Aretha Franklin - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive Lyrics
Released: 30 Nov -0001
Lyrics
Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me, while I preach some
The topic will be sin
And that's what I'm agin'
If you wanna hear my story
Then settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewing
The attitude of doing right
You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with mister inbetween
You got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
And have faith, or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene
To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, noah in the ark,
What did they do, just when everything looked so dark?
Man, they said, we better
Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with mister inbetween
Video
Aretha Franklin - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Aretha Franklin’s rendition of “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” featured on her album *The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (Expanded Edition)*, arrives as a vibrant call to spiritual resilience and unwavering faith. Though not traditionally categorized as gospel, the Queen of Soul imbues this timeless message with a profound resonance that speaks directly to the human spirit, echoing scriptural truths about outlook and divine trust.
The song immediately establishes itself as a sermon of sorts, opening with the declaration, “Gather 'round me, everybody, gather 'round me, while I preach some. The topic will be sin, and that's what I'm agin'.” This framing transforms a popular tune into a sacred injunction, positioning the following advice as a moral imperative. To be "agin' sin" here isn't just about avoiding wrongdoing, but about rejecting the negativity, doubt, and despair that often entangle us, which themselves can be seen as spiritual stumbling blocks. The central command, repeated with rhythmic insistence, is to "ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive, e-lim-i-nate the negative, and latch on to the affirmative." This powerful directive finds a clear parallel in Scripture. Philippians 4:8 encourages believers: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." This verse perfectly encapsulates the essence of accentuating the positive, urging us to focus our minds on what uplifts and glorifies. Similarly, eliminating the negative aligns with casting our anxieties upon God, as exhorted in 1 Peter 5:7, and latching onto the affirmative mirrors the biblical call to stand firm in faith, hope, and the promises of God, as Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
A critical warning follows: "Don't mess with mister inbetween." This line is a stark reminder against spiritual apathy or indecision, resonating powerfully with Revelation 3:15-16, where God declares, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." The message is clear: commitment to a positive, faith-filled perspective must be absolute; there is no middle ground for lukewarmness when it comes to trusting in divine principles. The song then broadens its scope, instructing us to "spread joy up to the maximum, bring gloom down to the minimum," and to "have faith, or pandemonium liable to walk upon the scene." This is a profound statement on the transformative power of faith and joy. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, "The joy of the Lord is your strength," highlighting joy not as a fleeting emotion but as a spiritual anchor. Conversely, the warning about pandemonium without faith underscores the chaos that can ensue when trust in a higher power is absent. We see this illustrated in the Gospels when Peter walks on water (Matthew 14:28-31); the moment his faith wavered, he began to sink, and chaos threatened. A lack of faith, indeed, invites disorder and despair.
To illustrate these truths, the song wisely turns to two iconic biblical narratives: Jonah and Noah. "Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark, what did they do, just when everything looked so dark? Man, they said, we better ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive." These figures serve as powerful testaments to faith in seemingly impossible situations. Jonah, swallowed by a great fish, was in the depths of despair, yet he cried out to God in repentance and faith, and God delivered him (Jonah 2:1-10). Noah, tasked with building an ark in a world that had never seen rain, faced ridicule and an unprecedented challenge, yet he moved forward in complete obedience and faith, saving his family from a global deluge (Genesis 6-8). In both instances, "everything looked so dark," but these individuals chose to "accentuate the positive" of God's commands and promises. They eliminated the negative of doubt and fear, latching onto the affirmative power of divine will. Aretha Franklin's delivery elevates this simple, yet profound, message into an enduring anthem of hope and spiritual fortitude, urging everyone to embrace a life anchored in faith, positivity, and unwavering trust, no matter how dire circumstances appear.