Aretha Franklin

Released: February 27, 1961

Songwriter: J. Leslie McFarland

Producer: Ray Bryant

[Verse 1]
Tell me if you love me
Right now
Tell me if you want me
Right now
You make me think you like it when we kiss
But still you never say so
So if you're only playing
Let´s stop
Because you're nearly blowing my top
And if you can say you do
But if you don't
Baby, tell me right now

[Bridge]
You've got a smile I love
And you have a style I love
And your caress is all my heart is dreaming of
But if you keep stalling by the time we click
I'll be turning gray and you'll be walking with a stick

[Verse 2]
So if we're gonna make it
Let's start
Because you're overworking my heart
I confess that I'm with you
And you with me
But tell me right now

[Bridge]
You've got, you've got the smile I love
And God knows you have a style I love
And your caress is all my heart is dreaming of
But if you keep stalling by the time we click
I'll be turning gray and you'll be walking with a stick

[Outro]
So if we're going to make it
We've gotta start
Because you're overworking my heart
And you're the guy that I love
That I can't deny
And all you ever give me
Is just an alibi
And baby I've decided now it's do or die
So tell me if you love me
Oh, tell me if you love me
Oh, I want to know now
I want to know now
Yes, right now
Mmm-hmm

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

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo

From the album

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo (1961)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

Right NowAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo