In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.
Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.
While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".
Journey 2 the Center of Your Heart
Chaka Khan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see it in your eyes
And if you just shut the door
I would not be surprised
Even though I know you've heard it
These words I'm tryin' to say
I think the others only flirted
Well, you can say what you wanna
But I ain't gonna stop
This journey 2 the center of your heart
I see the candle through your window
It burns there every night
The shadow leaves an innuendo
Of no one holdin' you right
Many nights I've dreamt you near me
But awakened to you gone
I know one day you'll hear me
I don't care how long
Well, you can say what you wanna
But I ain't gonna stop
This journey 2 the center of your heart
I've waited a lifetime, baby
Just to know your name
We've done everything in our minds
Let's stop the game, let's stop it
Even though I know
You've heard these words I'm tryin' to say
Somehow I think these others
They only flirted with the true meaning of always
In Chaka Khan's "Journey 2 the Center of Your Heart," the songstress empathizes with a love interest who has been hurt in the past. She acknowledges that the scars of past relationships are still visible in the person's eyes and almost expects the individual to shut her out. However, she remains persistent in expressing her feelings, pointing out that while others may have used the word "always" insincerely, she means it wholeheartedly. Chaka Khan believes that she can reach the core of the person's being, and she is willing to take that journey to the center of the individual's heart.
The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is vulnerable and seeking affection but at the same time unsure if it's worth the risk. A candle burning in the window symbolizes hope and longing for another to provide that much-needed love and comfort, but the shadow it casts represents the fear of being alone. Despite this fear, the person's suitor is persistent in patiently waiting for them, even though it may take a lifetime.
Overall, the song's lyrics are introspective, emotive, and stirring. Chaka Khan's passionate and soulful delivery of the vocals adds to the overall sentiment of the message. The song is a reminder that sometimes love requires patience, understanding, and an unwavering dedication.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you've been hurt before
I can sense the pain from your past experiences in your expressions
I can see it in your eyes
Your eyes reveal the emotions that you are trying to conceal
And if you just shut the door
If you close yourself off and push me away
I would not be surprised
It wouldn't shock me because of your guarded behavior
Even though I know you've heard it
Although I'm aware that you have been told this before
These words I'm tryin' to say
The feelings that I wish to express to you
I think the others only flirted
I believe that others just played around with the words
With the true meaning of always
Without truly comprehending the depth of the word 'always'
Well, you can say what you wanna
You have the freedom to express your thoughts
But I ain't gonna stop
I won't quit on this journey towards your heart
This journey 2 the center of your heart
My pursuit to reach the core of your being
I see the candle through your window
I have observed the lone light flickering through your window
It burns there every night
It illuminates your surroundings on a daily basis
The shadow leaves an innuendo
The outline of the darkness creates an implication of loneliness
Of no one holdin' you right
No one holding you in their arms properly
Many nights I've dreamt you near me
Numerous nights, I've envisioned your presence beside me
But awakened to you gone
But the reality when I wake up is that you are not there
I know one day you'll hear me
I have faith that you will listen to me someday
I don't care how long
I'm willing to wait for however long it takes
I've waited a lifetime, baby
I've been eagerly anticipating for your appearance for a long time
Just to know your name
All I desire to know is your name
We've done everything in our minds
In our thoughts, we have experienced everything together
Let's stop the game, let's stop it
Let's end this charade and make our relationship a reality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
darchylde612
i remember when this album came out in 1998/99 i just knew that this would be another "i feel for you" for chaka. imagine my utter shock at the indifference from the record buying public despite the critcal acclaim. despite the lukewarm public reception, this album definitely ranks among chaka's best from funk to gospel, hip hop and ballads, "come 2 my house" has something for everyone and ranks among my own personal "desert island top 10" albums! chaka and prince, OUTSTANDING work!!!
TheKoolkanadian
AGREED! Great album. She held her own w/ Prince, but not only that, you could feel the mutual love between CK, Prince, Larry Graham and all key players on the project. It's a WHOLE LOT about promotion and "image posturing" to get a hit, despite the quality of the work an artist releases. It truly saddens me when the REAL ARTISTS who continually work on their art - already masters at it - put out new music only to be ignored by the masses.
Survivor2002
In fact, I would compare the way this was handled to how Nikka Costa's first album was slept on by most of the music-buying public. That woman is so badass, Prince signed her to Paisley Park! And still, not a lot of people got 'hip' to her.
Survivor2002
Somebody REALLY fell down on promoting this...because had I known when it was released, I would have HAD IT by now!!! Well, thanks for posting this...because now I can remedy THAT situation.
r&b-fan
one of my favorite songs from this over looked album. The Drama is another sleeper.
paul pelt
+r&b-fan ~~& Prince
nordna
+r&b-fan both of those songs should've been released... I played The Drama so much until I could sing it backwards.. but this one could've been a big r&b hit.. it sucks
Lisa Gross
when Prince writes an album for Chaka Khan. Awesome
Fawaz Sulaimanović
Come 2 my house what A great album
gerald deyounge
No one sings like Ms. CK, the journey to the center of my heart ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💐💐💖💖💖