Aretha Franklin

Released: June 13, 1966

Songwriter: Joy Byers

Producer: Bob Johnston

[Verse 1]
I said I didn’t need you, baby
I said I’d get along
I thought I could make it without you, baby
But I guess I’m not that strong

[Chorus]
And I didn’t know I could miss you so
Until you were gone

[Verse 2]
I said I’d get over you, baby
I said I’d be alright
Just, just when I start remembering
That all the hurt comes back in the night

[Chorus]
And I didn’t know I could miss you so
Until you were gone

[Bridge]
I tried to stay away 'cause I knew I couldn’t win
But here I am, and I’m back again
I tried to find someone else to take your place
But every time I close my eyes, I can see in, see in your face

[Verse 3]
Oh, oh, oh, I said I’d forget you
'Cause I really thought, I really thought that I could
Oh, oh, I thought I could stop loving you
I tried but it didn’t do no good

[Chorus]
And I didn’t know I could miss you so
Until you were gone

[Outro]
I said I’d get over you, baby
I said I’d be alright
But, oh, oh, just when I start remembering
It comes back in the night
Oh, oh, oh, oh, I thought I could
Oh baby

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

Take a Look

From the albums

Soul Sister (1966)
Take a Look (1967)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

Until You Were GoneAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

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