Aretha Franklin

Released: March 23, 1998

Songwriter: David Foster Gregory Charley John Winston

Producer: Narada Michael Walden

[Verse 1]
You used to tell me you loved me
You used to show me you cared
I used to be the one that you adored
But lately I don't feel you love me no more

[Pre-Chorus]
You see, I don't understand what's come over you
And I don't understand why I let you treat me so cruel
So tell me...

[Chorus]
How many times must I break down and cry?
I'm confused
My understanding was true love should never die
How many times will you kill me inside?
Any kind of fool should see the light
So why can't I?

[Verse 2]
Time after time, I have tried and tried
To give you some space and some time
But no matter what I do it is never enough
You just refuse to try to do by me right

[Pre-Chorus]
Though I know I still believe
Something's got a hold on me
Can't seem to find the strength to set myself free
So tell me...

[Chorus]
How many times must I break down and cry?
I'm confused
My understanding was true love should never die
How many times will you kill me inside?
Any kind of fool should see the light
So why can't I?

[Bridge]
I gave my heart and soul; I gave my all, you know
I deserve better, baby
Oh so much better, baby
You know it's just not fair
For you to act like just don't care
For you to act like I've done something wrong
Boy, how could you dare

[Chorus]
How many times must I break down and cry?
I'm confused
My understanding was true love should never die
How many times will you kill me inside?
Any kind of fool should see the light
Why can't I?
How many times must I break down and cry?
I'm confused
My understanding was true love should never die
How many times will you kill me inside?
Any kind of fool should see the light
But why can't I?

You're wrong, you know it

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

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