In 1982, DeBarge finally found success with their acclaimed second album, All This Love, which gave DeBarge major chart success with singles "Stop! Don't Tease Me," the perennial "I Like It," and the title track. In 1983, DeBarge's third album, In a Special Way garnered yet more success for the group. El and Bunny wrote most of the songs with El most often singing leads. The album produced the hit singles "Time Will Reveal" and "Love Me in a Special Way."
In 1985, the group released their fourth album, Rhythm of the Night which produced hits "The Heart Is Not So Smart," "Who's Holding Donna Now," "You Wear It Well", and the massively successful title track, which was their second single to top the R&B charts, reached #3 in the U.S., and #4 in the U.K. Its music video was featured in the 1985 martial arts film, The Last Dragon as well as in an episode of Miami Vice (Season 2) called "Bought and Paid" for in which "You Wear It Well" was also performed. That year, El appeared as himself in an episode of the television series The Facts of Life and sang "You Wear it Well."
Solo career
After the commercial pop success of "Rhythm of the Night," El left the group in 1986 to begin a solo career. The same year, El released his self-titled debut solo album. "Who's Johnny" was the first single released and was featured in the movie Short Circuit. The single was a major success, peaking at #3 in the U.S. The music video for the song reflected its use in the movie, depicting a mock trial for characters Stephanie Speck and Newton Crosby (Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg, respectively) for the theft of the movie's main character, the robot Johnny 5, with scenes from the movie being shown as evidence.
Other singles from this album were "Someone" and the laid-back ballad "Love Always". A break in El's career, according to some, kept him from the spotlight until 1989 when he returned with a second solo album, Gemini. This marked El's final Motown release to date. "Real Love" was a single, as well as "Broken Dreams." El signed with Warner Brothers and released his third solo album, In The Storm. "You Know What I Like," which featured Chante Moore (Latimore) on co-lead vocals, "My Heart Belongs To You," and a cover of Marvin Gaye's "After The Dance" (recorded with Fourplay and featuring Patti LaBelle) were singles. Two years later, in 1994, El collaborated with hit producer Babyface and released his fourth and most recent to date solo album Heart, Mind and Soul. "Can't Get Enough", "Slide," and a duet with Babyface, "Where Is My Love," were singles.
El teamed up with Quincy Jones to create the successful collaboration, "The Secret Garden," a single from 1990 which also featured Barry White, Al B. Sure!, and James Ingram on vocals. In 1998, El worked with DJ Quik for the single "Hand In Hand."
In 2008, Eldra was featured on RZA's album Digi Snacks on the track "Up Again". "Rhythm of the Night" will be the theme song of Lowes Motor Speedway during the 2008 NASCAR season.
Personal life
According to his mother, Etterlene DeBarge, El is the father of 11 children, the eldest born when El was only fifteen. His children include Adris DeBarge, who is an executive assistant for producer Tracey Edmonds.[3] He is currently separated from Monique DeBarge, having been arrested in 2007 for a conflict stemming from an individual described as "girlfriend."
Legal troubles
El DeBarge was arrested in Los Angeles County, California on August 26, 2007 for possible vandalism, drug possession, and alleged domestic violence.[4] On October 27, 2008 he was sentenced for possession of a controlled substance. Eldra had been arrested earlier in the month after police discovered two warrants for his arrest. [5]. On October 28,2008 he was sentenced to two years in state prison for possession of crack cocaine. He was recently released from prison on October 26, 2009 nearly a year after his sentence.
Heart Mind & Soul
El DeBarge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More and more each day
Other need to share that you lead a way
I'm into you it's on my face
That's why I'm giving you
[Chorus]
My heart, my mind, my soul
My heart, my mind, my soul
Oh Lord
You gave it all up for love
When everybody else was holding back
But most of all you gave me joy
Even when I stood on shaky ground
Fulfilling every need, you never let me down
No greater love have I found
I trust you from the bottom of
[Chorus]
Oh, I was lost and lonely
As I struggled through darkness searchin' for the light
You loved me like your one and only
Oh lover, oh Lord, I'm giving it to you
Even though my friends turned their back on me
You were there, you took me in your arms
And you showed me that you cared
You gave me hope for tomorrow
You took away all of my sorrow
And I love you from the bottom of
[Chorus]
Oh Lord, how can I show you how I feel, oh
I want to be your servant
Give you all my love
Show me what to do everyday
I live my life before you
Show me how to live
Show me how to love
Teach me how to deal with all of
[Chorus]
El DeBarge’s song Heart Mind & Soul is a powerful expression of faith and gratitude towards God. The lyrics are an intimate conversation between the singer and God, where the singer expresses his need for God in his life, and how God has filled him with love and joy even in the darkest of times. The opening lines "Lord, I come to need you, more and more each day," express the singer's humble acknowledgement that he cannot live without God, and that his faith is getting stronger every day. The lines "Other need to share that you lead a way, I'm into you it's on my face" imply that the singer has found salvation in God, and that he wants to share his experience with others.
The chorus of the song "My heart, my mind, my soul, Oh Lord" is a powerful expression of the singer's commitment to God. He is giving God everything – his heart, mind, and soul – because he trusts God completely. The second verse speaks of how God sacrificed everything for love, and how he has given the singer joy even in troubled times. The lines "Fulfilling every need, you never let me down, No greater love have I found, I trust you from the bottom of" demonstrate the singer's trust in God, and how God has fulfilled every need he has ever had.
The final verse is a cry for guidance and direction. The singer wants to be a servant of God and wants to be shown how to live and love every day. The lines "Teach me how to deal with all of" imply that while the singer has found salvation in God, he knows that life is not easy, and he needs God's guidance to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, I come to need you
I increasingly need you as time goes by
More and more each day
My need for you is growing each day
Other need to share that you lead a way
I need to let others know that you guide my path
I'm into you it's on my face
My love for you is evident in my expressions
That's why I'm giving you
This is why I offer you
My heart, my mind, my soul
All of me- my emotions, thoughts and being
You gave it all up for love
You showed sacrificial love
When everybody else was holding back
When others were afraid to show love
But most of all you gave me joy
Above all, you gave me happiness
Even when I stood on shaky ground
Even when I was unsteady or uncertain
Fulfilling every need, you never let me down
You met all my needs without fail
No greater love have I found
I have never found love that is greater than yours
I trust you from the bottom of
I have complete trust in you, starting from the depths of my heart
Oh, I was lost and lonely
I was once lost and without companionship
As I struggled through darkness searchin' for the light
As I tried to find my way out of darkness
You loved me like your one and only
You loved me as if I were your only love
Oh lover, oh Lord, I'm giving it to you
Oh my love, oh my Lord, I offer this to you
Even though my friends turned their back on me
Even when my friends rejected me
You were there, you took me in your arms
You were present, and you comforted me
And you showed me that you cared
You demonstrated your love for me
You gave me hope for tomorrow
You gave me optimism for the future
You took away all of my sorrow
You eased all my sadness
And I love you from the bottom of
This is why I love you from the depths of my heart
Oh Lord, how can I show you how I feel, oh
Lord, how can I demonstrate what I feel for you
I want to be your servant
I aim to serve you
Give you all my love
Offer you all my love
Show me what to do everyday
Guide me in all my daily actions
I live my life before you
I lead my life in front of you
Show me how to live
Teach me to live life the right way
Show me how to love
Teach me to love as you do
Teach me how to deal with all of
Educate me on how to handle all of my issues
My heart, my mind, my soul
All of my emotions, thoughts and being
[Chorus]
Refrain: My heart, my mind, my soul, Oh Lord
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELDRA P. DE BARGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind