”My music is a reflection of my life,” says a matter-of-fact Elisabeth. “Through my work, I want people to know that with a strong self-love, work ethic and fearlessness, anything is possible.” Indeed, It Can Happen To Anyone makes its case for the Berklee School of Music and NYU graduate. It is uplifting and honest but it is also sensuous and passionate and at times seriously sexy, unpredictable and just plain infectious.
Fans of Elisabeth Withers’ Broadway work will be taken aback by the impressive range of her album, which mines everything from R&B, gospel and pop to old school cabaret and rock. Not surprising when you consider Elisabeth loves both Millie Jackson and Sheryl Crow.
The title track finds Elisabeth warning the object of her affection over a funked-up groove with such bold proclamations as, “When you are born until ya grow old, somewhere it’s blowing in the wind. Love don’t care because it comes on, it’s own time!” The church inflected track “Simple Things,” showcases Elisabeth’s deep timbre vocals as she encourages listeners to see the beauty in everyday life. “The World Ain’t Ready” showcases its message of female empowerment over an infectious reggae dancehall rhythm. And on the warm love letter feel of “Heartstrings,” she coos of a love that makes you “want to scream like Tina,” and “shine like the brightest star.”
At first glance, music seemed like an unlikely path for a young and confident Elisabeth. Raised in a middle class, Midwest household, where her mother excelled as a mathematical engineer and her father was a political powerbroker, an interest in anything remotely resembling the arts might have raised eyebrows. Luckily Withers, her sister and two brothers were supported by parents who created a loving environment where individuality was as much a premium as a discipline. At five-years-old, Elisabeth began singing along to her parents’ record collection.
”All of my brothers, including my dad, would laugh at me,” she muses. “Just picture a little me belting out some Natalie Cole or Gladys Knight over dinner, veins popping out of my neck, trying to reach all of these notes” it was too funny. But I remember my mom would get angry and say, “You guys will not laugh at your sister. She’s going to sing!”
Elisabeth saw the meaning of sacrifice first hand as mom placed her professional life on hold to raise the kids while her father worked extra hard to make sure all four kids had everything they needed to excel. By her early teens, performing at talent shows and social engagements had become the norm. The gifted singer saw her exceptional talents garner notice when, in 1993, she received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Four years later, Elisabeth did what virtually every aspiring singer-songwriter has done since the dawn of the jazz age: She set out to conquer New York. By the time she graduated NYU in 2000, Withers had caught the attention of respected producer, arranger and songwriter Tony Moran (Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross).
A string of studio back-up sessions followed as Elisabeth began to cultivate a reputation as a first-rate vocalist; so much so that Moran recruited her to co-write the dance club classic “Rising” (2002), a track that reached the top 5 on the Billboard charts. Elisabeth Withers was now going under the diva alias Elle Patrice. Another hit single followed “Emotions”, and in 2005 Elisabeth received a call from industry friend and music legend Nick Ashford, who suggested the vocalist audition for the Oprah Winfrey-produced stage adaptation of The Color Purple. She was more than up for the challenge as she won over producers Quincy Jones and Winfrey. Elisabeth’s triumphant run on Broadway soon attracted the interest of record labels. With its rich musical heritage and underlining focus on the art, Blue Note was the perfect home.
“I’ve never been afraid to try anything. I guess that’s why I’ve had a chance to try so many different things,” Elisabeth says of her budding career. “The values that my parents taught me growing up allowed me to go into any situation, from being asked to sing for Paul McCartney to doing “The Color Purple” on Broadway in front of someone as iconic as Oprah and to recording an album for Blue Note, having an album of songs that I actually had the chance to write. It’s been a wild ride and a humbling experience.”
“I hope people will listen to the songs on the album and come away with the feeling that I have, which is why I called the album It Can Happen To Anyone. For that is truly what I believe.”
Because I Love You
Elisabeth Withers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I do
Ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
Your smile in the morning
Fills up the room
As I take a look at you
Every day I wake up
You're the first face I see
One look in your eyes
And I see a reflection of me
No fancy words
Don't need a dictionary
It's not necessary
When you speak from the heart
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
It's been a long day
And you look excited
Tell me what did you do
I wanna hear all about it
Your innocent expressions
Fills up my heart
I hear your's beatin'
As we stare at the stars
No fancy words
(Don't need a dictionary)
It's not necessary
When you speak from the heart
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
It's not a scientific explanation
But more of a simple equation
You and I, yeah, add up to love
And through you, I've learned
That it's bigger than words
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
The song "Because I Love You" by Elisabeth Withers is a sweet, romantic ballad about the simple, yet profound reasons she loves her partner. The lyrics describe the happiness and joy that being in love brings, starting from the first moment of waking up to seeing her partner's smile in the morning. With a cup of coffee, she takes a look at her beloved and sees herself reflected in his eyes. The simple, daily moments are what makes her love grow deeper, and she doesn't need elaborate explanations or fancy words to express it. Instead, their love is as easy as counting 1, 2, 3.
The second verse shows an interest in what her partner has been up to during the day, and how hearing about it fills her heart with joy. It's not necessary to speak in complex terms when you speak from the heart, and she doesn't need a dictionary to express how she feels. Their connection and love is not something that can be easily explained through science or logic. Instead, it's a simple equation, where the two of them add up to love. They understand that love is bigger than words, and the joy that it brings is incredible, making life beautiful.
In essence, the song is all about recognizing and appreciating the simple things in a relationship that gives it an unexplainable depth and beauty. Elisabeth Withers does a great job of expressing this sentiment with her powerful and soulful voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Your smile in the morning
Fills up the room
I sip my coffee
As I take a look at you
Seeing your smile when I wake up makes me so happy that it fills up the entire room. I love to sit and watch you as I sip my coffee.
Every day I wake up
You're the first face I see
One look in your eyes
And I see a reflection of me
When I wake up, I always see your face first. Looking into your eyes, I see myself reflected in them.
No fancy words
Don't need a dictionary
It's not necessary
When you speak from the heart
You don't need to use complicated words or look them up in a dictionary to express yourself. When you speak from your heart, it's enough for me.
I could tell you all the reasons A to Z
But it's simple as 1, 2, 3
I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
I could list all of the reasons why I love you from A to Z, but when it comes down to it, it's as simple as 1, 2, 3. I love you simply because I love you.
The joy is just incredible
Life is beautiful
Ooh, I love you
Because I love you, yeah, yeah
Being with you brings me so much joy and makes life so much more beautiful. I love you because I love you, and that's all that matters.
It's been a long day
And you look excited
Tell me what did you do
I wanna hear all about it
Even though it's been a long day, seeing how excited you look makes me happy. I want to hear all about your day.
Your innocent expressions
Fills up my heart
I hear your's beatin'
As we stare at the stars
Your innocent expressions fill my heart with joy. When we stare at the stars together, I can hear your heart beating and it makes me feel so happy and content.
It's not a scientific explanation
But more of a simple equation
You and I, yeah, add up to love
And through you, I've learned
That it's bigger than words
Love isn't a scientific concept that can be explained with precision. It's more like a simple equation - you and I add up to love. Being with you has taught me that love is bigger than words.
Contributed by Evan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.