Jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Kurt Elling left an immense impression on her and her approach to performing, which she incorporated into her performances as a Jazz Studies major at UCLA. During her college years, Alex began songwriting, drawing from her own personal experiences as well as those of friends and family. She wrote most of what would later become her self-written and produced debut EP, The Love/Art Memoirs, which was released to positive reception in 2012. This was followed up over a year later with the album Dreams in Analog, which featured the song "About Him". Her second album L U X U R Y was released in December 2015, with a sole guest appearance from Kenyon Dixon.
In 2018 and 2019, Isley respectively released the first and second parts to her EP The Beauty of Everything, which featured the duet with SiR "Love On-Demand" as well as "Road to You". November 2019 saw Isley collaborate with producer Jack Dine for the EP Wilton. Their musical relationship would continue into the next year with the singles "Gone" and "Good & Plenty", the latter of which would have a remix with Masego and Lucky Daye released in March 2021. In November, Isley & Dine released the single "Still Wonder" featuring jazz musician Robert Glasper, and is expected to appear on the duo's upcoming album.
without
Alex Isley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jumped right out a plane without a parachute
Nothing beats the view or the thought of you
Loving how you do
Fear of flight, I touch the sky
Blame then cry, then victimize
Soul inside, I see your eyes
Tell me I'm safe just one more time
'Cause I can't seem, seem to get over this
Ignorance in my place
Is it real, or did I imagine it?
After it all, I still wanna give
After the heart, you grow and you live
But what is life without love?
What is life without love?
(Without)
In Alex Isley's song "Without," the artist delves into the complex nature of love and what it means to truly give oneself over to another person. The lyrics start with the artist expressing their desire for honesty and authenticity in their relationships. They then use the analogy of jumping out of a plane without a parachute to describe the feeling of vulnerability and risk that comes with loving someone fully.
The lyrics then move into a discussion of fear and how it can hold us back from experiencing the joys of love. The artist acknowledges their own tendency to blame others and play the victim, but ultimately recognizes the importance of facing their fears and taking responsibility for their own emotions. The line "soul inside, I see your eyes" suggests that the artist is able to see beyond superficial appearances and into the deeper layers of someone's being.
The chorus of the song asks a fundamental question: what is life without love? Even though loving someone can be scary and painful, it is ultimately worth it because it brings meaning and purpose to our lives. This is a message that resonates with people across cultures and generations, and is sure to strike a chord with anyone who has ever loved and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hoping for the truth
I long for honesty and sincerity in our relationship.
Jumped right out a plane without a parachute
I took a big risk by committing to you without any guarantee of the outcome.
Nothing beats the view or the thought of you
The feeling of being in love and thinking about you is incomparable and blissful.
Loving how you do
I appreciate and adore the way you express your love for me.
Fear of flight, I touch the sky
Although I am afraid, I reach new heights when I am with you.
Blame then cry, then victimize
Sometimes I find myself shifting the blame and getting emotional when things don't go as planned.
Soul inside, I see your eyes
I feel a deep connection with you and can see your true self in your eyes.
Tell me I'm safe just one more time
I need reassurance that you will always be there for me and that our love is secure.
'Cause I can't seem, seem to get over this
I can't shake off the feeling of being in love with you.
Ignorance in my place
I may be ignorant about some things, but my love for you is not one of them.
Is it real, or did I imagine it?
Sometimes I wonder whether our love is real or just a figment of my imagination.
After it all, I still wanna give
Despite the challenges we face, I still want to continue loving you.
After the heart, you grow and you live
After experiencing heartbreak, you grow and learn to live without fear of love.
But what is life without love?
Without love, life would be empty and meaningless.
What is life without love?
Love gives life its purpose and makes every moment worth living.
(Without)
Without love, life would be incomplete and joyless.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexandra Isley, Jack Dine, Robert Glasper, Zach Ezickson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yotorey!
on I.C.Y.M.I
anybody know the lyrics??
Seyii Oluwa
on My Theme
Alex Isley
The Love/Art Memoirs
My Theme
Verse 1
Cold game, cold game
You’re playin’ love like an old game
And I'm aflame, I'm aflame
Heart burning like a bright flame,
I'm Still the same for you, for you
And If I try to tell you any different, don't believe me
I won't change for you, (for) you
Well maybe I'd pretend, but it’s only temporarily
Yeah
Pre Chorus
So, tell me what I want
I want you to say I'm in YOUR dreams
I give you what you want
'Cause till this very day, you're in my dreams
Baby, you're my theme
Chorus
(Na na na na na na na-na ah)
You're the MAN I dream
(Na na na na na na na-na ah)
You-uuu-uu
Verse 2
Day break, somehow
I'm thinking everything is real now
It's crazy how that works, ha
But it don't work for me,
Imagination likes to fool me, Vividly!!
I'll tell ya I'm pretty sure reality better
So, maybe we could talk about it NOW,
Maybe I'll mention forever,
So, I could live it out all over again
Never mind your mistakes,
Pick it up from the place we were
I wish that were okay
I wish that was the case, babe
Pre Chorus
(So, tell me what I want)
I want you to say I'm in your dreams, babe
(Give you what you want yeah)
I give you what you want
'Cause till this day you're in my dreams, oh
Baby you're my theme
Chorus
(Na na na na na na na-na ah)
You're the main idea
(Na na na na na na na-na ah)
Just tell me what I wanna hear, baby
(Ohh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Bridge
What's the meaning?
You bring me to the edge
Without a chance to take it in
I'm tired of dreaming
Can I get that new beginning when I wake again?
Pre Chorus (Interlude)
(Tell me what I want babe),
Tell me what I want babe,
(You’re still in my dreams bae)
'Cause this don't work for me, no more
(Tell me what I want babe),
Yeah ye-heay
(You're still in my dreams, bae)
Verse 3 (Extended Bridge)
In love with what I can't obtain,
Besides the butterfly’s I don't know what remains
Can the story ever change?
(I guess) No matter what I sing you wont feel the same, or will ya?
You're still in my dreams, baby baby
Yanna Loren
on For The Stars
This reminds me of a dream, yeah
I just wanna see the end, yeah
Things are harder than they seem, yeah
Keep runnin’ away from me, yeah but why?
I’m pretty sure that I don’t want the world in my hands, that ain’t what I said
So what’s so painful ‘bout holding my hand? my hand…is that much too grand?
Can you love me where we are? Or am I reaching for the stars?
Can you really handle where we are? Or am I reaching for the stars?
Close your eyes and just pretend, yeah
in a maze that never ends, yeah
How amazing it could be, yeah
If both you and I could win, yeah but how?
Ooh I’m not the type to go for all the world in my hands, that ain’t what I said
So what’s so scary ‘bout holding my hand? my hand…is that much too grand?
Can you love me where we are? Or am I reaching for the stars?
Can you really handle where we are? Or am I reaching for the stars?
Have I gone too far baby? Could you love me now baby? Am I getting close baby? Could you love me here baby?