Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
No Love Dying
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The bird that flew in through my window
Simply lost his way
He broke his wing, I helped him heal
And then he flew away
Well the death of love is everywhere
But I won't let it be
There will be no love that's dying here for me
There will be no love that's dying here
The mirror that fell from the wall was raggedy, that's all
It rest up on a rusty nail, before it made its fall
Well the bones of love are everywhere but I won't let it be
There will be no love that's dying here for me
There will be no love that's dying here
Four flowers in my Asian vase is not a sign we're dead
I paid for three, a sweet old lady gave me four instead
There's some doubt that's out about this love but I won't let it be
There will be no love that's dying here for me
There will be no love that's dying here
The bird that flew in through my window
Simply lost his way
He broke his wing
I helped him heal
And then he flew away
Well the death of love is everywhere
But I won't let it be
There will be no love that's dying here for me
No, there will be no love that's dying for me
There will be no love that's dying for you and me
There will be no love dying here
No, not for me
There will be no love that's dying here
No, there will be no love that's dying here
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
There will be no love that's dying for me
The lyrics of Gregory Porter's "No Love Dying" tell a story of hope and determination in the face of love's inevitable challenges. The opening lines set the tone with a declaration that "There will be no love that's dying here," suggesting that the singer is committed to preserving and protecting his feelings for someone special. The bird that flies in through his window "simply lost his way," but the singer nurses it back to health and sends it on its way, a metaphor perhaps for a relationship that has suffered a setback but has the potential to recover.
The verses that follow describe other obstacles that could threaten the couple's love, such as the "bones of love" that are everywhere and the mirror that falls from the wall. But in each case, the singer refuses to let these setbacks be the end of the story. The Asian vase with four flowers instead of three may symbolize the possibility of unexpected abundance or the idea that love can grow and thrive even in the face of challenges.
The chorus repeats the central theme, "No love dying here," driving home the message of the song with passionate conviction. Ultimately, Gregory Porter's "No Love Dying" offers a powerful affirmation of the enduring power of love and the importance of fighting to keep it alive.
Line by Line Meaning
There will be no love that's dying here
Love will not fade away for me
The bird that flew in through my window
A metaphor for a temporary, fleeting love
Simply lost his way
Love may be lost, but it doesn't have to die
He broke his wing, I helped him heal
Love may be wounded but can be restored if cared for
And then he flew away
Love may leave, but it can still be cherished and remembered
Well the death of love is everywhere
Love may be fleeting and fragile, but it persists in all aspects of life
But I won't let it be
The singer will not allow love to die but will nurture and cherish it
The mirror that fell from the wall was raggedy, that's all
A metaphor for a love that was imperfect and had flaws
It rest up on a rusty nail, before it made its fall
The love was already damaged and destined to end
Well the bones of love are everywhere but I won't let it be
Despite love's fragility and impermanence, the artist will strive to keep it alive
Four flowers in my Asian vase is not a sign we're dead
The number of flowers in the vase does not dictate the state of the relationship
I paid for three, a sweet old lady gave me four instead
Unexpected blessings may come in the form of love
There's some doubt that's out about this love but I won't let it be
Despite uncertainty, the singer will hold onto their love and not let it die
No, there will be no love that's dying for me
The singer is determined to keep their love alive
There will be no love that's dying for you and me
The singer hopes to keep their love alive for both themselves and their partner
No, there will be no love dying here
Love will not die in their presence
No, not for me
The artist will not let their love die
No, there will be no love that's dying here
The singer will fight to keep love alive
No, there will be no love that's dying here
The singer is determined to keep love alive
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
The artist is emphatic about their determination to keep love alive
There will be no love that's dying for me
The artist is determined to keep their love alive
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind