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.
Distant Lover
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many miles away
Heaven knows that I long for you
Every night, every night
I plan, sometimes I dance
Through the day
Distant lover (lover, lover, lover)
And say a prayer for me
Please, please baby
Think about me sometimes
Think about me here
Here in misery
Misery
As I reminisce, oh baby, through our joyful summer together
The promises we made
All the daily letters
Then, all of the sudden
Everything seemed to explode
Now, I gaze out my window
Sugar, down a lonesome road
Distant lover (lover, lover, lover)
Sugar, how can you treat my heart
So mean and cruel
Sugar, sugar
Treat every moment that I spent with you
I treasure every like it was a precious jewel
Please, Lord have mercy
Please, come back, baby
Somethin' I wanna say
When you left
You took all of me with you
Do you wanna hear me scream
Come back and hold me, girl
In "Distant Lover," Brian McKnight expresses his longing for a lover who is far away. The distance is characterized by "so many miles" and "misery," which supports the idea that he is depressed without his lover. He reminisces about their past memories and how everything seemed perfect before it "exploded." Despite this heartbreak, he still hopes that his lover will think about him and say a prayer for him. The chorus is a plea for the lover to return to him, as he laments about the precious moments they shared and how much he treasures them.
The lyrics of "Distant Lover" capture the emotions of a person yearning for someone who is far away, leaving them feeling lonely and depressed. The constant repetition of "lover, lover, lover" emphasizes the desperation of wanting the person back. The lyrics also highlight the memories shared between the two lovers, making the distance more difficult to bear. The song provides a powerful insight into the emotions experienced when forced to be apart from someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Distant lover, lover (lover, lover, lover)
The singer is addressing his lover who is far away from him and reiterating the title of the song.
So many miles away
The singer is emphasizing how physically distant he is from his lover.
Heaven knows that I long for you
The singer is expressing his deep desire for his distant lover.
Every night, every night
The singer indicates the frequency of his longing for his distant lover.
I plan, sometimes I dance
The singer spends his days daydreaming and trying to find ways to distract himself from missing his lover.
Through the day
The singer's longing for his lover continues throughout the day.
You should think about me
The singer is pleading with his lover to remember him.
And say a prayer for me
The singer is asking his lover to keep him in her thoughts and prayers.
Please, please baby
The singer is making a heartfelt request to his lover.
Think about me sometimes
The singer is asking his lover to remember him from time to time.
Think about me here
The singer is asking his lover to imagine him where he is now.
Here in misery
The singer is expressing his state of unhappiness and loneliness without his lover.
As I reminisce, oh baby, through our joyful summer together
The singer is recalling the happy times he spent with his lover during the summer.
The promises we made
The singer is referencing the commitments and declarations of love they made to each other.
All the daily letters
The singer is referring to the notes and letters they wrote each other while they were together.
Then, all of the sudden
The singer is indicating that the separation between them happened suddenly.
Everything seemed to explode
The singer is metaphorically describing the chaos and confusion of their separation.
Now, I gaze out my window
The singer is describing a scene of him looking out of his window, possibly at the place where they spent time together.
Sugar, down a lonesome road
The singer is using the term 'sugar' as an endearing term for his lover and describing his feeling of loneliness.
How can you treat my heart
The singer is questioning his lover's lack of consideration for his emotional state.
So mean and cruel
The singer is describing his lover's behavior as harsh and unkind.
Treat every moment that I spent with you
The singer is referring to the moments they shared together, which he views as special and important.
I treasure every like it was a precious jewel
The singer is emphasizing the value he places on his memories of their time together.
Please, Lord have mercy
The singer is making a plea to a higher power for help and mercy.
Please, come back, baby
The singer is begging his lover to come back to him.
Somethin' I wanna say
The singer is building suspense and indicating he has something important to say to his lover.
When you left
The singer is referencing his lover's departure and the resulting pain he feels.
You took all of me with you
The singer is expressing his feeling of emptiness caused by his lover's absence.
Do you wanna hear me scream
The singer is asking his lover if she wants to hear how much she has hurt him.
Come back and hold me, girl
The singer is longing for his lover's physical presence and comfort.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Marvin Gaye, Sandra Elaine Greene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind