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.
come as you are
Brandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Innocent like a dove
I was just a girl
With no thoughts of making love
I was just a girl
When holding hands was enough
I was just a girl
A man didn't mean as much
Now I'm a woman, a passionate woman
Now I'm a woman, a true leading woman
Now I'm a woman, a sensual woman
Now I'm a woman, a woman, a woman
I was just a girl
When flirting was all it was
I was just a girl
And kept feelings bottled up
I was just a girl
Never knew how to touch
I was just a girl
When love didn't mean as much
Now I'm a woman, a passionate woman
Now I'm a woman, a sensual woman
Now I need someone who has something in common
Now I need someone, someone, someone
[Chorus]
He don't have to makes lots of cheddar
And you don't' have to write love letters
And you don't have to fool with the fellas
Cause I'ma let you know we can get up
Come as you are
So come as you are
Come as you are
Come to my heart
I was just, I was just, I was just a girl
Sweet like honey
I was just a girl
Used to spending money
I was just a girl
You couldn't buy me
I was just a girl
Who wrote in her diary
Now I'm a woman, a passionate woman
Now I'm a woman, a true leading woman
Now I'm a woman, a sensual woman
Now I'm a woman, a woman, a woman
I was just a girl
So soft spoken
I was just a girl
Mind wasn't open
I was just a girl
My work had me focused
I was just a girl
I was lonely in the showbiz
Now I'm a woman, a passionate woman
Now I'm a woman, a sensual woman
Now I need someone who has something in common
(Now I need someone who has something I like)
Now I need someone, someone, someone
[Chorus]
It's what I want, what I want [Repeat: x4]
I need a man whose sure of himself
I need a man whose true to himself
I need a man who does for himself
I need a man who already loves himself
[Chorus]
In Brandy's song "Come as You Are", she reflects on her life, particularly the transition from girlhood to womanhood. As a young girl, she was innocent and unaware of the complexities of love, and holding hands was enough to satisfy her. However, as she became a woman, her desires and passions grew, and she yearned for someone who had more in common with her. She no longer needed a man who could provide material things or write love letters, but someone who was sure of themselves, true to themselves, and already loved themselves. The song embraces the idea of accepting each other as we are, flaws and all, and inviting someone to come into her heart without any pretenses.
The lyrics of the song also highlight the idea that girlhood and womanhood are not defined by age, but by experiences and emotional growth. Brandy sings about how she used to be a girl who was sweet like honey and used to spending money, but now she's a woman who knows what she wants and needs from a partner. She acknowledges that she was once lonely in the showbiz and that her work had her focused, perhaps hinting at the real-life pressures and responsibilities that come with fame.
Overall, "Come as You Are" is an empowering anthem for women who are unapologetic about their desires, passions, and independence. Brandy encourages us to embrace our true selves and invite someone to come into our lives without any agendas or expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just a girl
At one point in time, I was young and inexperienced.
Innocent like a dove
I was naively pure and harmless.
With no thoughts of making love
I was not interested in romantic or sexual relationships.
When holding hands was enough
I was content with small gestures of affection.
A man didn't mean as much
Males were not a significant part of my life.
Now I'm a woman, a passionate woman
As I grew older, I became more intense and enthusiastic.
A true leading woman
I am now mature, confident and independent.
A sensual woman
I have also become more desirable and pleasurable.
Now I need someone who has something in common
I am searching for a partner who matches me in values and interests.
Now I need someone, someone, someone
I am longing for companionship and connection.
When flirting was all it was
I used to show romantic interest without pursuing it further.
And kept feelings bottled up
I did not express my emotions openly.
Never knew how to touch
I was inexperienced in physical intimacy.
When love didn't mean as much
I did not understand the true depth and significance of love.
He don't have to makes lots of cheddar
My partner does not need to be extremely wealthy.
And you don't' have to write love letters
I do not require grand romantic gestures.
And you don't have to fool with the fellas
I am not interested in seeing anyone else.
Cause I'ma let you know we can get up
I am open to pursuing a physical relationship.
Come as you are
I accept my partner for who they are without any expectations.
So come as you are
I am completely accepting of you.
Come to my heart
I welcome you into my life.
Sweet like honey
I used to be charming and delightful.
Used to spending money
I had a habit of spending frivolously.
You couldn't buy me
However, I was not easily impressed by wealth.
Who wrote in her diary
I used to keep my thoughts and feelings private in a journal.
So soft spoken
I used to be very quiet and reserved.
Mind wasn't open
I was not receptive to new experiences or perspectives.
My work had me focused
I was extremely dedicated and driven in my career.
I was lonely in the showbiz
Fame and success did not bring me satisfaction in my personal life.
I need a man whose sure of himself
I desire a partner who is confident and certain about themselves.
I need a man whose true to himself
I want a partner who is authentic and genuine in their actions and words.
I need a man who does for himself
I am attracted to someone who is self-sufficient and proactive.
I need a man who already loves himself
I require a partner who has a healthy sense of self-love and self-worth.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN GARRETT, TIMOTHY N MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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