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.
One Last Cry
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are mending on the shelf
I saw you holding hands standing close to someone else
Now I sit all alone, wishing all my feeling was gone
I'd give my best to you
Nothing for me to do
But have one last cry
Before I leave it all behind
I've gotta put you out of my mind, this time
Stop living a lie
I guess I'm down to one last cry
Cry
I was here, you were there
Guess we never could agree
While the sun shines on you,
I need some love to rain on me
Still, I sit all alone,
Wishing all my feeling was gone
Gotta get over you
Nothing for me to do
But have one last cry
One last cry
Before I leave it all behind
I've gotta put you out of my mind, this time
Stop living a lie
I know I gotta be strong,
'Cause 'round me life goes on and on and on
And on
I'm gonna dry my eyes
Right after I have my one last cry
One last cry
Before I leave it all behind
I'm gonna put you out of my mind, for the very last time
Been living a lie
I guess I'm down
I guess I'm down
I guess I'm down to one last cry
The song "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight is a lament of a man who has been hurt by someone he loved deeply. He begins by saying that his shattered dreams and broken heart are gradually healing and are now kept on the shelf, but he is reminded of his pain when he sees his former lover holding hands with someone else. This image brings him back to the loneliness and sadness he feels, and he wishes that he could forget his feelings. However, he knows that he has to go through one last cry in order to truly move on.
In the second verse, Brian sings of how their romance never really worked out because they never saw eye to eye. He longs for love to rain on him as he sits alone, but he realizes that he needs to forget about her and start afresh. In the chorus, McKnight sings about his need for one final cry before he can put her behind him. He acknowledges that although he has to be strong, it is a difficult time for him, and he will only be able to move on fully after the tears flow.
The third verse is all about finally getting over the person, as the singer decides to stop living a lie and move on with his life. The fact that life goes on around him is a reminder that it is time for him to stop dwelling on the past and find new love. The song ends on a hopeful note, with Brian stating that he is going to dry his eyes after his one final cry.
Overall, the lyrics of "One Last Cry" are very emotive and relatable to anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak. Brian McKnight's powerful voice and the soulful melody make the song truly impactful and memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
My shattered dreams and broken heart
My hopes and heart have been completely destroyed
Are mending on the shelf
They have been put away and I am working on fixing myself
I saw you holding hands standing close to someone else
I witnessed you being intimate with another person
Now I sit all alone, wishing all my feeling was gone
I am by myself, hoping to not feel anything anymore
I'd give my best to you
I tried everything I could for your love
Nothing for me to do
There is no more effort left in me
But have one last cry
I need to let my emotions out one more time
One last cry
My final emotional release
Before I leave it all behind
Before I move on from this chapter of my life
I've gotta put you out of my mind, this time
I need to forget about you completely
Stop living a lie
Stop pretending that everything is okay
I guess I'm down to one last cry
My only option left is to cry
I was here, you were there
We were never close to one another
Guess we never could agree
We could never come to an understanding
While the sun shines on you, I need some love to rain on me
I need someone to take care of me, too
Gotta get over you
I need to move on from this heartache
I know I gotta be strong,
It is time for me to be tough
'Cause 'round me life goes on and on and on And on
Life keeps moving forward even though I am hurting
I'm gonna dry my eyes
I will stop crying
Right after I have my one last cry
But not until I have one final release
I'm gonna put you out of my mind, for the very last time
I will erase you from my thoughts forever
Been living a lie
I have been pretending that everything is okay
I guess I'm down
I am left with nothing else
I guess I'm down to one last cry
My only option left is to cry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN KELLY MCKNIGHT, MELANIE BARNES, MICHAEL BRANDON BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind