Only the Strong Survive

Jerry Butler

About Only the Strong Survive

"Only the Strong Survive" is a song written by Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and originally sung in 1968 by Jerry Butler, released on his album The Ice Man Cometh. It was the most successful single of his career, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was #1 for two weeks on the Billboard Black Singles Chart, in March and April 1969, respectively."Only the Strong Survive" was the first of two singles which were platinum certified by the RIAA, selling over a million copies (the second was "Ain't Understanding Mellow" in 1972). Elvis Presley (1969) and Billy Paul (1977) also recorded versions of this song. In the UK, Billy Paul's version was released on the Philadelphia International label (PIR 5699). It entered the singles charts on November 17, 1977, had a chart life of seven weeks & a peak position of No. 33. Another version of this song was recorded by The Trammps in the Netherlands in 2003. It sounds very similar to Billy Paul's version. The song appears on the compilation album Only The Strong Survive (Sony), which oddly enough shows the remaining four group members on the cover. There's also an extended clubmix of this song on this CD. The clubmix was produced by Maas and Van der Weyde. 


Year:
1982
2:36
85 

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I remember, my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mama had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her saying it

Boy, oh, I see you're sitting out there all alone
Cryin' your eyes out
'Cause the woman that you love has gone
There's gonna be, there's gonna be
A whole lot of trouble in your life
So listen to me get up off of your knees
'Cause only the strong survive

That's what she said
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive
You've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
Don't go, all around with your head hung down

I wouldn't let that little girl
No, I wouldn't let her know
That she made me feel like a clown
There's a whole lot a girl
Lookin' for a good man like you
Oh, but you'll never meet them if you give up now
And say, your life is through

Then she said it
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive
You've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand

So I am telling you right now
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive
You've got to be strong, you'd better hold on

Don't worry about it
Don't you know that things are gonna change
But you've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand
Don't ever feel that like you can make it baby

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler (born Jerry Butler Jr., December 8, 1939, Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer and songwriter. He is also noted as being the original lead singer of the famed R&B vocal group, The Impressions, as well as a 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. more »

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Written by: JERRY BUTLER, KENNETH GAMBLE, LEON HUFF

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"Only the Strong Survive" was released as a single by Jerry Butler in 1968.
Song Chart Success
The song became one of Butler's biggest hits, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Song Producers
Famous producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff arranged and produced the song. It was one of Gamble and Huff's earliest successful songs, which propelled them to further fame as iconic soul music producers.
Inspirational Dimension
The song, with its theme of resilience and survival, became an inspirational anthem during difficult times and is often played at gatherings and memorials.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Only the Strong Survive", including Elvis Presley in 1969, Billy Paul in 1977, and J. Blackfoot in 1983.
Album Inclusion
The song is included in Butler's album "The Ice Man Cometh" which was released in the same year, naming it after Butler's nickname "The Ice Man".
Recognized Impact
"Only the Strong Survive" has been recognized as one of the foundation songs of Chicago soul, a genre known for its lush arrangements and gospel-inspired vocals.
Grammy Hall of Fame
In 1999, "Only the Strong Survive" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance".
Butler's Career
The song solidified Jerry Butler's status as a successful solo artist after he left the iconic group The Impressions in 1960.
Personal Inspiration
Jerry Butler was inspired by his personal experiences and the teachings of his grandmother when writing this song.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #4


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