Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady (Official Lyric Video)

Watch the lyric video of "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin from the album 'Young, Gifted And Black' (1972). "Rock Steady" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Performers:

Lead Vocals: Aretha Franklin
Guitar: Cornell Dupree
Bass Guitar: Chuck Rainey
Organ: Donny Hathaway
Drums: Bernard Purdie
Percussion: Dr. John, Robert Popwell
Horns: The Memphis Horns (Trumpet: Wayne Jackson; Tenor Saxophone: Andrew Love)
Backing Vocals: The Sweethearts of Soul (Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith)

Written By: Aretha Franklin

Produced By: Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin

Stay In Touch with the Queen of Soul…

Lyrics:

Rock steady, baby!
That's what I feel now
Let's call the song exactly what it is
Step and move your hips
With a feeling from side to side
Sit yourself down in your car
And take a ride
And while you're moving
Rock steady
Rock steady, baby

Let's call this song exactly what it is
(What it is -what it is - what it is)
It's a funky and low down feelin’
(What it is)
In my hips from left to right
(What it is)
What it is is I might be doing
(What it is)
This funky dance all night
Oh!
(Got my hands up in the air)
Oh!
(Got a feeling and ain't got a care)
Oh!
(But you gotta take this ride
Put the devil on his side)

Rock steady — rock steady, baby
Rock steady — rock steady, baby

Step and move your hips
With a feeling from side to side
Sit yourself down in your car
And take a ride
While you're moving rock steady
Rock steady

Let's call this song exactly what it is
(What it is -what it is - what it is)
It's a funky and low down feelin’
(What it is)
In my hips from left to right
(What it is)
What it is is I might be doing
(What it is)
This funky dance all night
Oh!
(Got my hands up in the air)
Oh!
(Got a feeling and ain't got a care)
Oh!
(But you gotta take this ride
Put the devil on his side)

Rock steady, baby
Rock steady ... woo!
Rock steady

(Rock... steady!... rock... steady!)

(What it is)
It's a funky and low down feeling'
(What it is)
In my hips from left to right
(What it is)
What it is is I might be doing
(What it is)
This funky dance all night
Oh! Oh!
(Wave your hands up in the air)
Oh! Oh!
(Got the feeling and ain't got a care)
Oh! Oh!
(But you gotta take this ride
Put the devil on his side)

Rock steady
Steady, baby!
Rock...rock steady, baby
Baby
(What it is)
Baby, baby
(What it is)
Baby
(What it is)
Baby...

*******************

An icon of 20th and 21st century music, the voice of the civil rights movement, and the undisputed Queen of Soul—there is only one Aretha Franklin. In her incredible six-decade career, Aretha evolved from teenage gospel star to reigning pop and R&B diva, recording classics like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Chain Of Fools”, “Think” (lyrics by Aretha Franklin), definitive versions of the songs “Respect” and “I Say a Little Prayer”, and global hits like “Freeway Of Love,” “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”, and “A Rose Is Still A Rose.”

Altogether, 112 of her singles reached the charts, with 20 No. 1 R&B singles, the most ever by a female artist. She won 18 Grammy Awards (including the first eight trophies for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance) and, out of recognition for her for indelible contribution to American music and culture, received both the Presidential Medal Of Freedom and a Pulitzer Prize.

[jaysee]

Some may disagree, but what makes this song “what is is” is the band and that funky groove. You can listen to it and tell they are having a good time and just jammin’. Especially that horn line when they take over parts of the song. As a sax player myself, I can tell you that it is one of the coolest and funkiest horn lines ever in R&B.

[JungleKittie]

This song ALWAYS makes me wanna dance!!!! 😁😄😁😄💜💜💜💜

[mattlehmann]

Got here because of Rick Beato’s amazing interview of drummer Bernard Purdy…THIS is some seriously nasty funk!

[keepthemetalflowing]

Bernard Purdie is a beast on the groove of this song. His time, tasty fills and MASSIVE feel are phenomenal.

[Taj_Fitness]

Y’all tellin me this isn’t top 10 most perfect songs of all time. This will make anyone get down to this.

[marsstubblefield]

Chuck & Bernie - GOAT rhythm section - this is how it's done - in the studio, no auto tune or quantizing - just rock solid pocket energy that can go forever . . .

[danaddis]

And this is why Aretha was, is and forever will be the Queen of Soul!!!

[AbdulhakemAmri]

An immortal song by an immortal queen.
RIP queen of soul.

[davidbrown]

And a legend on the drums: Bernard “pretty” Purdie! One of my 5 favorite drummers of all time. Still living too (81)

[noreneal]

Another Gem that this genius wrote and composed. She also played the piano during this session 👑

[PhyllisFicarrotta-ygom]

This groove cannot be matched. A masterpiece. Aretha’s on top of it. RIP Queen of Soul. You brought us so much joy!!

[thedude-wnij]

It doesn’t get much better than this, especially on ‘Soul Train’ 🤩

[chrislaneDivo]

This is the greatest song ever written recorded produced performed or sung by any artist in history of
SALUTE TO THE QUEEN ❤

[CoreyBolding-qg]

The epitome of an anointed strong black Queen who had the capacity to easily stir spirit. As a kid I didn't quite understand how she made me know my head.. uncontrollably

[montelluke]

WHEW 😅 that BERNARD " PRETTY" PURDIE, his (4)bar drum 🥁 break is so in the pocket, simply slick sly, wicked and to top it all off that signature choke on the hi hat, this groove by Brother " B" was one that drummers half to nail, marvelous work!

[evaneleven]

I didn't know she wrote this classic!!
This song was truly out of this world.

[rogerdeschenes]

A masterpiece. A perfect thing. To me miracle of this song is that AF’s vocals and that of the background singers are so exquisitely and pardon the pun “rock steady” the listener upon re-hearing and re-hearing is allowed to hear and feel the subtleties of drum bass horn and guitar etc. AF has the voice and the power to overwhelm, to be the only thing you hear. But she doesn’t overwhelm. Not in the least little bit. She’s lead. But AF is a part of. Not apart from. She remains humble in the face of her tremendous gifts. Truly, Ms Franklin is a great artist.

[keithwilliams]

Rock Steady Baby🎉🎉! Still rocking in March 2024🎉🎉! 🎶🎧🎵🎤🎼👍💪🙏

[Dwhite]

Her musical gifts are so evident here. Her singing and songwriting are superb.😊

[marilynjackson]

The band has a rock steady groovy beat!