Out of all of Aretha Franklin’s lovely songs, this is one of the most lovely. The serenity and grace of her singing really bursts through here.
Borne along by a whimsical guitar riff and a stately bass, the refinement of the strings complements her own composed and controlled manner.
When the song calls for a more forceful delivery at its zenith, her passionate and strong voice is more than up to the challenge.
The lyrics are about how she’s broken up with someone, and regrets it despite knowing that, deep down, it was for the best.
The song predates her Atlantic Records signing, and although Columbia were a big label, this song is actually something of a rarity in its original pressing. It was never released on any of her studio albums.
It was released in 1965 as a single, backed with “I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby’s Face”.