Aretha Franklin

[Verse 1]
When I think of Johnny
I remember the spring
I remember his laughter
And the way he would sing

[Chorus]
Oh, how I loved Johnny
With my heart I loved Johnny
Oh, how I loved Johnny
But he never knew

[Verse 2]
I prayed that he’d travel
Through the winter’s wild storm
And he’d kiss me and hold me
So close and so warm

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
He left with leaves falling
Falling dead to the ground
And no more will I ever
Hear his sweet laugh, laughing sound

[Outro]
Oh, how I loved Johnny [x3]
But he never, ever knew
He never knew
Never knew
Never

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

Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions

From the albums

Sweet Bitter Love (1970)
Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions (2011)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

JohnnyAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions