Larrieux was born and brought up in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village in New York City. Her mother was a dance critic and professor who encouraged Larrieux to grow up in a free-spirited, artistic environment. Many of her influences are drawn from R&B, soul, jazz, folk, hip-hop and gospel, with flashes of Middle Eastern, West African, and Indian ethnic styles. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
As a solo artist, her music is mostly categorized as fitting within the nu-soul genre, though she also dabbles in jazz, blues and gospel sounds. She sang lead vocals with Sade's band Sweetback while Sade was on hiatus. On her last album 'Lovely Standards' she gravitated away from nu-soul to produce a cover album made up of songs from the jazz and blues singers that inspired her. Larrieux is also influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Prince — as she has previously credited on her website.
Afraid
Amel Larrieux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And daytime too
Like someone slipped me something
And that something's you
Almost walked into a wall
Imagining your embrace
Have to snap myself out of the thought
And the sensation is real
The blood rushes into
Each place as if you were here
Elevating me to
Closed eyed elation
Heartbeat is racing
This evocation
Got me afraid of
The rapture stirring inside of me
Got me afraid of
What I'm gonna do if I get you to see
Got me afraid of you
You're so fine sometimes I forget to breathe
Got me afraid that
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
Faces are fading
Replaced with yours
Bodies are changing
Into your beautiful form
Oh to feel your pulse
Beating inside mine
Want you to press against me
Like if you don't you'll die
And the sensation is real
The blood rushes into
Each place as if you were here
Elevating me to
Closed eyed elation
Heartbeat is racing
This evocation
Got me afraid of
The rapture stirring inside of me
Got me afraid of
What I'm gonna do if I get you to see
Got me afraid of you
You're so fine sometimes I forget to breathe
Got me afraid that
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
You must be kin to the moon
'Cause when you're up and out and full
I could be anywhere and feel the pull
Whisperin' to my ocean
Your glow is nectar flowin'
Into my spine
And this is why I am
Afraid of
The rapture stirring inside of me
Got me afraid of
What I'm gonna do if I get you to see
Got me afraid of you
You're so damn fine sometimes I forget to breathe
Got me afraid that
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
Wherever you are
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
Wherever you are
(Is wherever I have to be
If you want to be with me
I love you
Need to be with me
Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
Wherever you are...
Wherever...
(You, you, you...
Wherever I wanna be
I wanna be, I wanna be)
Wherever, wherever
Wherever you are
Where, yeah...
The song "Afraid" by Amel Larrieux expresses the intense desire and fear of losing oneself in the love of another person. The opening lyrics suggest a drug-like addiction to the mere thought of the potential lover, and the fear that such strong emotions could consume her. The writer says she dreams of this person at night, and daydreams about them during the day - as if they have become an overwhelming presence in her life. She almost walks into a wall just imagining the feeling of their embrace, and the thought of their lips sends shivers down her spine. The sensation of being with this person feels as real as if they were actually there, causing her heart to race and her elation to skyrocket to a new level.
As the song progresses, the writer's delusions grow stronger. She sees the face of her potential lover in every other person and feels as if their body has become a part of hers. She wants to feel their pulse, to press against them, and to become one - so much so that she is afraid of what might happen if these feelings turn into reality. The writer suggests that the other person has the power to control her every move, that wherever they are is where she has to be. She is afraid of the rapture stirring inside her, the overwhelming desire and physical sensations that could consume her entirely.
Overall, the song "Afraid" portrays the intense pull of desire and the fear of losing oneself in love. It highlights the vulnerability and powerlessness that come with being truly enamoured with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
I dream of you nights
I frequently dream of you during the night
And daytime too
I also frequently think about you during the day
Like someone slipped me something
It feels like I've been given a drug that makes me think about you all the time
And that something's you
The cause of this drug-like feeling is my attraction to you
Almost walked into a wall
I was so lost in thought about you that I almost had an accident
Imagining your embrace
My thoughts about you involve physical closeness and intimacy
Have to snap myself out of the thought
I have to forcefully stop thinking about you to avoid getting lost in my feelings
Of your lips and their heavenly daze
I think about kissing you, and how amazing it would be
And the sensation is real
The feelings I have when I think about you are intense and genuine
The blood rushes into
My body physically responds to thoughts of you
Each place as if you were here
My whole body reacts as if you were physically with me
Elevating me to
Thinking about you makes me feel lifted, happy and excited
Closed eyed elation
I feel so happy and excited when I think about you that I close my eyes in pleasure
Heartbeat is racing
My pulse increases when I think about you
This evocation
My feelings for you are very strong and emotional
Got me afraid of
My feelings for you are so strong that they scare me
The rapture stirring inside of me
I feel a sense of overwhelming passion and desire when I think about you
What I'm gonna do if I get you to see
If my feelings are reciprocated, I don't know how I will react
You're so fine sometimes I forget to breathe
You are so attractive that it takes my breath away
Got me afraid that
I'm scared that my feelings and attraction to you are so strong that I am dependent on you
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
I want to be with you, wherever you may be, at any cost
Faces are fading
My memories of others are disappearing as I focus solely on you
Replaced with yours
Thoughts of you are taking the place of thoughts of others
Bodies are changing
I imagine physical changes to myself, as if becoming more like you
Into your beautiful form
I perceive beauty and attractiveness in you and want to become more like you
Oh to feel your pulse
I desire to feel your physical presence, heart and all
Beating inside mine
I wish to become one with you, emotionally and physically
Want you to press against me
I crave physical contact and intimacy with you
Like if you don't you'll die
My need for you is so strong that the absence of physical contact would be unbearable
You must be kin to the moon
You are like the moon to me, an object of beauty and fascination
Cause when you're up and out and full
You are at your most attractive and captivating
I could be anywhere and feel the pull
Regardless of where I am, I feel drawn to you when you are at your best
Whisperin' to my ocean
You are like a gentle breeze calming the tumultuous waters of my emotions
Your glow is nectar flowin'
Your attractiveness is like the sweetest nectar, flowing into my being
Into my spine
My attraction to you is intense and physically felt
Afraid of
I am scared and intimidated by my own strong emotions and need for you
Wherever you are is wherever I have to be
I am so attracted to you, that being with you is my top priority
If you want to be with me
I am willing to do anything to be with you, even change myself to better fit your preferences
I love you
I am deeply in love with you and have overwhelming feelings of affection for you
Need to be with me
Being with me is what you truly want, and you feel a strong attraction towards me
You're so damn fine sometimes I forget to breathe
Your attractiveness is so strong, that I sometimes forget to breathe when I think about you
Wherever, wherever
I will go to great lengths to be with you, regardless of the location
Wherever you are
Being with you is the most important thing to me
Where, yeah...
I will follow you to the ends of the earth to be with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chicago West's Variety Of Sound
This Girl has taken Sade's place with her Calypso sounding lyrical grooves and ballads that sort of hypnotize you and leave you suspendid effortlessly in a comfortable space!
Amel is the TRUTH and has given a wide range of performances everywhere to Showcase her dynamic!
Her Vibe and track record is Proven! And something else that has always stood out to me since her earlier days with, "The Theory" is her *Natural Organic Beauty*!!!
No tats, weaves, implants, botox, Silicone, "NOTHIN"❗!❗
She impresses with what she's been blessed with! Nothing fake or artificial. Beautiful Voice; Beautiful Woman;
Winning Combination 🎤🎧✔💯◾
Blest Peters
I've always loved her voice,so soft .I play this so over and over love it💝💝💝💝💝🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎤
shantia207
Where ever u are ......wherever u are
patricia T
She truly gets it, my thoughts and feelings so beautifully put.
GeminiQueen79
Still bopping in Quarantine 2020
Stacia Belcher
For real !!!
Dwain Cherry
Still boppin'. Post pandemic 2023!
A F
Still listening 2023!
Debtlo413
This song is currently on repeat. . Over love it
dina smith
Same Here!!! I love this song!!! 😍
Soultrain AfterDark
Yes Indeed ,,, On Repeat Throughout Eternity