Human Rights in Aretha’s songs

Aretha Franklin was born in 1942 in USA, in fact, in the place where music has a special twist: Tenesee. She started her career since child singing in choirs later she became the Queen of Soul, she made choir singing popular and accesible to people that without being religious could enjoy choir music.

She used her voice to talk about Human Rights, from Respect to Natural Woman, she has helped people to accept themselves and love each others with her lyrics and inspire future generations to act according to their rights.

1. Think

You better think (think) think about what you’re trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free
Let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go way on way back when
I didn’t even know you, you couldn’t have been too much more than ten. (just a child)
I ain’t no psychiatrist, I ain’t no doctor with degrees
It don’t take too much high IQ’s to see what you’re doing to me

2. I Say A Little Prayer

Forever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me
I say a little prayer for you
I say a little prayer for you

3. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Take me to heart
And I’ll always love you
And nobody can make me do wrong
Take me for granted
Leaving love unshown
Makes will power weak
And temptation strong

4. A Brand New Me

This is my same old coat, these are my same old shoes;
It was the same old me, with the same old blues…
Oh, then you touched my life just by holding my hand,
And when I look in the mirror, I see a brand new girl, oh, man!

Just because of you, boy;
Just because of you… whoa, oh, oh…
Just because of you, boy;
Just because of you…

5. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

‘Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel like a natural woman

When my soul was in the lost and found
You came along, to claim it
I didn’t know just what was wrong with me
‘Til your kiss helped me name it

Now I’m no longer doubtful of what I’m living for
And if I make you happy I don’t need to do more

6. Save me

Those who love always give the most;
We’re cryin’ together from coast to coast…
Love leaves us cold and hurt inside,
These tears of ours, unjustified…

Beggin’ you to save me! Yeah, need somebody to
Save me! Yeah… hey, hey, hey…

7. Respect

I ain’t gonna do you wrong while you’re gone
Ain’t gonna do you wrong (oo) ‘cause I don’t wanna (oo)
All I’m askin’ (oo)
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

Aretha may not be a political figure, but her songs talks about what government should put forward: human rights. And each and everyone of us that live in a society we must listen to her songs and learn about what it means to be responsible of our environment, of others and ourselves.

We can also learn about these songs to expect and give in a relation, if we are not committed then no one can commit to us, so if there is somethong wrong or we are not receiving what we want, then we should start by checking what is wrong with us to fix it. Franklin may not seem a feminist when she talks about how a love changed her for the better, but that is the core of what human rights is about: being great thanks to us and the people around us, because of all the people that are in our lives we can be better persons, better women to rule a world filled with wars and hate.