Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
Been So Long
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I bumped into you today
And I forgot the reasons why
Why I went away?
Funny how fate opens the door
And destiny walks in
The only thing that I know for sure
'cause baby it's been so long
Since I had you here with me
Baby it's been so long
Baby come to me
Do you ever think of us?
And the way it used to be
Late at night, I long for your touch
All the things you do to me
They say, it's just like riding a bike
Some thing you never forget
You know all the things I like
Let's see how much harder it gets
So, baby it's been so long
Since I had you here with me
Baby it's been so long
Baby come to me
They're playing our song
Oh baby now, it might be wrong
Oh baby now, I hope that this night don't end
Oh baby but, it might be right
Oh baby now, right here tonight
Oh baby now, what do you say?
Can you stay?
'cause baby it's been so long
Since I had you here with me
Baby it's been so long
Baby come to me
Baby it's been so long
Since I had you here with me
Baby it's been so long
Baby come to me
Baby it's been so long
Since I had you here with me
Baby it's been so long
Baby come to me
The song "Been So Long" by Brian McKnight tells the story of a former lover who bumps into their old flame unexpectedly. They reflect on the reasons why they went separate ways and wonder if destiny brought them back together for a reason. The lyrics convey feelings of nostalgia, longing, and uncertainty as they question if they still have a chance to rekindle their love.
The opening lines "Oh yeah, crazy how right out of the blue, I bumped into you today, And I forgot the reasons why, Why I went away?" suggests that the encounter was unexpected, and it evokes a sense of surprise. The next lines, "Funny how fate opens the door, And destiny walks in, The only thing that I know for sure, Exactly how long it's been," imply that they believe their chance encounter is not just a coincidence, but fate working mysteriously in their favor. The refrain, "Baby it's been so long, Since I had you here with me, Baby it's been so long, Baby come to me," reveals how much the person has missed their long-gone lover and how they yearn to be with them again.
In the third stanza, the lyrics become more intimate and suggestive, as the singer asks their old flame, "Do you ever think of us? And the way it used to be. Late at night, I long for your touch, All the things you do to me." These lyrics convey a subtle hint of sexual attraction and desire, and it reflects the singer's hope that the physical intimacy they once shared still exists between them. The final lines of the song, "Baby it's been so long, Since I had you here with me, Baby it's been so long, Baby come to me," reinforces their desire to be reunited and suggests that they are willing to take a risk and see what happens.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah, crazy how right out of the blue
It's surprising how unexpectedly I bumped into you today
I forgot the reasons why
I can't remember why I left you
Funny how fate opens the door
Coincidences can lead to life-changing moments
And destiny walks in
What's meant to happen will happen
The only thing that I know for sure
The only thing I'm certain about is how long it's been since we were together
Exactly how long it's been
I know the exact amount of time that's passed since I last saw you
'cause baby it's been so long
It's been too long since we were together, my love
Since I had you here with me
Since we were together, spending time making memories
Do you ever think of us?
Do you ever remember the moments we shared together?
And the way it used to be
Remembering how happy we once were
Late at night, I long for your touch
At night, I miss the feeling of being close to you
All the things you do to me
The way you make me feel with your touch, your love, and your presence
They say, it's just like riding a bike
Some things are so memorable that you never forget how to do them
Some thing you never forget
There are some things in life that stay with you forever
You know all the things I like
You know me so well, even the things that make me happy
Let's see how much harder it gets
Let's see how much more complicated it will be to stay apart if we keep reconnecting
They're playing our song
This song is symbolic of our love story
Oh baby now, it might be wrong
This might not be the right thing to do, but it feels so right
Oh baby now, I hope that this night don't end
I don't want this moment to stop, I want to hold on to it forever
Oh baby but, it might be right
Maybe our love story deserves another chance
Oh baby now, right here tonight
Being together in this moment feels so perfect
Oh baby now, what do you say?
What do you think about giving us another chance?
Can you stay?
Will you stay with me tonight and keep the love alive?
Baby it's been so long
It's been too long since we were together, my love
Baby come to me
Please, my love, come back to me and let's make new memories together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN KELLY MCKNIGHT, MICHAEL BRANDON BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind