.Without The One You Love

Lyricist:Aretha Franklin
Writer(s):Aretha Franklin

Baby I need your good lovin'
Got to have your love right now baby
So come and fill my empty arms
And make my life worthwhile

Because I'm not livin' baby I only exist
I'll never laugh I'll never smile no more
Don't care if I stay like this because

Without the one you love life is not worthwhile
Without your love my dear I'm like a fatherless child
So come and fill my empty arms
And make my life worthwhile

When I feel the hurt comin' on
I stop and cry like I'm cryin'
(Right now)
People ask why would a grown man cry
I drop my head and I sigh and reply

Without the one you love life is not worthwhile
Without your love my dear I'm like a fatherless child
So come and fill my empty arms
And make my life worthwhile

(Baby I need your good lovin')
Sometimes I feel like a wanderer
(Got to have your love right now)
Searching for peace within

(Baby I need your good lovin')
I need you my darling
(Got to have your love right now)
Like a lost soul needs a friend

So come and fill my empty arms
And fill my empty life

(Baby I need your good lovin')
Nobody knows the emptiness I feel
(Got to have your love right now)
And I feel it

(Baby I need your good lovin')
Nobody knows the loneliness I feel
(Got to have your love right now)
And I feel it because

Without the one you love life is not worthwhile
Without your love my dear I'm like a fatherless child
So come and fill my empty arms
And make my life worthwhile


21.This Bitter Earth


22.Just For A Thrill

Lyricist:Lillian ArmstrongDon Raye
Writer(s):Don RayeLillian Armstrong

Just for a thrill
You changed the sunshine to rain
And just for a thrill
You filled my heart with so much pain

To me you were my pride and joy
Oh but to you I was merely a toy
A plaything a plaything a plaything
That you could toss around at will

And just for a thrill a thrill a thrill
You made my life you made my life one sad song
And just for a thrill
You took me by the hand and you just led ooh led me along

And although you're free
I know you're havin' fun
Oh but to me and in my heart
You'll still be the only one

Because you oh you made my
Heart stand still yeah
thrill thrill yeah


23.Skylark(feat. Robert Mersey)

Lyricist:Hoagy CarmichaelJohnny Mercer
Writer(s):Hoagy CarmichaelJohnny Mercer

Skylark have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?

Skylark have you seen a valley green with spring?
Where my heart can go journeying
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossomed covered lane

And in your lonely flight
Oh haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music yes faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon sad as a gypsy serenading the moon

Skylark oh I don't know if you can find these things
Oh but my heart my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?


24.Skylark(Alternate Version)

Lyricist:J. MercerH. Carmichael
Writer(s):H. CarmichaelJ. Mercer

Skylark have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?

Skylark have you seen a valley green with spring?
Where my heart can go journeying
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossomed covered lane

And in your lonely flight
Oh haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music yes faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon sad as a gypsy serenading the moon

Skylark oh I don't know if you can find these things
Oh but my heart my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?


25.Trouble In Mind

Lyricist:Richard JonesBelford C. Hendricks
Writer(s):Richard Jones
Mixing:Belford C. Hendricks

Trouble in mind
Yes I'm blue
But I won't be blue always
Sun is gonna shine
In my back door someday

Trouble in mind
Yes its true
I have almost lost my mind
Never had so much trouble
In my life before

If it don't stop
I'm going right on down to the river
I'm gonna to take my easy chair
And if the blues don't get me
I'm gonna rock on away from here

Trouble in mind
Yes its true
I have almost lost my mind
Never had so much trouble
In my life before

If it don't stop
I'm going right on down to the river
I'm gonna to take my easy chair
And if the blues don't get me
I'm gonna rock on away from here

You better believe me
I'm trouble in mind
Oh yes its true
I have almost lost my mind
Never had so much trouble
In my young life before

If it don't stop
I'm going right on down to the river
I'm gonna to take my easy chair
And if the blues don't get me
I'm gonna rock on away from here

Say it man I'm trouble in mind
Yes I'm blue
But I just refuse to be blue always
The sun is gonna shine
In my back door someday

I said I it is I know it is
Sun is gonna shine in my back door someday
Well I said that I believe that the
Sun is gonna shine in my back door someday
Oh trouble in mind


26.Runnin' Out Of Fools

Lyricist:Eddie SnyderRichard AhlertBelford C. Hendricks
Writer(s):Eddie SnyderRichard Ahlert
Mixing:Belford C. Hendricks

Sure you haven't got the wrong number
You sure its me you wanna talk to tonight?
Everyone in town's got your number
Everybody's got you pegged right

Is that why yu got in touch with me?
I guess you must be runnin' out of fools

When you went and left me there crying
Your goodbye was even colder than ice
It didn't bother you I was crying
And now you wanna break my heart twice

Is that why you got in touch with me?
I guess you must be runnin' out of fools

Guess you got back(guess you got)
To my name
In your little black book

Well, listen
Tell you what(tell you what)
Bet you forgot(you forgot)
How I even look

So go ahead with all your sweet talking
Go ahead for all the good it can do
Have yourself a dime's worth of talking
And then I'm gonna hang right up on you

'Cause this time, you're not
You're not getting through to me
I guess you must be runnin' out of fools

Even fools like me
Even fools like me
I said you're running out of fools
Even old fools like me


27.Drinking Again


28.Laughing On The Outside(Crying On The Inside)(feat. Robert Mersey)


Lyricist:Bernie WayneBen RaleighRobert Mersey
Writer(s):Ben RaleighBernie Wayne
Mixing:Robert Mersey

The crowd sees me out dancing
Carefree and romancing
Oh I'm happy with my someone new

I'm laughing on the outside
Crying on the inside
'Cause I'm still in love with you

They see me night and daytime
Oh I'm having such a **** time
But they don't know what I go through

I'm laughing on the outside
Crying on the inside
'Cause I'm still in love with you

No one knows it's just a pose
Pretending I'm glad we're apart
And when I cry my eyes are dry
Oh the tears are in my heart

So darling can't we make up?
Ever ever since our breakup
Make believe is all I do

I'm laughing on the outside
Crying on the inside
'Cause I'm still in love with you

I'm still laughing on the outside
But everyday I'm crying on the inside
Because I'm still still in love with you


29.What A Diff' rence A Day Made


30.Soulville(feat. Robert Mersey)

Lyricist:Dinah WashingtonTitus TurnerMorris LevyHenry GloverRobert
Mersey
Writer(s):Dinah WashingtonHenry GloverMorris LevyTitus Turner
Mixing:Robert Mersey

Soulville, Soulville
Come on and
Show me the way
To get to Soulville, baby
Show me the way to go home
(The way to go home)
Show me the way
To get to Soulville, baby
Oh, that's where I belong
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Show me the way
To get to Soulville, baby
Show me the way to go home
(The way to go home)
Show me the way
To get to Soulville, baby
Oh, that's where I belong
I'm gonna see some soul folks
Who know all the tricks
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
I'm gonna eat soul food
Well, now, it'll make you limber
It'll make you quick, it'll make you twist
Over the candlestick
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Going to Soulville, honey
Show me the way to go home
(The way to go home)
Show me the way to
Get to Soulville, honey
Oh, that's where I belong
Come on and lead me
Right on down to Soulville
Right on down to Soulville
I wanna go down to Soulville
Right on down, yeah
Soul folks who
Know all the tricks
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
I'm gonna eat soul food
Well, now, it'll make you limber, yes, it will
It'll make you quick, it'll make you monkey
Over the candlestick
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ooh, Soulville, baby
Show me the way to go home
(The way to go home)
Lead me to Soulville, baby
Oh, that's where I belong
Come on and lead me
Right on down to Soulville
Right on down to Soulville
Take me, honey
Right on down to Soulville
I gotta make a phone call
Right on down to Soulville
Oh, lead me, right on down
Lead me right on down
Talking 'bout the candied sweets
Down in Soulville
I'm talking 'bout the black eyed peas
Down in Soulville, oh, yeah
Yes Sir, down in Soulville


31.You' ll Lose A Good Thing


32.Take A Look

Lyricist:C. OtisBelford C. Hendricks
Writer(s):C. Otis
Mixing:Belford C. Hendricks

Take a look in the mirror
Look at yourself
But don't you look too close
'Cause you just might see
The person that you hate the most

Lord what's happenin'
To this human race?
I can't even see
One friendly face

Brothers fight brothers
And sisters wink their eyes
While silver tongues
Bear fruits of poison lies

Just take a look
At your children born innocent
Every boy and every girl
Denyin' themselves a real chance
To build a better world

Dear Lord dear Lord
What's happenin'
To Your precious dream?
It's washin' away
On a bloody bloody stream

Take a look at Your children
Before it's too late
And tell them nobody wins
When the prize is hate


33.Cry Like A Baby


34.I Wish I Didn' t Love You So


35.Only The Lonely


36.People


37.Mockingbird

Lyricist:Charlie FoxxInez Foxx
Writer(s):Charlie FoxxInez Foxx

Mock(yeah)
Ing(Yeah)
Bird(Yeah)
Yeah(Yeah)
Mockin'bird, now

Everybody have you heard
He's gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
He's gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don't shine
He's gonna surely break this heart of mine
And that's why I keep on tellin' everybody
Say yeah, yeah whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh

Hear me now and understand
He's gonna find me some piece of mind
And if that piece of mind won't stay
I'm gonna find myself a better way
And if that better way ain't so
I'll ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that's why I keep on shoutin' in your ear
Say yeah, yeah whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh

Now everybody, have you heard
She's gonna buy me a mockingbird
Yeah if that mockingbird don't sing
She's gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
Yes, it'll surely break this heart of mine
And there's a reason why I keep on tellin' everybody
Say yeah, yeah whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh


Listen now and understand
Se's gonna find me some piece of mind
Yeah if that piece of mind won't stay
I'm gonna get myself a better way
I might rise above, I might go below
Ride with the ride and go with the flow
And that's the reason why I keep on shoutin' in your ear

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, now, now. Baby


38.Until You Were Gone


39.My Coloring Book


40.Try A Little Tenderness

Lyricist:Harry WoodsJimmy CampbellReginald Connelly
Writer(s):Harry WoodsJimmy CampbellReginald Connelly

I may get weary
Women do geat weary
Wearing the same shabby dress
But to on who's weary
Try a little
Try a little tenderness

Oh, oh, oh
I may be waiting
Just anticipating
All of the things
I may never possess


Mmm, but while I'm waiting
Try a little
Try a little tenderness

I may be, I may be sentimental
But I wanna say
That I've had my griefs
Oh, and I've had my cares

And just a good word
Soft and gentle
Makes it, makes it easier
Easier to bear

Now, I might forget it
Oh, but don't let me forget it
Love's all ym whole
Whole happiness

Mmm, and it's so, so easy
Try a little
Oh, try a little tenderness
Tender, tender, tenderness