Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996–2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.
Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012–2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.
In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.
Have You Ever?
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever
Been in love so bad
You'd do anything to make them understand
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
You'd give anything to make them feel the same
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you don't know what to say
And you don't know where to start
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever
Have you ever found the one
You've dreamed of all of your life
Just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
Only to find that one won't give their heart to you
Have you ever closed your eyes and
Dreamed that they were there
And all you can do is wait for the day when they will care
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever
What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby
What do I gotta say to get your heart
To make you understand how I need you next to me
Gotta get you in my world
Cause baby I can't sleep
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever
The lyrics to Brandy's song "Have You Ever" are a reflection on the intensity of love and the yearning to have that love reciprocated. The song opens with the question, "Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?" This line sets the tone for the rest of the song's introspective and emotive lyrics. The singer goes on to describe the feeling of needing someone so desperately that it keeps them up at night and searching for the words to express themselves but finding it difficult to do so.
The second verse delves into the experience of finding someone you've been dreaming of your entire life, only to have your heart broken by their lack of reciprocation. The singer asks if the listener has ever closed their eyes and dreamed of someone being there with them, only to wake up and find that it was just a dream.
The chorus repeats the initial questions, emphasizing the depth of emotion being described. The bridge includes a plea for the other person to reciprocate their love and the singer asks, "What do I gotta do to get you in my arms, baby?" It's a vulnerable expression of affection and desire.
"Have You Ever" is a powerful song that conveys the universal emotions of love, desire, and heartbreak. It's a masterful reflection on the complex feelings that arise when trying to navigate romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry
Have you ever loved someone to the extent that the thought of losing them makes you so emotional that you burst into tears?
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever wanted something so badly that it keeps you up all night and you can't rest until you have it?
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever
Have you ever struggled to express your feelings into words, even though you want to let that person know how you feel and ended up not being able to say anything at all?
Have you ever been in love
Been in love so bad
You'd do anything to make them understand
Have you ever been in love so much, that you are willing to go to any extent to ensure that the person you love understands your feelings?
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
You'd give anything to make them feel the same
Have you ever felt like someone has taken away your heart, and you would do anything in your power to make that person love you back in the same way?
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you don't know what to say
And you don't know where to start
Have you ever tried to find the right words to express your emotions, but you're lost and don't know how to put it all into words?
Have you ever found the one
You've dreamed of all of your life
Just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you ever found your soulmate, the one you've been waiting for your entire life, and just looking into their eyes gives you a feeling that words cannot describe?
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
Only to find that one won't give their heart to you
Have you ever loved someone with all your heart, only to find out that they don't feel the same way about you, and won't give you their heart?
Have you ever closed your eyes and
Dreamed that they were there
And all you can do is wait for the day when they will care
Have you ever imagined being with the person you love and longing for the day when they will love you back?
What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby
What do I gotta say to get your heart
To make you understand how I need you next to me
Gotta get you in my world
Cause baby I can't sleep
What do I need to do to make you feel the same way about me? How do I get you to understand that I need you by my side, and I can't sleep without you? I need you in my life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Realsongs
Written by: Diane Eve Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lexierietze8213
This song is almost everything I want to say, in the most basic way, but also how I feel and that I am going through, with my recent ex.
This song was one of the many I listened to in high school when it came out, around that time.
Here I am, all these years later and it really means something perfect to me now.. 😢
Our song together was chosen almost 5 yrs ago and was Jeff Healey, Angel Eyes.
It became our song after he told me it’s the song that made him emotional when we first started dating and it’s the one he most attributed to us from the very beginning.
I can’t listen to it without crying.
I’ve never in my life loved someone like this. Head over heels, in love.
Unconditional.
I doubt I’ll ever find it again. I’m not that young anymore.
Why aren’t time machines available yet ??? 😢❤😂 haha
I learned a lot through our time. I just wish I could go back.
Sorry to unload. BRANDY got me going with this oldie from high school :)
God bless love. Old & new …
@bridgetjackie4210
Who is listening to it in 2024 🥰🥰🥰
@ratsyd.megabiih7062
I most definitely am
@ladyreborn1956
7Feb2024
💝💞💖
@brownskinlou2024
Mee
@teesulli833
2024 in da house
@user-gv1ic1dy8j
ME
@mavelyssa
It’s 2023 and it still cuts so deep. What a song! Brandy is seriously underrated. Her voice is soothing and unique. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
@elizabethgalio2564
Facts i totally agreed❤
@mikemann1960
I can't tell you who, why this song existe other than she meant it. For those who know, just enjoy.
@mllemg2363
Je suis d'accord. One voice est ma chanson préférée