Jerry Butler, “Only the Strong Survive” | Throwback Vibez

In the 117th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Only the Strong Survive” by Jerry Butler.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 117th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Only the Strong Survive”, performed by Jerry Butler.

Theme & Lyrics    

“I remember my first love affair / Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong…” Oh, snap,  Jerry Butler! Love can totally be a five-letter word that starts with the letter B and ends in an itch – WOO! The legendary soul musician and retired politician continues to say in the intro of his beloved classic, “Only the Strong Survive” “My mama had some great advice / So, I thought I’d put it into words of this song.” Ultimately, Butler’s words – well his mother’s prudent advice – are about surviving that first taste of heartbreak. She encourages her son, “Oh, there’s gonna be, there’s gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life / Oh, so listen to me get up off your knees.”   

So, what’s mom’s ultimate point? Why the titular line repeated in the centerpiece – the chorus:   

“‘Only the strong survive 
Only the strong survive’ 
Hey, you’ve got to be strong, you’d better hold on.”  

Mom was totally right on this 1968 classic from The Ice Man Cometh, penned by Butler alongside songwriting/production team   Kenneth Gamble and   Leon Huff. In the second verse, mom continues to advise: “Don’t go all around with your head hung down / Well I wouldn’t let that little girl / No, I wouldn’t let her know that she made me feel like a clown.” Spot on, mama! “Only the Strong Survive” performed well on the pop charts peaking at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, the record was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, deservedly.  

Final Thoughts  

Honestly, what more is there to say about “Only the Strong Survive”? The music speaks for itself when it comes to this timeless, Jerry Butler classic. Notably,   Bruce Springsteen does a marvelous job of covering it on his 2022 covers album, fittingly titled, Only the Strong Survive.   

Jerry Butler • The Ice Man Cometh • UMG Recordings, Inc. •  1968 

Jerry Butler, “Only the Strong Survive”: Throwback Vibez No. 117 (2022) [: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]