It took the group three years, five months and two days to be offered a record deal. Hence the name of the first album was 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..., which produced several hit tracks. These included "Tennessee", "People Everyday", and "Mr. Wendal", which hit the top ten. The group won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, and were also Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. Their 1994 follow-up Zingalamaduni, which did very well with some critics but was panned by many others, sold poorly. After the group broke up in 1996, Speech released a solo album, but sales were poor. The group reunited in 2000 (sans Headliner) and has been touring and releasing records via Speech's Vagabond Productions and Speech Music. While Arrested Development has struggled to regain a following in the U.S., they have met moderate, consistent success in Japan.
Although she was never an official member of the band (and frequently clashed with Speech), the haunting voice behind "Tennessee", Dionne Farris, released a successful solo album in 1994, Wild Seed-Wild Flower. The album spawned the hit single, "I Know".
In November 2003, the group sued the FOX network over their TV show Arrested Development. The suit is referenced in the Arrested Development episode "Motherboy XXX."
In June 2005, the group won the first round of NBC's television series contest Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Tennessee" and covering Los Lonely Boys' "Heaven."
Baba Oje died in October 2018, aged 87.
Natural
Arrested Development Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one is clocking you, but I'm scoping you
Staring right through you, staring into you
Your beauty is endless and I'm hoping to explore
Brothers may say you're ugly but I disagree
But in a way that's fine with me
'Cause I want to travel with you
Travel in your mind 'cause you seem like a virgin
Wild like nature, yet calm as a field
Hair is natural, lips are natural
Face wins first place, you appeal to me, girl
Let me ask you for some time
For you to unwind together et cetera
I have nothing but pure intentions
Everything we'll be will be natural
Natural
I'd like to hold your waist as we chase
The wind down the shores of a southern ocean
Rub my fingers through your hair
Slowly rub and caress your forehead and bare
Our problems, as we lay on the bed called Earth
Holding hands 'till we touch each and every finger
As the ocean water wets us both
In the center of the crossroads
Spiritual bonds are connected
What an erection
Well Let's drive to the city
And walk among the lights of the city streets
You're making me weak and it's scary
'Cause you've played no games
All you've been is very natural
That's why I'm scared to fall in love with you
Natural
I want to be natural
I want to be sleeping in you
I want to be inside you
I want to be sleeping deep in you
I want to be in you
Natural
The lyrics of the song "Natural" by Arrested Development depict the singer's admiration for a woman he has been observing. In the first verse, the singer states that he has been staring at the woman's natural beauty and believes that she is unfairly labeled as ugly by other men. The singer desires to explore her mind as she seems to be free-spirited like nature, yet calm at the same time. The singer then goes on to express his interest in building a connection with her that is pure and natural. He asks her to allow him the opportunity to get to know her, and he guarantees that everything between them will be natural.
In the second verse, the singer remains fixated on the woman and now desires to be closer to her. He envisions holding her waist and chasing the wind down the shore. He wishes to touch her hair and forehead while they lay on the bed called Earth. The singer expresses his desire to be a part of her natural self and sleep deep inside her. He acknowledges his fear of falling in love with her, but still longs for their connection to be authentic and genuine.
The song's lyrics convey a message of appreciating the beauty and natural essence of another person. The singer values the woman's natural state and wishes to build a relationship that is free of pretense and superficiality. "Natural" can also be interpreted as a tribute to the forces of nature and their ability to connect individuals on a spiritual level.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm checking you out, you're all alone
I am looking at you, noticing that you are alone at the moment.
No one is clocking you, but I'm scoping you
Nobody is paying attention to you, but I am examining you closely.
Staring right through you, staring into you
I am gazing intently at you, trying to see beyond what is on the surface.
Your beauty is endless and I'm hoping to explore
Your attractiveness is limitless, and I desire to understand it fully.
Brothers may say you're ugly but I disagree
Some people may declare that you are unattractive, but I do not agree with them.
But in a way that's fine with me
However, their opinion on the matter does not bother me.
'Cause I want to travel with you
Because I hope to journey with you.
Travel in your mind 'cause you seem like a virgin
I want to explore your thoughts because you appear to have never had this kind of encounter before.
Free as the wind blows, tall as a tree grows
You embody a sense of liberty, and you are so massive like the growing tree.
Wild like nature, yet calm as a field
You have a wild but peaceful nature at the same time, just like the great field.
Hair is natural, lips are natural
Your hair and lips appear to be organic; untouched by artificial substances.
Face wins first place, you appeal to me, girl
Your face is the most attractive part of you, and I am drawn to you for it.
Let me ask you for some time
I would like to request some moments of your time.
For you to unwind together et cetera
I hope for us to relax together and so on.
I have nothing but pure intentions
I have only the best motives.
Everything we'll be will be natural
All that we will have between us is the essence of nature.
I'd like to hold your waist as we chase
I wish to embrace your waist as we run over the shores of the Southern ocean.
Rub my fingers through your hair
I want to softly run my fingers through your hair.
Slowly rub and caress your forehead and bare
Caressing your forehead and bare flesh with a soothing technique.
Our problems, as we lay on the bed called Earth
While lying next to each other on the planet called Earth, our problems will disappear.
Holding hands 'till we touch each and every finger
We will hold each other's hands until we have touched every finger of the other's hand.
As the ocean water wets us both
While the water of the ocean soaks us both.
In the center of the crossroads
At the intersection of destinies.
Spiritual bonds are connected
Our souls become united.
What an erection
What an intense feeling.
Well let's drive to the city
Let's make our way to the city.
And walk among the lights of the city streets
As we walk, the city lights will illuminate our path.
You're making me weak and it's scary
You are causing me to feel vulnerable, and it makes me apprehensive.
'Cause you've played no games
You have not deceived or misled anyone before.
All you've been is very natural
You have acted purely on your nature, without any artificiality.
That's why I'm scared to fall in love with you
This is why I am fearful to love you.
I want to be natural
I hope to be genuine and honest.
I want to be sleeping in you
I would like to have intimacy with you.
I want to be inside you
I desire a deeper connection with you.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT MUSIC
Written by: MATTHEW MICHAEL SERLETIC, ROBERT THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
eldaftbro
A gem, a classic masterpiece of oldschool rap... how things were created with rhythm, harmony, love and talent... a conscious rap group pioneers of the great music from the 90βs.
antrite08
I want this style of hip hop back in mainstream so bad!
Pamela Whitten
Love this song π΅ β€ π
Richard Toplitsky
The good old days when life and music was normal
David Brown
Man I miss the 90's, good times π
HATHOR Nadia
Love from France. You are always WONDERFUL music for me β€β€ππππππ
Sherwin Marlin
Love the synthesizer sounds in the background. Thank you Earth Wind & Fire for providing the basis of this amazing song. π
Nischal
Fantastic song I liked Arrested Development band are all their family members are musicians.
Renada Baker
I've been an AD fan from way back, why have I never heard this song??? I love it!!!
FredBJamz
Renada Baker It was on the same album with Tennessee and Mr Wendel I believe.