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
I WONDER
Angela Bofill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These ones are getting lose
My feet are shrinking in the
Sun, and it ain't fun
But it looks like rain up ahead
In forty miles.
A big rainbow took the blue sky.
Her so and thank you for
Giving me these bones o gold
I'm gonna run from my home
Jump in the river and let the
Water soak the sin in my soul.
Fine time we all crossed lines
make the music that makes us
Feel fine
Rednecks on sun decks hearing a
Hillside Romeo say "Boys this is the
Good shit, so come on all and eat
A little bit."
And if I ever go back home I'm
Gonna sell
And tell my momma, I love
Her so and thank you for
Giving me these bones o gold
I'm gonna run from my home
Jump in the river and let the
Water soak the sin in my soul.
Don't even say a word, it confuses me
What he says to do, is that we don't
Have to
We don't have to.
The lyrics of "I Wonder" by Angela Bofill are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation but can be interpreted as the musings of a restless individual who wants to leave the current situation they find themselves in. The first verse is about a practical issue of having to buy shoes that fit, but it leads to a deeper reflection on how time passes and changes the things we take for granted. The line "But it looks like rain up ahead in forty miles" suggests a sense of foreboding or uncertainty about the future, while the reference to the big rainbow taking over the blue sky could symbolize hope or a new beginning.
The second verse is a reflection on gratitude and the love one feels for their parents. The lines "Thank you for giving me these bones o gold" refer to the idea that our parents pass down their heritage and values to us, including physical traits like bone structure. The singer then expresses a desire to break away from their current life and "run from [their] home" to cleanse their soul in a river. The third verse is a bit harder to decode, but it seems to be about the power of music and art to unite people from different backgrounds, even if only for a moment. The line "Rednecks on sun decks hearing a hillside Romeo say 'Boys this is the good shit'" could be interpreted as a call for unity among those who might otherwise be divided by social or cultural barriers.
Overall, "I Wonder" is a contemplative song that touches on themes of change, gratitude, and the need for personal growth. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to buy some shoes
I need to purchase new footwear
These ones are getting lose
My current shoes are becoming too large for my feet
My feet are shrinking in the Sun, and it ain't fun
My feet are experiencing discomfort in the sun
But it looks like rain up ahead In forty miles.
Rain in on the forecast in forty miles
A big rainbow took the blue sky.
A large rainbow appeared in the sky
I'm gonna tell my momma, I love Her so and thank you for Giving me these bones o gold
I plan to express love and gratitude towards my mother for the life she gave me
I'm gonna run from my home Jump in the river and let the Water soak the sin in my soul.
I will escape from my current situation by submerging myself in water to purify my soul
Fine time we all crossed lines make the music that makes us Feel fine
We all come together to make music that makes us feel good
Rednecks on sun decks hearing a Hillside Romeo say "Boys this is the Good shit, so come on all and eat A little bit."
People from different backgrounds gather on a deck and enjoy food together
And if I ever go back home I'm Gonna sell And tell my momma, I love Her so and thank you for Giving me these bones o gold
If I return home, I will express love and gratitude towards my mother and sell my belongings
I'm gonna run from my home Jump in the river and let the Water soak the sin in my soul.
I will escape from my current situation by submerging myself in water to purify my soul
Don't even say a word, it confuses me
Please do not speak as it will lead to confusion
What he says to do, is that we don't Have to We don't have to.
We are not obligated to follow his instructions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bill Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind