Only the Strong Survive
Jerry Butler
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
I see you sittin' there all alone Crying your eyes out While everything's going wrong You know there's gonna be A whole lot of trouble in your life Listen to me, get up off your knees 'Cause only the strong survive Only the strong survive Only the strong survive Hey, you gotta be strong You gotta hold on I said don't give up, no don't I said don't go around With your head looking down don't you let'em make you feel like a clown There's a lot of opportunity Out there just waiting for you But you'll never succeed if you've given up And say your life is through Listen this minute what I'm tellin' you Only the strong survive Only the strong survive Hey, you gotta be strong Gotta hold on You gotta be a man, take a stand Only the strong survive Only the strong survive Weak fall by the wayside You gotta hold on You gotta keep on, keep on Keep on, keep on, keep on gettin' on 'Cause only the strong survive Only the strong survive Weak fall by the wayside You gotta be strong You gotta hold on You gotta keep goin' on Only the strong survive Only the strong survive Weak fall by the wayside You gotta be a man You gotta take a stand Get up, set your body in motion You know the strong survive Wake up and get your education So you can keep your family alive Get away from negative situations It can only bring you a lot of frustrations 'Cause only the strong survive Only the strong survive Only the strong survive Hey, you gotta be strong Gotta hold on You gotta be a man, take a stand
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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.
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Song Chart SuccessThe 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.
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Song ProducersFamous 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.
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Inspirational DimensionThe song, with its theme of resilience and survival, became an inspirational anthem during difficult times and is often played at gatherings and memorials.
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Cover VersionsNumerous artists have covered "Only the Strong Survive", including Elvis Presley in 1969, Billy Paul in 1977, and J. Blackfoot in 1983.
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Album InclusionThe 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".
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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.
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Grammy Hall of FameIn 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".
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Butler's CareerThe song solidified Jerry Butler's status as a successful solo artist after he left the iconic group The Impressions in 1960.
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Personal InspirationJerry Butler was inspired by his personal experiences and the teachings of his grandmother when writing this song.
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Citation
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"Only the Strong Survive Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6426158/Jerry+Butler/Only+the+Strong+Survive>.
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