Higher and Higher | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| N.C | N.C | D | G/D | Em/D | D |
Verse 1
||: D | G/D | Em/D | D :||
Your love, lifting me higher, than I’ve ever been lifted before.
So keep it up, quench my desire and I’ll be at your side, forevermore.
Chorus 1
| D | G/D |
You know your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me).
| Em/D | D |
Higher (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
| D | G/D |
I said your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on (love keeps lifting me).
| Em/D | D |
Lifting me (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
Verse 2
Now once, I was downhearted. Disappointment was my closest friend.
But then you, came and it soon departed and you know he never showed his face again.
Chorus 2
That’s why your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me).
Higher (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
I said your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on (love keeps lifting me).
Lifting me (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
Instrumental
||: D | G/D | Em/D | D :||
Alright. oooh, oh.
Verse 3
I’m so glad, I’ve finally found you. Yes that one, in a million girls.
And I whip, my loving arms around you. Honey, I can stand up, and face the world.
Chorus 3
Let me tell ya your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me).
Higher (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
And I said your love (your love keeps lifting me). Keep on (love keeps lifting me).
Lifting me (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
Outro (same as chorus)
Alright now sock it to me (lifting, lifting, lifting me). Come on now lift me up woman (Love keeps lifting me).
Keep my love going (lifting me). Higher and higher (higher).
I said keep on lifting (lifting, lifting, lifting). Lift me up mama (lift, lift, lifting me).
Keep on lifting me (lifting me) Higher and higher.
Higher and Higher Chords: Master the Simple Yet Powerful Progression
The bass line is integral to the song, so let’s start there. Essentially, we land on the home chord, D, using the 5th and b7 intervals to get us there.
On my Top 10 Chord Progression list, this would fall under #6: the static I.
The chord progression follows I – IV – II – I, while keeping the root of chord I consistent:
||: D | G/D | Em/D | D :||
Since no other chords are played in (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher, the excitement builds purely through dynamics.
You can only imagine how Jackie Wilson used this song to get the crowd going back in the day!
Here’s a chord chart—its main purpose is to remind you of the structure, as Higher and Higher‘s chords are incredibly simple!
Higher and Higher Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Would you like to download my chord chart as a PDF or in the iReal Pro format?
Mr. Excitement Takes You Higher and Higher!
In 1967, Mr. Excitement—Jackie Wilson—released (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher as a single from his album Higher and Higher, under the Brunswick Records label.
The band behind him was none other than Motown’s Funk Brothers, who often worked outside Berry Gordy’s watchful eye—so long as they were paid in cash!
The song was an instant success, quickly reaching #1 in the U.S. While it didn’t achieve the same chart dominance internationally, it has remained a staple over the years—featured in adverts and covered by countless Motown soul bands, especially at weddings.
Maybe it’s the uplifting lyrics that make it such a perfect fit, or perhaps it’s the fact that you can learn the chords in just a few seconds.
Simple progressions like this allow the band to relax, focus on dynamics, and interact with the audience—never a bad idea!
Rolling Stone placed (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher at #246 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
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