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.
Wanna Be Where You Are
Carleen Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
You don't have to worry cause I'm comin'
Back to where I should have always stayed
And now I've heard the maybe to your story
Can it be I stayed away too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
Anywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna wanna be where you are, oh oh
Everywhere you are, oh oh
Please, don't close the door to our future
There's so many things we haven't tried
I could love you better than I used to
And give you all the love I have inside
(Oooh!!)
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
Any, any, anywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna wanna be where you are, oh oh
I gotta be where you are, oh oh
I wanna be...
I wanna be... oh, oh
Yeah yeah, baby now
I wanna be...
I wanna be... oh., oh
Oooh
I wanna be...
I wanna be... ohoh
Now, now, yeah baby
Oooh
I wanna be...
I wanna be.. ohoh
Yeah, yeah, baby now
Oooh
In the song "Wanna Be Where You Are," Carleen Anderson starts by questioning if she stayed away too long and if she left her lover's mind when she was gone. She then expresses a desire to go back to where she should have stayed all along. Anderson says that she has heard a "maybe" to her lover's story, and it's enough for her to stay. She then repeats her wish to be where her lover is, anywhere and everywhere they are. Finally, she pleads with her lover not to close the door to their future and promises to love them better than she used to, with all the love she has inside.
Anderson's lyrics speak to the desire to be with someone you love but have been separated from for too long. She acknowledges that it may not be easy to get back to where they were, but she knows where she wants to be - with her lover. The repeated refrain of "I wanna be where you are" emphasizes the strength of the desire she feels to be with her lover, and the promise to love them better shows that she recognizes where things went wrong before and is willing to work to make it right.
Overall, "Wanna Be Where You Are" is a romantic and heartfelt song about the desire to be with someone you love. Anderson's lyrics capture the urgency and intensity of that desire while also acknowledging the challenges that come with trying to rekindle a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Can it be I stayed away too long?
I'm unsure if I was gone for too long, and if it affected you.
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
I'm concerned if you forgot about me while I was away.
It's not my thing trying get back
I don't normally try to make things right after being gone for so long.
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
But this time I want to let you know where I stand.
You don't have to worry cause I'm comin'
Don't worry, I'm coming back to you.
Back to where I should have always stayed
I should have never left your side, and I'm coming back to where I belong.
And now I've heard the maybe to your story
I understand your side of the story now.
And it's enough, love, for me stay
What I've learned is enough for me to decide to stay with you.
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
I want to be close to you, wherever you are.
Anywhere you are, oh oh
I don't care about the distance, as long as I'm with you.
Everywhere you are, oh oh
I want to be with you everywhere you go.
Please, don't close the door to our future
I'm asking you to not give up on us, and to leave the future open.
There's so many things we haven't tried
There are so many things we have yet to experience together.
I could love you better than I used to
I know I can love you better than before, and I'm willing to try.
And give you all the love I have inside
I want to give you all the love I have to offer.
I wanna be...
I really want to be with you.
Yeah yeah, baby now
I mean it, baby.
Now, now, yeah baby
Absolutely, baby.
Oooh
I am deeply in love with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CELSO CARVALHO
simply beautiful !!!
Paul Rock
Very good, I also like Paul Weller & Amy Winehouse's version of "Don't Go To Strangers" Voices of the 2 blended very nice & smooth.
LionRock08
two wonderful souls ...nice version
tracy wells
fantastic, what a perfect paring! always loved this song!
libbygurl1
Oh man this is so nice!! Gorgeous
A Deb in the Kitchen
.... this version. Yes. Just simply yes.
Hammerton32
my favourite version of this song is by willie hutch. but loving this combo, the incredible mr. weller and the divine carleen
J Ella-Ruth
Understated. Lush. Nice... 🎤💜🎤
A MC Suffolk
Weller is such a good soul singer. It's a pity he doesn't do more of it these days.....
Alan Fox
Paul Weller sounds like he does in the latter days of the jam and the style council.