Benét's father loved rap music and inspired an interest in music in his son. He sang with a Top 100-style group called Gerard in the late 1980s, and then Benét, his sister, Lisa, and his cousin, George Nash Jr., formed a band called Benét and released a self-titled album in 1992 but only sold 100,000 copies.
Benét's career-building, however, was interrupted by a series of personal tragedies. His father died of cancer, and his girlfriend, Tami Marie Stauff, the mother of Benét's daughter, India, born in 1992, died of injuries suffered in an automobile crash (April 24, 1993) after languishing in a coma for five days. Benét endured a long period of personal and creative depression, often feeling that only his responsibilities as a father kept him going. He took a job with United Parcel Service in Milwaukee and eased back into music by producing demo recordings for local artists.
In 1994, Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in fall (1996). Individual songs from the album were successful, including the top-ten R&B hit "Spiritual Thang" and "Let's Stay Together," which appeared on the soundtrack of the film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999; its first single, "Georgy Porgy (featuring Faith Evans)" received significant airplay, but the second single, "Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)", became a smash hit. "Spend My Life With You" rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day In The Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male.
Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD. He contributed vocals to the post-Katrina charity single, "Heart of America" along with Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, and Terry Dexter. He has also lent his vocals to many jazz albums for such artists as Wayman Tisdale, George Duke, Chris Botti, Jeff Lorber, Boney James, etc.
Benét has also been active as an actor; he had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998 - 2002). He made his film debut alongside Mariah Carey in Glitter (2001). He has a recurring role on the MTV scripted show "Kaya" (2007) where he plays a music producer.
His Love & Life was released on September 9, 2008. The first single You're The Only One is currently rising on the r&b charts (having already hit No.1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart (Billboard)). It is his first top twenty hit in 2 years.
Come As You Are
Eric Benét Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Replaying every line
Remembering all of the love we made
You told me only yesterday
Nothing could take your love away
Here in this room so many traces of you
So many nights lying by your side
Secrets your eyes could not deny
Come as you are
Lay with me
Beautiful lies once more tell me
With all the love in my heart
I'll set you free
Now that your eyes have said good-bye
I found joy so pure
My heart secure
With the love the two of us would share
And though it all seems so unfair
No one's to blame when love's not there
My whole life has changed
Feels like I'll surely go insane
'Cause my world revolved 'round
a love that never was
Before I say good-bye to love
Just hold me until the morning comes
Come as you are stay with me
Kiss me once more before you leave
With all the pain in my heart
I'll set you free
Now that your eyes have said good-bye
Well I know it's not easy
Finding words to let me know
But the pain of make believing
is much more than just letting go
Come as you are
Lay with me
Beautiful lies once more tell me
With all the love in my heart
I'll set you free
Now that your eyes have said good-bye
Come as you are stay with me
Kiss me once more before you leave
With all the pain in my heart
I'll set you free
Now that your eyes have said good-bye
The song "Come As You Are" by Eric Benét is a song of heartbreak, regret, and acceptance. The lyrics are about a lover who has left, and although the singer of the song is aware that the relationship is over, he still longs for the love that was once there. The song starts with the singer reminiscing, replaying every line, and remembering all the love they shared. The character desperately wants to cling onto the past, even though his lover's eyes have already said goodbye. He tries to convince his lover to come back, to lay with him and tell him beautiful lies one more time.
The lyrics express the raw emotions of heartbreak, regret, and longing, but also of acceptance. Even though the singer is aware that the relationship is over, he still wants his lover to come back, even if just for one night, to feel the love they once shared. The line "No one's to blame when love's not there" is a poignant reminder that sometimes, no matter how hard we try or how much we want something, love cannot be forced.
Overall the song is a beautiful representation of the complexities of love and heartbreak, a reminder that even when we have to say goodbye to those we love, the memories and emotions still linger.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in my mind
My thoughts are filled with memories of us
Replaying every line
I keep going back over our interactions and conversations
Remembering all of the love we made
Thinking about the intimacy we shared
You told me only yesterday
Recently, you reassured me of your love
Nothing could take your love away
You made me believe our love was invincible
Here in this room so many traces of you
I see reminders of you everywhere in my surroundings
So many nights lying by your side
We spent countless nights cuddled up beside each other
Sleeping with secrets deep inside
Each of us had hidden thoughts and emotions we didn't express
Secrets your eyes could not deny
Even if you didn't say it, your eyes gave away what you were feeling
Come as you are
No matter what state you're in, just be with me
Lay with me
Lie down with me, be close to me
Beautiful lies once more tell me
Say things to me even if they're not true if it makes me feel better
With all the love in my heart
I care for you deeply and genuinely want what's best for you
I'll set you free
I'll let you go to pursue your own happiness
Now that your eyes have said good-bye
You already know it's over
I found joy so pure
When we were together, I felt genuine happiness
My heart secure
My feelings for you were strong and unwavering
And though it all seems so unfair
The situation we find ourselves in is unjust
No one's to blame when love's not there
Our love just faded, it's not anyone's fault
My whole life has changed
Everything feels different and empty without you
Feels like I'll surely go insane
My emotional pain is so intense that it's difficult to cope
'Cause my world revolved 'round a love that never was
I built everything around our love, but it turned out to be illusory
Before I say good-bye to love
Before I accept that our love is really over
Just hold me until the morning comes
Stay with me and give me comfort until the new day
Kiss me once more before you leave
Give me a final kiss as a memory to hold onto
Well, I know it's not easy
I realize that moving on is difficult for both of us
Finding words to let me know
Expressing your feelings and thoughts is a challenge
But the pain of make believing
Even if you say untrue things, it's better than pretending everything's fine
Is much more than just letting go
It's too hard to simply say goodbye
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC BENET JORDAN, GEORGE T. JR. NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nidia Luccioni
Nice Song Great Singer Eric Benet
Madelaine Labrada Gonzalez
Great singer and song writer 💖