Aretha Franklin

Released: September 16, 2003

Featuring: Mary J. Blige

Songwriter: Troy Taylor Mary J. Blige Bruce Miller Earl Klugh

Producer: Troy Taylor

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

[Verse 1: Aretha Franklin]
I know it gets hard sometimes
To find a little piece of mind
Gotta stay focused, gotta stay strong
All my people, hold on
Do what you feel inside
I know it hurts but don't cry
Life is gonna go on
With or without you, hold on

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

[Verse 2: Aretha Franklin]
Taking care of home and family
It's sometimes hard on your sanity
Thinking what about my fantasy
Will my dreams come true?
If I stay emotionless
Release myself from all the stress
Don't blame it all on you
To myself, I'll be true

[Bridge: Aretha Franklin]
We trade in our stability
For all types of insecurities
Now tell me what's to become of me
If I let myself stress
Every time life throws me a test

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

[Bridge: Aretha Franklin]
We trade in our stability
For all types of insecurities
Now tell me what is to become of me
If I let myself stress
Every time life throws me a test

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

[Interlude: Aretha Franklin + (Mary J. Blige)]
Do whatcha gotta do, yeah now
You gotta have faith in that higher power
Oh yeah, in that almighty power, Lord Jesus
(Do whatcha gotta do)

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Holdin' on, holdin' on, holdin' on
Holdin' on to something true
To what feels good to you
Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

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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