Aretha Franklin

Released: October 12, 1968

Songwriter: Aretha Franklin Teddy White

Producer: Jerry Wexler

Thank you
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen
I wonder if you would believe if I said

If I lose this dream, I don't know what I’m gonna do
If I lose this dream (This dream) I'm dreaming about for me and you

If it goes away, I might as well hang it up, 'cause I don’t know
If I have the heart or mind to make it true, to help it grow
And I only know, I only know, I only know

If I lose this dream (This dream!), it's goodbye, love and happiness
You're the one I need - I don't want a love that's second-best

There been things all of my life I wanted to do that made me blue
Help me hold onto this dream, for sometimes, dreams often come true
And they'll come true, they'll come true, for me and for you, hey

(Wait a minute, baby)

Don't let me lose this dream
Baby, baby, hold on
Don’t let me lose my dream
Baby, baby, be strong

You say that-a you believe that what I say is true (Hey, hey, hey)
And that I’m the one and only girl for you (Wait a minute, baby)
And no matter what the people say (Hey, hey, hey)
You're in my corner all the way
And I won’t lose this dream
Baby, baby, hold on
Don't let me lose my dream
Baby, baby, be strong
Don't let me... ooh, baby
Baby, baby, hold on, oh

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.

more tracks from the album

Aretha in Paris

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Aretha in Paris (1968)

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Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream (Live in Paris, 1968)Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha in Paris