Hailing from Liverpool, England, fans first got a taste of Marsha’s talent as the singing half of the duo Floetry. Their 2000 debut Floetic produced signature singles like “Say Yes" and "Getting Late" as well as four Grammy nods. Following the 2005 release of their second studio album, Flo’Ology, the ladies veered creatively and personally. While the split was difficult, Marsha continued to build a name for herself as a songwriter and producer, creating “Butterflies” for the late Michael Jackson and other hits for artists such as Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx and Nas. She’s been nominated for a total of six Grammys and has been honored by BMI as their Songwriter of the Year.
Over the years, Marsha has stayed relevant as an artist via touring, writing/producing and mixtapes like 2007’s Neo Soul is Dead, 2008’s Yours Truly and 2010’s Yours Sincerely. She also appeared as a featured artist on projects from Patti Labelle, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others. Eventually, Marsha signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records however a much-buzzed about solo debut never materialized due to creative glitches. Equipped with plenty of her own talent, she found herself being given songs from producers that were “great but not songs that made sense in relation to each other.” Marsha calls her sound “honest and consistent” and it was important for her to make an album with an overall cohesive sound. She explains, “I think with an album everything has to make sense, like ‘Where is this story going?’”
But that wasn’t the only situation posing a challenge for Marsha. A basketball player since childhood, when her music career took off, her diet remained the same as when she was regularly active. Constantly on the road touring and promoting wasn’t conducive to a healthy diet and resulted in her gaining 70 pounds in just one year. She finally got serious about her health and lost the weight safely and slowly over about a two-year period.
Now at a strong place mentally and physically, Marsha’s ready to present her sound to the world. The first single, “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player),” is an anthem that women and men can relate to. Marsha explains, “It’s the reality of a bad break up. We wanna be decent human beings and say the right thing, you know, ‘I wish you well.’ But this is ‘Everything that could go wrong for him I want it to because my ego is bruised and I’m acting out.’” There’ve been many songs written about heartbreak, but Marsha’s approach to “Hope She Cheats on You” gets in your face rather than plays the victim.
LATE NIGHTS & EARLY MORNINGS is destined to be a classic, as Marsha offers a candid glimpse of her life and perspectives as a woman. Inspired by musical icons like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Prince, she concedes there is an overall male influence in her songwriting, such as the assertive sentiments heard on hits like “Say Yes.” She explains, “My pen and my point of view has a certain aggression to it because I’ve listened to a lot of male influenced music, which I think makes me one of the most outspoken writers out here. Sometimes as a woman you don’t wanna say what’s on your mind for fear of being judged. But why wouldn’t I say it like that if that’s how I felt?” Musical peers recruited to contribute to the project include Alicia Keys, a reunion with Dre and Vidal (producers of “Say Yes”), Just Blaze and Focus.
While her success in the industry is already solidified, Marsha knows it’s never easy to win over fans as a solo artist. Fortunately, she says, “It’s like being thrown in the deep end. ‘Okay I have to swim? Oh well.’ I’ve taken that attitude and it’s carried me forward.”
(from MarshaAmbrosius.com)
Friends & Lovers Intro
Marsha Ambrosius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he made it through without me
Made it through
I've been to hell and back for you
I did everything that I could
For you,
Oh I, took you in after you lied to me
And yet you cried your tears, tears
And there was I was sorry
For all I have done to you
Now here we are
We can't be friends and lovers
Cause it would all end
In a hurting each other
You know we can't be friends and lovers
But baby I, I love you
But I can't do this, I can't
The lyrics to Marsha Ambrosius's song Friends & Lovers Intro are about the struggles of a relationship between two people who have a deep love for each other but can't seem to make their romance work. Ambrosius sings about the difficulty of maintaining a friendship with a former lover and the emotional toll it takes. She reveals that she has tried everything she can to make the relationship work, but in the end, they cannot continue to be both friends and lovers. She expresses that they both still love each other, but they can't move forward as a couple in their current state.
The lyrics showcase the complex emotions that arise when a relationship is unable to continue. On one hand, there is the love and fondness that never fades, but on the other hand, there is the realization that the relationship is not healthy and the realization that they can only move forward as friends. The song highlights the fact that sometimes, even with the deep love, two people can't be together, and it's important to recognize when it's time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Keeping through some of hardest times
I stood beside you during difficult times
But he made it through without me
You were able to overcome challenges without my help
Made it through
You survived the obstacles
I've been to hell and back for you
I went through difficult times for you
I did everything that I could
I put forth my best effort
For you
To help and support you
Oh I, took you in after you lied to me
Despite your dishonesty, I gave you another chance
And yet you cried your tears, tears
You showed remorse and regret
And there was I was sorry
I also felt regretful
For all I have done to you
I acknowledged the impact of my actions on you
Now here we are
This is the current situation
We can't be friends and lovers
We cannot have a platonic and romantic relationship simultaneously
Cause it would all end
The relationship would fail
In a hurting each other
The ending would cause pain for both of us
You know we can't be friends and lovers
We both understand that this type of relationship is not possible
But baby I, I love you
My feelings for you are still present
But I can't do this, I can't
However, I cannot continue with this relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARSHA A AMBROSIUS, DWAYNE ABERNATHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind