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.
Love Is
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A beam of light shining to the edge of the universe
It conquers all, it changes everything
They say it's a blessing, they say it's a gift
They say it's a miracle
And I believe that it is
It conquers all, but it's a mystery
Love breaks your heart
Love takes no less than everything
Love makes it hard
And it fades away so easily
In this world we've created
Where this place that we lived
In a blink of an eye the darkness slips in
Love lights the world
Unites the love that´s for eternity
Love brakes the chain
Love aches for everyone of us
Love takes the tears of pain, and it turns it in
To the beauty that remains
Look at this place
It was paradise, but now it's dying
I´ll brave the love
I´ll take, my chances that it´s not too late
Love brakes your heart
Love takes no less than everything
Love makes it hard
And fades away so easily
Oh oh oh
Love brakes the chain
Love aches for everyone of us
Love takes the tears and the pain, and turns it in
To the beauty that remains
The song "Love Is" by Brian McKnight ultimately speaks to the beauty and power of love, while also acknowledging its potential to be painful and fleeting. The lyrics begin by stating that love is like a river that encircles the earth and shines like a beam of light to the universe's edge. This powerful, all-encompassing nature is what makes love so revered and often labeled as a blessing, a gift, and even a miracle. However, despite its ability to conquer all, love is still a mystery that can break hearts and fade away with ease.
McKnight goes on to describe the world that humanity has created as one that is dying, with darkness quickly creeping in. But, love can still light up the world and unite us in our eternal search for it. Love has the power to break the chains of pain, bring comfort to our aching hearts, and ultimately transform our tears into the beauty that remains.
The chorus repeats the idea that love can break your heart and take everything, making it difficult to hold onto, but also reaffirms that without love, the world would be a much more dismal and sorrowful place.
Overall, "Love Is" is a poignant and emotional tribute to the transformative properties of love, highlighting its complexity while emphasizing its importance in a world that can often seem bleak and hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
They say it's a river, that circles the earth
Love is an endless stream that flows all over the earth.
A beam of light shining to the edge of the universe
Love is a source of positive energy that has no boundaries.
It conquers all, it changes everything
Love has the power to overcome every obstacle and transform everything it touches.
They say it's a blessing, they say it's a gift
Love is often considered a precious and valuable thing.
They say it's a miracle
Love is sometimes seen as a wondrous and inexplicable occurrence.
And I believe that it is
The singer believes that love is all these things and more.
Love breaks your heart
Love can be painful and difficult to handle.
Love takes no less than everything
Love requires complete devotion and commitment from those who experience it.
Love makes it hard
Love can create challenges and difficulties in life.
And it fades away so easily
Love can sometimes disappear just as quickly as it appeared.
In this world we've created
The singer is referring to the world we live in, which is shaped by human actions and choices.
Where this place that we lived
The artist is referring to planet Earth, our home.
In a blink of an eye the darkness slips in
The singer is suggesting that negative forces can take over quickly and easily.
Love lights the world
Love is a positive force that illuminates and brightens everything and everyone around it.
Unites the love that's for eternity
Love brings people together and can last forever.
Love brakes the chain
Love can break free from negative cycles and patterns.
Love aches for everyone of us
Love is something that everyone desires and needs.
Love takes the tears of pain, and it turns it in
Love can transform suffering into something beautiful and positive.
To the beauty that remains
Love can help us see the good and beautiful things that still exist in the world.
Look at this place
The artist is asking us to take a closer look at the world around us.
It was paradise, but now it's dying
The artist is suggesting that the world has become less ideal than it once was.
I'll brave the love
The artist is willing to take risks and face challenges for the sake of love.
I'll take, my chances that it's not too late
The singer is hoping that it's not too late to make a positive change in the world.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROBERT EARL KEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind