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.
All I Got 2
Amel Larrieux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In these shoes
They walked a mile or two,
Got these legs
They've done work
That's left them black and blue,
Got these hips
They are wide
Got these hands
To lift the weak
Or slap down a racist fool
This is all I
This is all I got
Got this place
I call my home
But it's no Taj Mahal,
Got these pockets
They ain't full grown
But I won't steal from no one,
Got this heart
Well it's been broke
But it's still beating strong,
Got this song
It ain't much
But it helps me carry on
This is all I
This is all I got
Got a will
That lifts me up
When my body can't
Got a way
Of getting' through
With no helping hands
Got a mind
That lends me strength
So I ain't afraid to stand
Got a love
So deep in me
Can't be stopped by any man
The lyrics to Amel Larrieux's song 4 are an ode to the singer's resilience, strength, and perseverance in the face of hardship. Each stanza focuses on a different aspect of her being, from her physical body (feet, legs, hips, and hands) to her material possessions (a modest home and nearly empty pockets), to her inner qualities (a determined will, an unbreakable spirit, and boundless love). In each case, she acknowledges both the limitations and the potential of that aspect of herself, affirming that whatever she has is enough to carry her through life's challenges.
The first stanza uses imagery of the body to convey the wear and tear that life can inflict, but also the capability and resilience that can come from enduring tough times. The contrast between the broad hips that "know how to move" and the hands that can either lift up or knock down serves as a metaphor for the duality of power and responsibility that comes with strength.
In the second stanza, Larrieux expresses gratitude for what she has, even if it's not much by worldly standards. Her home may not be luxurious, her pockets may be empty, and her heart may have been broken, but she still finds value in her circumstances. The song itself serves as a token of hope and inspiration, something she can hold onto when things get tough.
The final stanza ties together all the different facets of Larrieux's being - body, mind, heart, and spirit - and affirms that she has what it takes to overcome any obstacle. Her willpower, resourcefulness, mental fortitude, and capacity for love all work in concert to make her resilient and unstoppable.
Overall, 4 is a song of empowerment that celebrates the strength and beauty of human resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Got these feet
I have walked many miles in these shoes
In these shoes
These shoes have carried me through thick and thin
They walked a mile or two
I have overcome many difficult challenges in life
Got these legs
My legs have worked tirelessly to get me where I am today
They've done work
I have worked hard throughout my life
That's left them black and blue
My hard work has taken a toll on me, mentally and physically
Got these hips
I am proud of my body, including my wide hips
They are wide
My body shape is not something to be ashamed of
But they know how to move
I know how to dance and express myself
Got these hands
These hands have the power to help others or fight for what's right
To lift the weak
I am always willing to help those who need it
Or slap down a racist fool
I will not tolerate racism and will stand up against it
This is all I
All I have is
This is all I got
But I am content with what I have
Got this place
I have a humble home
I call my home
A place where I feel safe and comfortable
But it's no Taj Mahal
It may not be extravagant, but it's a roof over my head
Got these pockets
I may not have a lot of money
They ain't full grown
But I won't resort to stealing
But I won't steal from no one
I am honest and have integrity
Got this heart
I have a big heart
Well it's been broke
But I have been hurt before
But it's still beating strong
Yet, I still find the strength to keep going
Got this song
I have my music
It ain't much
It's not a lot, but it's something
But it helps me carry on
It gives me the motivation to keep pushing forward
Got a will
I have a strong willpower
That lifts me up
It helps me overcome obstacles when my body can't
When my body can't
When I feel physically or mentally drained
Got a way
I have a method
Of getting' through
To get through tough times
With no helping hands
Even if I have to do it alone
Got a mind
My mind is strong
That lends me strength
It gives me the power to stand up for myself
So I ain't afraid to stand
I am not afraid to speak up when necessary
Got a love
I have a deep love inside of me
So deep in me
It is an integral part of who I am
Can't be stopped by any man
No one can take away the love I have inside of me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AMEL LARRIEUX, GUESLEY LARRIEUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind