Aretha Franklin

Released: January 24, 1972

Songwriter: Jerry Butler Otis Redding

Producer: Arif Mardin Jerry Wexler Tom Dowd

[Intro]
I can't do it, baby
I can't do it, baby
I can't do it, baby
I can't do it, baby
I can't do it, baby
You hurt my feelings asking me that
I can't do it, baby
Don't ask me that no more, baby, can't do it
I can't do it, baby
I swear I can't do it, baby
I can't do it, baby
I've been loving you too long, I don't wanna stop now
I've been loving you much too long to stop now, ooh

[Verse]
You're tired, and you want to be free (Yeah)
But ah baby, your love has become a habit to me
Oh, I've been loving and loving and loving and loving and loving you too long
And I ain't gonna stop now (Don't wanna stop now)
I don't wanna do it (Don't wanna stop)

[Bridge]
Baby, with you in my life, my life has been so wonderful
I don't wanna stop now
You laid it on me so good I just cannot stop, yeah

[Outro]
You're tired, and your love is growing cold (So funky now)
But my love is, yes, as our affair grows old
I've been loving and loving and loving you too long, baby
You must be crazy if you think I'm gonna stop now
(Don't wanna stop, no)
I said I can't stop now (Don't wanna stop, no)
I think I look so good to you no more
(Don't wanna stop, no)
And I think I need what you want, baby, baby
(Just can't do it, baby)
Yeah, yeah
(Just can't do it, baby)
I can't do it, I can't do it
I tried, I tried, yes I have

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

Young, Gifted and Black

From the album

Young, Gifted and Black (1972)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

I’ve Been Loving You Too LongAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Young, Gifted and Black