Legend also played the piano on Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Everything is Everything" and sang background vocals on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name". Legend frequently cites gospel, R&B, and hip hop music as his main musical influences.
Legend released his critically acclaimed and Billboard Top Ten second album, Once Again, in October 2006. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and will.i.am, it is again a mixture of gospel and classic soul showcasing his extraordinary voice, particularly on "Show Me".
Grammy Award Wins:
*2005 Best New Artist
*2005 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
*2005 Best R&B Album- Get Lifted
*2007 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Heaven
*2007 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Family Affair
Neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year. On the strength of enduring single "Ordinary People," the album reached the Top Five of the Billboard 200. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006. Live from Philadelphia, sold exclusively at Target stores, was a successful stopgap release that predated October 2008's Evolver.
All of Me
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind?
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh
How many times do I have to tell you?
Even when you're crying, you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing in my head for you
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh
Give me all of you, oh
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh
In John Legend's song "All of Me," the singer is expressing his love and admiration for his partner, highlighting her quirks and imperfections. He starts the song by acknowledging her intelligence and witty personality, which he finds attractive, but also challenging. He cannot resist her captivating personality and is on a "magical mystery ride" with her. He accepts her for who she is, even with her ups and downs, and is ready to give her all of himself. The chorus repeats the phrase, "all of me loves all of you," emphasizing his unconditional love for her. The bridge shows that the relationship is a two-way street, with both partners risking their hearts and giving their all to each other.
These lyrics have resonated with many listeners and are considered a romantic ballad. The song was the third best-selling digital song of 2014 and has won several awards, including a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording in 2015. In addition, the song's music video, which features John Legend and his real-life wife, Chrissy Teigen, has been viewed over 1.8 billion times on YouTube.
Line by Line Meaning
What would I do without your smart mouth?
I appreciate your cleverness even though sometimes you frustrate me.
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You have a way of both attracting me and pushing me away at the same time.
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
You keep me guessing and I can never quite figure you out.
What's going on in that beautiful mind?
You are so intriguing and I want to know what's going on inside your head.
I'm on your magical mystery ride
Being with you is unpredictable, but also exciting and fulfilling.
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
You confuse and overwhelm me, but I still feel like everything will turn out okay.
My head's under water
I feel like I'm drowning in my emotions.
But I'm breathing fine
But despite that, I am managing to stay afloat.
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
You are so wild and unpredictable, and I feel like I'm going insane trying to keep up with you.
'Cause all of me
I am giving you everything I have.
Loves all of you
I love every part of you, good and bad.
Love your curves and all your edges
I appreciate all of the unique qualities that make you who you are.
All your perfect imperfections
I love that you are flawed and imperfect, because that is what makes you human and beautiful.
Give your all to me
I want you to trust me and be open with me.
I'll give my all to you
I will reciprocate and give you all that I have in return.
You're my end and my beginning
You are everything to me, the start and finish of my journey.
Even when I lose, I'm winning
Even if things don't go my way, being with you is still a victory.
How many times do I have to tell you?
I want you to know that my love for you is constant and persistent.
Even when you're crying, you're beautiful too
I love you for who you are in both your happy and sad moments.
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
I will always be here for you, even when the world seems against you.
You're my downfall, you're my muse
You are my greatest weakness and my greatest inspiration.
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
You are a constant source of both happiness and turmoil in my life.
I can't stop singing, it's ringing in my head for you
I am consumed by thoughts of you and cannot get you out of my mind.
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
We are being open and vulnerable with each other, baring our true emotions.
Risking it all, though it's hard
Even though situations may be difficult and uncertain, we are still willing to take the gamble on love.
Give me all of you, oh
I want everything about you, even the parts that are sometimes hard to handle.
I give you all of me
I am giving you the entirety of myself, holding nothing back.
And you give me all of you, oh-oh
I know that you are just as devoted to me and that we share a deep bond.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Stephens, Tobias Gad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jaxon
really really good I love it
Rickie
Good
Christine Bañega
like
Promise Sokyes
A perfect love song.