In 1968 Aretha Franklin already earned the title The Queen of Soul. Franklin’s career was flourishing. But personally, she was in a rough place. Her career was extremely demanding and her marriage with Ted White was falling apart. Besides that, Franklin accompanied Martin Luther King at the forefront of the civil rights movement. This rough period led Franklin to write “Think”. One of the few songs she penned down herself. But what’s the exact story and meaning behind the song? Let’s find out!
The Story Behind the Song
1968 was a tumulous year. Mass protests arose worldwide as a result of social conflicts, oppression, and war. And in America, the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the women’s liberation movement stood at the forefront of fighting for change. Many tragic incidents ruled the country, but one event outshined all others: The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Aretha Franklin had known Martin Luther King Jr. since childhood. Her father, CL Franklin, was heavily involved in the civil rights movement. And as a result, the Franklin family became close friends with King. In fact, Aretha Franklin was one of Martin Luther King’s favorite singers. After King’s assassination, Franklin sang at his funeral service on April 9, 1968.
Franklin’s brother Cecil later recalled in David Ritz’s book Respect: “After the funeral – with so much craziness going on in her life – I wondered if she was going to cancel a big-band jazz recording session Wexler (producer) had set up in New York and the European tour to follow. I figured it’d be too much. But off she went – her, Ted, and a whole entourage of tour managers and musicians.”
Just 6 days after Martin Luther King’s funeral Aretha Franklin recorded “Think”. A feat that showcases Franklin’s tremendous resilience. She wrote “Think” earlier that year with her husband Ted White. Aretha’s younger sister Carolyn, however, claimed Aretha wrote the song all by herself. At the time, White and Franklin’s marriage was falling apart. Which was the inspiration behind the song.
It is rumored the song’s chorus, in which Franklin sings “freedom”, refers to Martin Luther King and his famous I Have a Dream speech. King ends the speech with the words: “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
The song, produced by Jerry Wexler, was released on May 2, 1968. Just a month after Martin Luther King’s assassination. It rapidly became an anthem for the civil rights and women’s liberation movement. Just the title “Think” alone resonated with protesters.
In David Ritz’s book Respect, Jerry Wexler said: “I’m sure ‘think’ had personal meaning for Aretha, but it also resonated on a large cultural level. Young people were telling the war establishment to ‘think’ about what they were doing. Black America was telling white America to ‘think’ about what they were doing. The song spoke to everyone, and, like ‘Respect’, became another way in which Aretha became a spokesperson for her generation.”
“Think” eventually appeared on Franklin’s critically acclaimed album “Aretha Now”. It would quickly gather over a million US sales.
The Meaning of Think
Aretha Franklin allegedly wrote “Think” about her stormy marriage with Ted White. The two married in 1961 and divorced in 1969, a year after the release of “Think”. Franklin herself wasn’t outspoken about her private life, and never confirmed or denied the song’s origin. But her sister Carolyn believed the song was about Ted White: “She tells him (White) to think what he’s trying to do to her. She cries out for her freedom.”
The song rapidly established as a protest song for the civil rights and women’s liberation movements. Nowadays, it is known as a feminist anthem.
The Song’s Legacy
“Think” was released as a single in 1968. The song reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. It was also a top 10 hit in France, Canada, and the Netherlands.
The song regained popularity in 1980, when Franklin made an iconic appearance in the movie Blues Brothers. She initially acts as a waitress, but quickly dives into a legendary version of “Think”.
Interested in more stories behind Aretha Franklin songs? Click here
