Anderson was raised by her paternal grandparents in Houston, Texas during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Her mother was Vicki Anderson, a soul singer who was the featured singer with James Brown during the 1960s and 1970s, and Brown is Anderson's godfather. Anderson briefly married in 1978 and had a son, but the marriage did not last and for most of the 1980s she was living as a single parent in California and attempting to launch her singing career. Her only major success was recording vocals for a song by her step-father Bobby Byrd in 1988, and so in June 1990, she decided to relocate with her son to England to try her luck at starting a career there.
Anderson quickly formed an Acid jazz band with Marc Nelson and Femi Williams called the Young Disciples. The group's only album, Road to Freedom (Talkin' Loud, 1991), was a great success and contained the break-out single Apparently Nothin' (Talkin' Loud, 1992). Anderson received a lot of attention as the lead singer (and keyboardist) of the group, and used her heightened profile to negotiate a new, solo recording contract with Virgin Records in 1992.
1992 saw Anderson record backing vocals for Paul Weller's eponimous solo album, which was the start of a long friendship and working relationship between the two. Weller helped Anderson with her production and songwriting, which led to the release of her first solo work, The Dusky Sapho EP (Circa/Virgin, 1993). Throughout this period, Anderson also continued to supply backing and guest vocals for a wide variety of other artists from Galliano to Bryan Ferry to the first volume of Guru's Jazzmatazz project.
Her first solo album - True Spirit (Circa/Virgin, 1994) - followed, and was a moderate critical and sales success. Anderson cemented her working relationship with Paul Weller by providing backing vocals (with her sister, Pamela) on his legendary Stanley Road (Polygram, 1995) record, and the follow up Heavy Soul (Polygram, 1997). To return the favour he worked with her on her second solo album, Blessed Burden (Circa/Virgin, 1998). The album continued her professional development, but was to be her final one for Virgin.
Following her departure from Virgin, Anderson briefly filled in as lead vocalist for the Brand New Heavies following the departure of their lead singer N'Dea Davenport - ironic, considering both were American singers who found their fame in British Acid jazz groups. Anderson also continued to provide guest and backing vocals for other artists whilst working on her first independently produced album, Alberta's Granddaughter (Dusky Sappho Music, 2002), which was followed by greatist hits album Up To Now: The Best Of (Virgin, 2004).
Following this, Anderson moved to Dome records to release Soul Providence (Dome, 2005), and 2006 is mostly to be spent touring to promote the album.
Leopards in the Temple
Carleen Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strange to see them there
Drinking from the Holy Chalice
Left the Pulpit bare
Leopards in the Temple
Spots that never change
Part of the whole ceremony
Leopards in the Temple
Strive to do their best
Repeating it over and over
Souls that can not rest
Wretched deceivers
Playing cruel games
Ask what is forgiveness
Room to do the same
Selfish in their judgement
Condescending airs
Righteous indignation
Burdens we all share
Leopards in the Temple
Breaks my Spirit down
Telling me they love me
Little joy to be found
I believed in Lions
And I wanted to
But I have learned to rise above it
Now I know what′s true
Intimate betrayal
Back stabbing Loved Ones
Blameless so defenseless
Ones that be out-done
Leopards in the Temple
Because the altar is free
Leopards in the Temple
No longer bother me
I can pray beside them
Without fear of harm
Leopards in the Temple
No cause for alarm
Leopards in the Temple
No cause for alarm
Carleen Anderson's song, "Leopards in the Temple," speaks about the corruption and hypocrisy in religious institutions. The song starts by referring to leopards drinking from the Holy Chalice, which is the pinnacle of sacredness in Christian religious practices. This opening line suggests that even the supposedly untouchable aspects of religion can be corrupted by the presence of leopards or symbolic representations of greed and selfishness. The verse continues to talk about how the pulpit is left bare, which could be a reference to how religious leaders have lost their moral authority due to their transgressions.
The song then continues to describe how the leopards are a part of the whole ceremony and how they strive to do their best, but in reality, their actions repeat and repeat without any change. The leopards symbolize individuals who are selfish in their motives and actions and continuously play cruel games. The chorus goes on to describe how the leopards break down the spirit of the singer and how they hide behind their clamor for forgiveness, which may be insincere.
The song also talks about intimate betrayal and how loved ones can be backstabbers. The singer finds solace in rising above the hypocrisy and corruption of religious institutions and finding true spirituality that goes beyond religious institutions. The song's closing lines suggest that the leopards' presence in the temple no longer bothers the singer, who can now pray without fear of harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Leopards in the Temple
Refers to those who appear to be holy and religious but are actually hypocrites
Strange to see them there
Surprising to see hypocrites in a sacred place
Drinking from the Holy Chalice
Taking advantage of the religious practices for their own benefit
Left the Pulpit bare
Have caused the emptiness and lack of spirituality in the religious institution
Spots that never change
Their hypocrisy is a permanent part of their behavior
Part of the whole ceremony
Their hypocrisy is woven into the fabric of the religious institution
Hearts that bare such pain
Their hypocrisy causes emotional pain to the faithful
Strive to do their best
Fake piety and effort to appear righteous
Repeating it over and over
Their hypocrisy is a repetitive pattern
Souls that cannot rest
They are tormented by their own insincerity
Wretched deceivers
Describes the hypocrites as miserable and dishonest
Playing cruel games
Their hypocrisy involves manipulation and cruelty
Ask what is forgiveness
Hypocrites do not understand the concept or need for forgiveness
Room to do the same
They think that since nobody is perfect, they can continue their hypocritical behavior
Selfish in their judgement
Hypocrites judge others but not themselves
Condescending airs
Hypocrites behave arrogantly and disrespectfully towards others
Righteous indignation
They act as if they are morally superior to others
Burdens we all share
The tendency to be hypocritical is a common human weakness
Breaks my Spirit down
Being exposed to hypocrites can be disheartening and discouraging
Telling me they love me
Hypocrites pretend to love and care for others but their actions reveal their insincerity
Little joy to be found
Their hypocrisy creates an atmosphere devoid of true happiness
I believed in Lions
The artist initially had faith in authentic and genuine religious leaders
And I wanted to
The singer had a desire for spiritual guidance
But I have learned to rise above it
The artist has overcome disillusionment with religious leaders
Now I know what's true
The singer has gained insight into the reality of hypocrisy in religious institutions
Intimate betrayal
The hurt caused by hypocritical behavior from trusted individuals
Back stabbing Loved Ones
Hypocrites can even betray close family members or friends
Blameless so defenseless
Innocent people are vulnerable to the harm caused by hypocrites
Ones that be out-done
Hypocrites may even try to outdo others and appear more righteous
Because the altar is free
Hypocrites are not the only ones who have access to religious institutions
No longer bother me
The singer has overcome the negative influence of hypocrites
I can pray beside them
The artist has learned to coexist with hypocrites without being influenced by them
Without fear of harm
The artist is no longer threatened by the insincerity of hypocrites
No cause for alarm
There is no need to be worried or concerned about the effects of hypocrites
Writer(s): Carleen Anderson
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Aremuorin
I needed #this ..' - #In14Ways
Keeeping life 100 in 2020. I am an eagle. You might trick me once but you will never trick me twice, let alone thrice. And yes, kindness is king. The gift of love. But love isn't a door mat.
Life is too short for disloyal friends; or fake peeps using you as a social ladder to ascend. Better know your friends; cuz #beautiful things, can be deceptive. True life #lessons ..'
I did not attack you or make you feel inferior. If your conscience has convicted take it to the alter.
One great friend is worthier than a thrillion fake friends ..' Thank God for the love of #God, through his, "Holy Son, #Jesus" !!!
Now. #Love, has set us free. AMEN ✍🏿
#Aremuorin
#SelfCare
@gregc7699
Maybe the most underrated female soul singer the UK has ever produced
@nl2531
Wholeness 😌✨
@PlanetNoun
I can't believe I haven't heard of Carleen Anderson until this year! Through her cover of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed". I feel I've been missing out on a great talent! Time to play catch-up!
@nepomukism
Thennnn ... you missed a lot! She used to be well-known in the Acid Jazz / Downtempo / Souljazz scene of the late 90's - especially one Downbeat Remix of "Nervous Breakdown" which perfectly fitted into the whole era of Brand New Bavhies, Incognito and such bands. Her voice has a special "coloration" you wont forget if you heart it once (or at least for me as somebody hearing the difference) which sometimes sounds like a soulful male who tries to sing high tones he can't reach. And her lower register is impressive and much stronger than she shows actually. But I agree with you, I really feel special about her and in between all the same-sounding "voice acrobats" nowadays.Her voice has a certain truth and emotional impact what makes me wonder why she isn't up in the music history like others with "special voices" often do...
@Tropicalistico
@@nepomukism she has a voice with soul very deep
@p020462
I remember the night this was on tv. I am staggered that it was 1997. Holy Moly how time flies. Anyway... As I recall she spoke to Jools before her song and said that the song was about an unwell loved one. Can anyone remember?
@sparkijones
What a performance! A beautiful song, beautifully sung. Such a wonderful palette of colours, from the warmth of the low notes to the sweetness of the highs!
@pastorjamalbyrd
ABSOLUTELY LOVE this song Auntie
@addiebaaddiee
She's my true spirit x. I listened to her 30 years ago and I'm just there now. Thanks CA X
@pastorjamalbyrd
I listen to this song all the time auntie my favorite for sure