The Raelettes (or occasionally The Raelets or The Raeletts) were an American girl group from the 1950s–1990s, formed, as their name suggests, to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles. Separate from Charles, the Raelettes had a number of pop and R&B hits, although they never gained fame for their singles. Several members later went on to solo careers.
Before becoming the Raelettes, the group was known as the Cookies. Its membership originally consisted of Darlene McCrea, Margie Hendricks, Patricia Lyles, and Gwendolyn Berry. Of Hendricks, Ray Charles said, "Aretha, Gladys, Etta James—these gals are all bad, but on any given night, Margie will scare you to death."
Later members included Mable John, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Minnie Riperton, Susaye Greene, Dorothy Berry, Beverly LeSure and Rita Graham. Graham recorded the album Rita Graham Vibrations, produced by Ray Charles on his Tangerine label, the only major recording production Charles produced for a single female artist on that label.
See I was once told
That I would litterate gold
Now I'm at the crossroads
Selling my soul
I've been laughed at
Slepped on and stepped on
Backstabbed twice but I always kept on
I'm falling
And I can hear my conscience calling
I see my life dissolving
While I'm one stallin
Why life's gotta be this way
It's the price we pay
Just to live another day
Get yourself up, you're falling
Gotta get yourself up, get up, don't stop, you're falling
She saw life's a bitch but I love her
Brother never judge a book by the cover
Same name but different faces
Same case but different places
Life's strange
Joy, pain
Sunshine, rain
Yo we've gotta maintain
Why life gotta be this way
It's the price we pay just to see another day
Get yourself up, you're falling
Gotta get yourself up, get up, don't stop, you're falling (falling, falling, falling)
You're living on a lie
Better realize you're falling down
You're living on a lie
Better get yourself together now
Better get up from the ground
You're living on a lie (lie, lie, lie)
You're living on a lie (lie, lie, lie)
It spill blood, sweat and tears
I crept on my knees
And begged for deaf ears
I wouldn't learn
Until I got burned
Every laugh was changed
That was the day it got turned
Lifes Strange somebody wants me to obtain
Some people change, others stay the same
Why life's gotta be this way
See it's the price we pay just to live another day
Get yourself up you're falling
Gotta get yourself up, get up, don't stop, you're falling (falling, falling, falling)
You're living on a lie
Better realize you're falling down
You're living on a lie
Better get yourself together now
Better get up from the ground
You're living on a lie
Better realize you're falling down
You're living on a lie
Better get yourself together now
Better get up from the ground
You're living on a lie
Better get yourself together now
Better get up from the ground
You're livin on a lie (lie, lie, lie, lie)
You're livin on a lie (lie, lie, lie, lie)
You're livin on a lie (lie, lie, lie, lie)
Get yourself up, you're falling
Gotta get yourself up get up, don't stop, you're falling
Get yourself up you're falling
Gotta get yourself up, get up, don't stop, you're falling
