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
You Should Know By Now
Angela Bofill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is the look in my eye
Lovin' the way you smile
When I say
"I wish you would stay"
You bring out all the youth in me
I laugh and cry out all the truth in me out of love
Haven't you felt by now
Just what it's like to be loved
Knowing that certain touch when you're sure
Time won't give you more
You bring out all the best in me
I want to hold you till you feel the need
Somehow
You should know by now
If I could just find the words
I wouldn't be left so lonely
I'm you're my one and only
And I'd show you how
Every move as smooth as silk
Say you will
Stay you will
Hasn't it crossed your mind?
Haven't you known all the time?
Honestly tell me now has it shown?
How much love is grown?
The way I tremble at the sight of you
I want to learn to love you through and through
This I'll vow
You should know by now
Hmm by now
You should by now
Don't you think you should know by now?
In Angela Bofill's song "You Should Know By Now," the singer communicates a message of love and urgency to her lover. She suggests that he should know by now that love is the look in her eye and the way he makes her feel when she smiles. He brings out all the best in her and makes her want to hold him until he feels the need. She trembles at the sight of him and wants to learn to love him through and through, but she needs him to reciprocate these feelings. She hints that if she could find the words or if he would just stay, she would show him how much he means to her.
The repetition of the phrase "you should know by now" emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message. The singer is not playing games and wants her lover to understand the depth of her love for him. The repeated question "Don't you think you should know by now?" at the end of the song adds to this tone of exasperation and impatience, suggesting that the singer cannot wait any longer for her lover to reciprocate her feelings.
Overall, "You Should Know By Now" is a passionate love song that communicates a powerful message of love and urgency. The singer's strong vocals and emotional delivery convey the depth of her feelings and the urgency of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
You ought to know by now
You should already be aware
Love is the look in my eye
My eyes express love and affection for you
Lovin' the way you smile
I enjoy the way you smile
When I say "I wish you would stay"
Expressing my desire for you to remain with me
You bring out all the youth in me
You make me feel young and alive
I laugh and cry out all the truth in me out of love
My love for you makes me express all my emotions - happy or sad
Haven't you felt by now
Haven't you experienced
Just what it's like to be loved
The feeling of being loved
Knowing that certain touch when you're sure
Feeling certain about the touch of love
Time won't give you more
Love is what you have now, and time won't give you more than that
You bring out all the best in me
You make me bring out my best qualities and traits
I want to hold you till you feel the need
I want to embrace you until you feel satisfied
Somehow
One way or another
If I could just find the words
If I could express what I feel in words
I wouldn't be left so lonely
I wouldn't feel so alone
I'm you're my one and only
You are the only person for me
And I'd show you how
And I would demonstrate my love to you
Every move as smooth as silk
Every action and gesture is smooth and graceful
Say you will
Agree to be with me
Stay you will
Promise to remain with me
Hasn't it crossed your mind?
Has the thought not occurred to you?
Haven't you known all the time?
Haven't you been aware of this all along?
Honestly tell me now has it shown?
To be honest, has my love been obvious?
How much love is grown?
How deep and strong is our love?
The way I tremble at the sight of you
Your presence makes me tremble with excitement and anticipation
I want to learn to love you through and through
I want to deeply and completely love you
This I'll vow
I promise this
Hmm by now
Yes, by now
You should by now
You should be aware by now
Don't you think you should know by now?
Don't you realize by now?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EARL KLUGH, BUNNY HULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind