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.
Cherish
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone said that love was blind
But they were wrong
You just choose not to see me
When it's right before your eyes
You'd rather compromise
Then give your all
The way it's supposed to be
Time and time again you disappoint
When she believes
Just do your best
And give her what she needs
And
[Chorus]
Cherish her love
Show her she's right where she belongs
Take care of her heart
Before she's gone
Cherish her love
It might be hard to conceive
You gotta see the forest
Despite the trees
Before it all burns down
Not tellin' ya nothing you don't know
But she'll let you have your fun
But when a woman's done when she's done
And then she'll go
Just when you're needin' her the most
Time and time again you disappoint
When she believes
Do all you can
Do give her what she needs
[Chorus]
And if you care about the weather
Keep her safe and warm
Let nothing in between stand in your way
They say it's calm inside the eye of the storm
Together come whatever
Come what may
Just
[Chorus]
In the song "Cherish," Brian McKnight addresses a disinterested lover who does not see the depth of his feelings for her. He talks about how she is not looking at him, despite love being supposed to be blind. She would rather compromise than give it her all, but that's not the way love is supposed to be. He advises her to cherish her love and show her that she's right where she belongs, taking care of her heart before it's too late. Furthermore, he highlights that it may be hard to conceive, but if she focuses on the bigger picture, she'll realize what's at risk, and once a woman is done, she'll go, leaving you when you need her the most. He then cautions her to keep her safe and warm, to let nothing stand in their way, and they can come through any challenge together.
The lyrics of "Cherish" portray that love isn't as easy as it appears to be; it requires effort, time, and emotional investment. McKnight is advising a man to stop being indifferent towards his lover and show that he values her. He clarifies that despite the things that could be distracting, ignoring or neglecting his partner during tough times would only lead to difficulties down the line. Love is not blindly compromising; rather, it's putting in the necessary work to ensure that the relationship functions correctly.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinkin' back in time
Reflecting on past experiences
Someone said that love was blind
Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes
But they were wrong
Their statement was not true in this case
You just choose not to see me
You intentionally avoid acknowledging my existence
When it's right before your eyes
When something is easily noticeable or recognizable
You'd rather compromise
You prefer to settle for less than what is desired
Then give your all
Then exert maximum effort
Then it don't turn out
Then it does not yield the expected outcome
The way it's supposed to be
As planned or intended
Time and time again you disappoint
Repeatedly failing to satisfy the expectations of another
When she believes
When another person has faith in what you do
Just do your best
Give your utmost effort
And give her what she needs
Provide what she lacks or requires
Cherish her love
Value and treasure her affection
Show her she's right where she belongs
Demonstrate that she is in the right place
Take care of her heart
Protect her feelings and emotions
Before she's gone
Before she is no longer present or available
It might be hard to conceive
It may be difficult to imagine or comprehend
You gotta see the forest
You need to view the bigger picture
Despite the trees
Despite the smaller details or obstacles
Before it all burns down
Before everything is destroyed
Not tellin' ya nothing you don't know
Telling you nothing new
But she'll let you have your fun
Allowing you to enjoy yourself
But when a woman's done, when she's done
When a woman is finished, she is finished
And then she'll go
And then she will depart or leave
Just when you're needin' her the most
Just when you require her assistance the most
Do all you can
Exert all possible effort
And if you care about the weather
If you are concerned about external circumstances
Keep her safe and warm
Protect her from harm and provide her with comfort
Let nothing in between stand in your way
Do not allow anything to obstruct your path
They say it's calm inside the eye of the storm
It is said that it is peaceful inside the center of chaos
Together come whatever
United, regardless of what happens
Come what may
Regardless of what may occur
Cherish her love
Value and treasure her affection
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN KELLY MCKNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind