David has been nominated for fourteen Brit Awards: five times for Best British Male, and twice receiving a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
David was born in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Tina (née Loftus), a retail assistant at Superdrug, and George David, a carpenter, and grew up in the Holyrood estate. David's father is Afro-Grenadian and David's mother is Anglo-Jewish and related to the founders of the Accurist watch-making company; David's maternal grandfather was an Orthodox Jew and his maternal grandmother a convert to Judaism. David's parents separated when he was eight and he was brought up by his mother. He attended Bellemoor School and Southampton City College.
David was bullied by other students at school. He wrote and released the song "Johnny" in 2005 about his sad memories of being bullied.
David's father played bass in a reggae band called Ebony Rockers. As a teen, David began accompanying his father to local dance clubs, where DJs let him take the microphone.
On 9 September 2020, David signed a global publishing deal with New York-based Round Hill Music. The agreement includes all of David's music catalogue to date, and also includes a futures agreement that will see all of his new music administered by the company.
On 30th December 2020, David was announced on the Queen’s New Year Honours List to receive an MBE in recognition of his services to music. His manager Colin Lester was also awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to the music industry and to charity.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Craig David Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout you're plans to make me blue
With some other guy that you knew before.
Between the two of us guys
You know I love you more.
It took me by surprise I must say,
When I found out yesterday.
Don't you know that
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
I know that a man ain't supposed to cry,
But these tears I can't hold inside.
Losin' you would end my life you see,
Cause you mean that much to me.
You could have told me yourself
That you love someone else.
Instead
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
People say believe half of what you see,
Son, and none of what you hear.
I can't help bein' confused
If it's true please tell me dear?
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
Heard it through the grapevine
Heard it through the grapevine
(Heard it through the grapevine)
Craig David's song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is all about discovering that his lover has been seeing someone else. The lyrics express his disbelief and pain, as he learned of his partner's intentions to leave him through rumors and not from her own mouth. David's version of the song carries the listener through the various stages of breaking up. Starting off with confusion, with a plea for honesty, as he can't determine what's true or not. Using the grapevine as a metaphor for the gossip that fuels heartbreak, David sings about how he heard the rumors second-hand. As the song progresses, it shifts from confusion and denial to desperation and heartache, as David contemplates how the loss of his love will be the end of his life.
It is a classic song that has been covered by many other artists over the years because of its timeless and universal message. David adds his signature style to this iconic song with a soaring falsetto and soulful delivery. Despite originally being a Motown song by Marvin Gaye, Craig David's version is still as powerful almost three decades later. The song's universal theme of heartbreak means that it is still relatable for people today, as it was back then.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, I bet you're wondering how I knew
You might be wondering how I got to know
'Bout you're plans to make me blue
About your intentions to make me feel sad
With some other guy that you knew before.
With someone else you knew from the past.
Between the two of us guys
There are two guys involved in this situation
You know I love you more.
I love you more than the other guy
It took me by surprise I must say,
I was surprised when I found out
When I found out yesterday.
I found out yesterday
Don't you know that
Do you not know that
I heard it through the grapevine
I heard a rumor from someone
Not much longer would you be mine.
You will not be mine for much longer
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh, this rumor I heard
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind.
I am just about to go crazy
Honey, honey yeah.
Term of affection
I know that a man ain't supposed to cry,
I am aware that men are not supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside.
But I cannot hold these tears back
Losin' you would end my life you see,
If I lose you, my life would end
Cause you mean that much to me.
Because you are very important to me
You could have told me yourself
You could have informed me directly
That you love someone else.
That you love someone else
Instead
However
People say believe half of what you see,
People say that you should only believe half of what you see
Son, and none of what you hear.
Son, and none of what you hear
I can't help bein' confused
I am confused
If it's true please tell me dear?
If this is true, please tell me dear?
Do you plan to let me go
Do you plan to end our relationship?
For the other guy you loved before?
For the other guy who you loved previously?
Heard it through the grapevine
I heard this rumor from someone
Heard it through the grapevine
I heard this rumor from someone
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fusionnetwork7000
Ooh, I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys you know I love you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don'tcha know that I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you love someone else
Instead I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
People say believe half of what you see, son
And none of what you hear
But I can't help bein' confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don'tcha know I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Baby I heard it through the grapevine
Ooh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Honey, honey, I know
That you're lettin' me go
Said, I heard it through the grapevine
Heard it through the grapevine
@DarioGallo
No words. I use to play some music with my guitar and my poor voice, but every time I listen to Mr David I dream one day I could sing like him. Stop. Beautiful, beautiful voice.
@pepachet
He is pretty awesome! His pitch is impeccable!
@rockywaters9592
Craig David is more underappreciated than underrated, everyone knows he's an incredible vocalist, I just don't think he gets appreciated enough for what he did for the UK urban music sound breaking into the mainstream, he's a pioneer!
@robertw8225
So good to hear MGs song given this level of respect from a couple of very skilled musicians. Beautiful touch !,
@EastEndAlan
Now..........people...........who can say your not listening to the best male vocal artist in the UK right now? PURE CLASS..............ENOUGH SAID!
@charmedlibra927
One of the best covers eva! !!!!! FR! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@FleurdeLis7777
What a great soul! I fall in love every time I hear him…so underrated as many have already said.
@MarkisMedia
Just siiicccck!!! He's been my fave vocalist for many years
@howdan1985
Oh my lorrrrrrd. Never heard this version before. Loved loved loved Craig anyway but now i'm in total awe!! What a legend. Such an amazing voice / cover of this tune. WOWWWW!
@themethodroath
Most underrated voice ever!!