Take It To The Limit

Etta James · Heart & Soul / A Retrospective [2011]

All alone at the end of the of the evening

When the bright lights have faded to blue

I was thinking 'bout a man who might have loved me

And I never knew



You know I've always

I've always been a dreamer

Spent my life running 'round

And it's so hard to change

Can't seem to settle down



But the dreams I've seen lately

Keep on turning out and burning out

And turning out the same, same

So put me on a highway

And show, show me a sign

And take it to the limit one more time



You can spend all your time, spend all your time making money

Oh and you can spend all, spend all your love making time

But if it all fell to pieces tomorrow

Would you still, would you still be mine?



And when you're looking

When you're looking for your freedom

Nobody seems to care

You can't find the door

Can't find it anywhere



When there's nothing

Nothing to believe in

Still you're running back

You keep coming back

You're running back for more



Put me on a highway

And show me, show me a sign

Take it to the limit one more time



Take it to the limit

Take it to the limit

Take it to the limit

Take it to the limit one more time



Take it to the limit

Take it, take it to the limit

Take it to the limit



Oh yeah

Oh yeah

Oh yeah

Oh no

Oh oh

Take it to limit, one more time

Take It To The Limit

Etta James delivers a powerful vocal performance on 'Take It To The Limit,' a track that exemplifies her signature blend of soul and blues. Recorded for the 2011 retrospective album 'Heart & Soul / A Retrospective,' the song showcases her raw emotional depth and commanding presence, hallmarks of her career spanning decades. As a staple of the soul genre, James's interpretation transforms the material into an anthem of resilience and passion. Her voice, often described as a 'scream of the soul,' cuts through the arrangement with a ferocity that defined her era and continues to influence modern R&B and soul musicians. This recording stands as a testament to her ability to elevate standard compositions into transcendent experiences, cementing her legacy as one of the most impactful vocalists in music history.