Born and raised in New York City by her Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother, this Latin bombshell was exposed to a variety of musical styles, from Motown to Aretha Franklin to Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. Says Angela, “Growing up in Harlem, if you didn’t have the latest James Brown or a Supremes forty-five single, you weren’t hip. We always had Latin music playing in the house as my parents were great music lovers. In fact my father used to sit in and sing with the great Cuban bandleader, Machito.”
By the age of eighteen, Angie was an accomplished singer and songwriter, jamming with the likes of Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Nat Adderley Jr and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few. She was a featured soloist with the Dance Theater of Harlem, majored in theater at the University of Hartford and majored in voice at the Hartt College of Music. Angela also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music where she was classically trained in opera.
Angela’s solo recording career began in 1978 with her self-titled album, Angie. The hits This Time I’ll Be Sweeter and Under The Moon and Over the Sky began the career of a young woman whose unique blend of jazz and R&B established her as one of the top vocalists in both the pop and jazz world. Signed to GRP records, she released her sophomore recording titled, Angel of the Night. With hits like I Try and the title track, both her albums were simultaneously topping the pop, jazz and R&B charts in 1979 for months. Angela’s recording career was solidified.
After suffering a massive stroke in 2006, Angie has been recuperating in her California home. She can move one leg with the help of a brace, but still can't move her left arm.
On July 10, 2007 Bofill suffered yet another massive stroke and according to angelabofill.com was in critical condition. As recently as July 24, 2007 blackamericaweb.com reported that Bofill's entire left side is paralyzed, as it was after her first stroke in early 2006. Family and friends encourage the public to purchase her live CD, for sale on her website.
Because Bofill did not have health insurance, a benefit concert was organized to pay her hospital bills. The show, planned by manager Rich Engel along with NY radio stations Kiss FM and CD 101.9, was held on March 11 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ. Similar events followed, and other aid was being sought from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.[3] Her album Live in Manila (recorded in 2004) was released during this time. Unfortunately, Bofill suffered another massive stroke in 2007, which required a long period of therapy and has left her speech - and mobility-impaired.
Although unable to sing, in recent years Bofill has returned to the stage (at the suggestion of manager Engel) in The Angela Bofill Experience. The show consists of Bofill recounting her life and career, joined by artists such as Maysa Leak, Phil Perry and Melba Moore performing Bofill's biggest hits and signature songs. In 2012 Bofill was profiled and interviewed for the TVOne Documentary series, Unsung
Break It To Me Gently
Angela Bofill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could hide what's on your mind?
No matter how I tried
I just couldn't be so blind
We've been close but people grow,
And they sometimes grow apart
There's just one thing I ask you
If you've had a change of heart…
CHORUS:
(And)Break it to me gently,
If ya have to, then tell me lies
Break it to me gently,
At least leave me with my pride
Try to spare my feelings
If the feelings have to die
Break it to me gently,
If you have to say goodbye
I'm not ashamed to admit
I really hurt inside
After all these are my feelings,
Why should I make them hide?
But I won't hold you back,
There'll be no pulling on your sleeve
Just let me down easy,
And go softly when you leave…
CHORUS:
(And)Break it to me gently,
If ya have to, then tell me lies
Break it to me gently,
At least leave me with my pride
Try to spare my feelings
If the feelings have to die
Break it to me gently,
If you have to say goodbye
You always knew that you had my heart
It's still yours, if you wanna take it
But when you go, as I know you must,
Be gentle with your breaking
CHORUS:
(And)Break it to me gently,
If ya have to, then tell me lies
Break it to me gently,
At least leave me with my pride
Trust me and my feelings
If the feelings have to die
Break it to me gently,
If you have to say goodbye
Break it to me gently,
If you have to say goodbye,
Goodbye, goodbye...
The song "Break It To Me Gently" by Angela Bofill is about a couple who have grown apart, but the singer is still hopeful that they can part ways in a respectful and gentle manner. The singer is aware that there is something wrong between them and acknowledges that she cannot ignore it any longer. She expresses her desire for her partner to be honest but soft in telling her that their relationship is ending. She acknowledges that it's difficult to end a relationship and hopes her partner can spare her feelings while still being truthful.
The chorus is a request to her partner to break the news to her gently, even if it means telling her lies. She would prefer to be lied to than to have her feelings hurt. She wants to be let down easily and allowed to keep her pride intact. The singer doesn't want to hold her partner back from moving on; she just asks that they don't hurt her too much.
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's request for gentleness and kindness. The final line of the song, "Break it to me gently, if you have to say goodbye" highlights the inevitability of the breakup. In summary, the song is a plea for a respectful and gentle breakup, acknowledging that feelings are at stake on both sides.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you think that your smile
Did you believe that by smiling, you could conceal your true emotions?
Could hide what's on your mind?
Do you think your thoughts are hidden behind your smile?
No matter how I tried
Regardless of how hard I tried
I just couldn't be so blind
I couldn't remain oblivious
We've been close but people grow,
We were once close, but individuals evolve
And they sometimes grow apart
And on occasion, they become distant
There's just one thing I ask you
I have only one request to make
If you've had a change of heart…
If you no longer feel the same way
CHORUS: (And)Break it to me gently,
Chorus: Please end it softly
If ya have to, then tell me lies
If you must, conceal the truth with falsehoods
At least leave me with my pride
At least grant me my dignity
Try to spare my feelings
Attempt to be considerate of my emotions
If the feelings have to die
If our emotions must dissipate
Break it to me gently,
Please end it softly
If you have to say goodbye
If you must say farewell
I'm not ashamed to admit
I don't feel ashamed
I really hurt inside
I'm in a lot of emotional pain
After all these are my feelings,
After all, these are my emotions
Why should I make them hide?
Why should I conceal them?
But I won't hold you back,
However, I won't stop you
There'll be no pulling on your sleeve
I won't try to keep you near
Just let me down easy,
Just let me down gently
And go softly when you leave…
And depart with care
You always knew that you had my heart
You always knew that I deeply cared for you
It's still yours, if you wanna take it
My love for you remains, if you desire it
But when you go, as I know you must,
However, I recognize that you must leave
Be gentle with your breaking
Please be kind when ending our relationship
Trust me and my feelings
Have faith in me and my emotions
If the feelings have to die
If our emotions must dissipate
Break it to me gently,
Please end it softly
If you have to say goodbye
If you must say farewell
CHORUS: (And)Break it to me gently,
Chorus: Please end it softly
If ya have to, then tell me lies
If you must, conceal the truth with falsehoods
At least leave me with my pride
At least grant me my dignity
Try to spare my feelings
Attempt to be considerate of my emotions
If the feelings have to die
If our emotions must dissipate
Break it to me gently,
Please end it softly
If you have to say goodbye
If you must say farewell
Break it to me gently,
Please end it softly
If you have to say goodbye,
If you must say farewell
Goodbye, goodbye...
Farewell, farewell...
Contributed by Kaitlyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Carter
Of all her GREAT work, this is my favorite Angie tune.
ifluvinguiswrong
Just incredible!
Keith Dickerson
Love Angie!!!
Mayet Estroga
I love this so much,
Robert Armstrong
What a song!
Crucial P Denis Lea
Greatness
genalyn opura
Break it to me gently...