Aretha Franklin

Released: November 3, 1986

Songwriter: Anukampa Walden Preston Glass Jeffrey Cohen Narada Michael Walden

Producer: Narada Michael Walden

[Intro]
All this time, I couldn't shake your memory
And I never knew the sweetest love was the first
So what am I supposed to do about this curse?
Oh, baby, I've got you to blame
And I'm calling, calling out your name

Oh, he was so fine
Jimmy Lee, oh, he was so fine
Jimmy, Jimmy Lee
(Jimmy Lee)
Jimmy, Jimmy Lee
(Jimmy Lee)

[Verse 1]
Find me rushing off to school every morning
Never had a care
Acting crazy, always laughing when I'm running
'Cause I knew you'd meet me when I got there
Stealing kisses in the hall before the first bell
You smelled so fine
Though we'd just met I guess you knew me so well
You had the number to my heart line

[Pre-Chorus]
(Maybe he knew his stuff)
Well, just between you and me
(Maybe you weren't enough)
He was the first one
(Maybe he'd seen enough)
He stole my heart
And he ran like a bandit
I don't understand it

[Chorus]
Jimmy Lee, this one's for me
And I'll always remember
History, biology, and that magical December, ooh boy
Jimmy Lee, where can you be?
If this song ever finds you
Won't you please explain to me
Why you left me behind you, yeah

[Post-Chorus]
(Jimmy Lee) Jimmy

[Verse 2]
On the average twice a week I think I see you
On some avenue
Someone laughs or shakes his head they way you used to
I guess I got myself a loose screw
I grew up and had my share of adventure
Well, I've had some fun (Oh, I've had fun)
But you never need to question my intentions
'Cause each guy is just another rerun

[Pre-Chorus]
(Maybe he knew his stuff)
Just between you and me
(Maybe you weren't enough)
He was the first one
(Maybe he'd seen enough)
He stole my heart
And he ran like a bandit
I don't understand it, hey, hey

[Chorus]
Jimmy Lee, this one's for me
And I'll always, always remember
History, biology, and that magical, oh, December
Jimmy Lee, where can you be?
If this song ever finds you, yeah yeah yeah
Won't you please explain to me
Why you left me, oh, behind you

[Outro]
Jimmy Lee, this one's for me
(Shadeedeedeedee, oh oh oh oh oh, hey Jimmy, hey Jimmy)

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

Greatest Hits 1980-1994

From the albums

Aretha (1986) (1986)
Greatest Hits 1980-1994 (1994)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

Jimmy LeeAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Greatest Hits 1980-1994