The songs on this album are not in chronological order, but they all were written or co-written by Sam Cooke. A piano is commonly heard throughout this album.
1. Touch The Hem Of His Garment (with the Soul Stirrers) (2:01) - The tempo is moderate. The subject of this song is a woman who has ailed for a very long time. No doctor has been able to do anything for her. Then she sees Jesus and believes that touching his garment will cure her illness.
2. That's Heaven To Me (with the Soul Stirrers) (2:01) - This moderately slow song marks Sam's transition from gospel to secular music. To the narrator, a flower blooming in May, a sunset, and someone assisting a stranger are all heaven.
3. I'll Come Running Back To You (2:11) - The tempo is moderate. Since losing his girlfriend, the narrator has not slept a wink nor eaten a bite. People tell him that the girl has found a new man. Still, the narrator tells the girl that if she simply calls his name, he'll return to her.
4. You Send Me (2:44) - This song, slightly slower than moderate, was Sam's first hit as a solo and secular artist. By saying that the girl "sends him," apparently the narrator means that she attracts him romantically. He initially believed that their relationship was an infatuation. But after all the time they've been together, he wants to marry her.
5. Win Your Love For Me (2:53) - This moderately fast song features drums that resemble the clanking of a pan. The narrator has fallen in love with the girl, and he'd be happy if a miracle could persuade her to reciprocate his feelings.
6. Just For You (2:17) - The tempo is somewhat faster than moderate. The narrator used to be unaware that his long, hard work every day was just for his girlfriend. But now he does realize it.
7. Chain Gang (2:33) - This song, somewhat faster than moderate, features a sound effect that represents the rattling of chains. The lyrics never mention what crimes the men in the chain gang are in prison for, but the men spend all day breaking rocks and laying them out on highways and side roads. One of the men looks forward to the day when his sentence is up and he can see his wife or girlfriend again.
8. When A Boy Falls In Love (2:32) - For the first 20 seconds, the tempo is slow. Then the drums enter and the tempo becomes moderate. Orchestral string instruments are featured. To a boy in love, the world is a wonderful place. He needs no breakfast, for he lives on the love of his girl. Eventually, he buys her a ring so he can keep her love forever.
9. Only 16 (1:53) - This song has a swing tempo slightly slower than moderate. From 1:11 to 1:27, the backup singers sing a dialogue with Sam. The narrator and his girlfriend were both 16 years old at the time of their relationship. I don't think 16 is too young to fall in love, but it IS too young to marry!
10. Wonderful World (2:04) - The tempo is moderate. The narrator doesn't know much about any academic subject, but he does know that it would be a wonderful world if she loved him like he loves her. Perhaps by becoming an A student, he might win her love.
11. Cupid (2:28) - This moderate-tempoed song features the sound effect of Cupid shooting an arrow. And that's exactly what the narrator begs Cupid to do; the target is a girl with whom the narrator has fallen in love. In return, he promises the God of Love that he'll love the girl for eternity.
12. Nothing Can Change This Love (2:35) - This moderately slow, 6/8 song features classical string instruments. If the narrator went far away from his girlfriend, he'd write to her daily. Even if she left him or otherwise made him cry, he'd still love her.
13. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day (2:28) - This song, somewhat faster than moderate, features horns. The narrator tells his girlfriend not to call off their relationship. By taking some time for himself, he hopes to strengthen her love for him. Just as the ancient city took much longer than a day to build, so does a romantic relationship.
14. Love Will Find A Way (2:13) - This song has a moderately slow, 12/8 tempo. For love, no mountain is too high, no river is too wide, and no place is too far away. The narrator is in love with the girl, and he strongly desires that his love should reach her heart.
15. Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha (2:35) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, features drums that resemble the clanging of a pan. The narrator and his girlfriend go to a hop together. When they arrive, she can't dance the cha-cha-cha. They wait for over an hour for some different dance, but in vain. So he decides to teach her how to cha-cha-cha. As he teaches her, he also teaches us.
16. Another Saturday Night (2:23) - As in the previous song, the tempo is slightly faster than moderate. A tambourine is featured here. The narrator, having just received a paycheck, wishes he had a girlfriend to spend the money with. This song was later covered by Cat Stevens.
17. Meet Me At Mary's Place (2:41) - This moderately slow song features horns. A friend of the narrator's invites him to a party that will be held at the home of someone named Mary.
18. Having A Party (2:26) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, features string instruments. It is fitting for this song to come right after "Mary's Place." The previous song was the invitation; this one is about the actual party. As Coca-Cola and popcorn await the dancing guests, the narrator asks the DJ to play a few of the narrator's favorite songs.
19. Good Times (2:27) - This moderate, swing-tempoed song features a chime-like instrument, probably a marimba. First Sam scat-sings a couple of verses; then he sings the chorus. The narrator plans to "let the good times roll" and invites us to do the same. He resolves to "soothe [his] soul" at the dance hall, even if it takes him all night.
20. Twistin' The Night Away (2:40) - This fast song features horns, a sax, and hand-clapping. People of all ages and attire are gathered at a dance hall to dance the twist until dawn.
21. Shake (2:48) - This song is slightly slower than the previous one, but horns play here also. The narrator's message is simple: if you wanna feel good, just shake to your favorite music! Chronologically, this was Sam's last song, recorded shortly before his death and released early in 1965.
22. Somebody Have Mercy (3:01) - This swing, moderately slow song features horns and a harmonica. The piano plays in 12/8 time. The narrator's girlfriend treats him so badly that he thinks something is wrong with him; he begs someone to tell him what. However, he does resolve to move far away from her aboard a Greyhound. The verse Sam sings at the end reminds me of the Carl Perkins hit "Matchbox."
23. Sad Mood (2:28) - This moderately slow song features orchestral string instruments. By singing "ah-ooo," the backup singers illustrate the narrator's gloomy state of mind. The narrator is sad because his girlfriend left him. He doesn't know where or why she went, but he'll never be happy unless and until she returns to him.
24. Ain't That Good News (2:30) - Instruments in this fast song include horns. Just when things seem darkest for the narrator, he receives a letter from his girlfriend; she apologizes for having left him and says she's on her way home. As his sadness turns to joy, he plans to hold a welcome-home party for her at the train station.
25. Bring It On Home To Me (2:41) - This moderately slow, 12/8 song is my favorite Sam Cooke song. However, it should have been placed BEFORE "Good News" rather than after, for the narrator begs his girlfriend to bring her love to him should she ever think twice about deserting him. In return, he'd give her money, jewels, and much more. In "Good News," she DOES bring her love home to him.
26. Soothe Me (2:11) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, features chimes. The narrator asks his girlfriend to soothe him with the kind and loving things she sometimes does to him.
27. That's Where It's At (2:35) - This moderately slow, 12/8 song features horns. Dancing with someone you love under dim lights, spending quiet moments alone in your room, or taking your lover home when it's time to go--that's where happiness lies.
28. A Change Is Gonna Come (3:10) - This slow song features string instruments and horns. The change Sam predicted was probably in racial relations. Harmony between whites and blacks certainly was a long time in coming; in fact, it still hasn't completely been achieved. This song was the flip side of the "Shake" single; thus, Sam left this world with a dream similar to Martin Luther King's.
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (2:36) - The tempo is moderately slow and in 12/8 time. At the beginning and the end, Sam sings "I love you" many times. The narrator thinks about the girl every day and dreams of her each night; he believes that she was meant for him.