She is best known for her singles You Got Me her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs Tyrone, Love of My Life, On & On, Bag Lady, The Healer, Honey and Soldier. Her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophy which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound.
Some music journalists have labeled her Nu soul, nouvelle-soul or neo soul, often comparing her to Billie Holiday in lyrical delivery and grouping her with Maxwell and D'Angelo in musical genre.
Baduizm, Badu's highly acclaimed debut album, was released in early 1997 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. Lead single On & On reached #12 on the singles charts in both the U.S. and UK. Badu received notice for her introspective lyrics and jazzy, bass-heavy sound, and was hailed as one of the leading lights of the burgeoning neo soul genre. Her sophisticated style of singing drew many comparisons to Billie Holiday. Baduizm eventually went triple platinum and, along with On & On, won Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremonies.
During that year, Badu became involved with rapper André 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had a child, Seven, who was born in 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in the late 90s. Badu recorded her first live album, Live, while pregnant with Seven, and the release of the recording coincided with the birth to her child. Live reached #4 on the Billboard charts, selling double platinum, and spawned another R&B hit single in Tyrone a song chiding a selfish, cheap, and inattentive boyfriend. Badu also collaborated with The Roots (who had previously handled production duties on a number of tracks on Baduizm) on their breakthrough 1999 release, Things Fall Apart. She was featured on the song You Got Me co-written by Jill Scott, which hit the top 40 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
After taking some time off to raise her child, Badu returned in 2000 with Mama's Gun, an album more organic in sound than her previous studio album, and primarily produced by the Soulquarians and noted bassist Pino Palladino. A remix of one of the album's songs, Bag Lady was issued as the first single and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. The album was well-received, with the lyrical content winning notices from many publications who found some of her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases. Despite not charting as high as her first two albums, Mama's Gun was another platinum-selling success, and Bag Lady was nominated for a Grammy.
By 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common, and Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) was released as a collaboration between the two on the Brown Sugar soundtrack. Love of My Life hit #9 on the pop charts, topped the R&B listings, and Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy for the song in 2003.
After the release of Mama's Gun and Love of My Life, Badu went through a period of writer's block. She hit the road throughout 2002 and much of 2003 on what she dubbed the "Frustrated Artist Tour," in search of inspiration to write and perform new material. The conclusion of the tour saw Badu head back to the studio with new material, and in September of 2003, the Worldwide Underground was released. More jam-oriented than any of her prior releases, Badu was quoted as saying that the release was designed to serve as one continuous groove. Worldwide Underground reached #3 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold not long after its release, and Badu received four further Grammy nominations for the EP.
After almost four years and the birth of a daughter, Puma, it was revealed in 2007 that Badu had three albums in the works over the course of 2007 and 2008. Honey, a new single produced by 9th Wonder, was leaked online in November 2007, and the new album, titled New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), was released on February 26, 2008.
On August 23, 2008, Badu joined the rock band My Morning Jacket on stage at their show in Dallas, Texas to perform her song Tyrone. Her surprise appearance was met with an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
On February 1, 2009 Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba with her boyfriend Jay Electronica.
Her album New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) was released on March 30, 2010.
Heaven For The Sinner
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It grows on trees
I don't let it or 8 side loose
There's no saint and there's no sinner
Done more dirt than these
I know that we can do more right that these
I need to find a paradise for me
God is ready, but you don't wanna
No one tell me, heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
When you're ready
When we want it
We just ask it
God is ready, when you're ready
But you don't want it
God is ready, soon they tell me
Heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
Someone tell me, heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
When it
Shine, shine
Heaven's waiting, for the sinner
God is ready, when you're ready
Shine
In these lyrics, Erykah Badu seems to be exploring the idea that truth is subjective and that sinners and saints are interchangeable, as they both have the capacity to do both good and bad. She believes that instead of strictly following the concept of truth, we should allow it to grow and develop naturally like a plant, rather than trying to control or manipulate it. She hints that she has done things that society may view as immoral, but emphasizes that everyone does "more dirt than these." She recognizes that we all have the potential to do good and make positive changes in the world.
The chorus of the song reflects the idea that we have the power to choose our own path and ask for forgiveness when we are ready to better ourselves. The idea of asking for heaven or paradise seems to suggest that it is a state of mind or a mental state that one can achieve if they are willing to work towards it. The repetition of "God is ready when you're ready" reinforces the idea that while we may make mistakes and stray from the path of righteousness, we can always choose to come back to it when we are ready.
Overall, this song seems to be about the idea that truth and morality are complex and subjective concepts, and that everyone has the capacity to do both good and bad. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the power of individual choice.
Line by Line Meaning
We don't need no truth, got planted now
It grows on trees
We have become so comfortable with lies and half-truths that we treat them like they are natural and easy to come by.
I don't let it or 8 side loose
There's no saint and there's no sinner
Done more dirt than these
I know that we can do more right that these
I need to find a paradise for me
I am far from perfect and have made many mistakes, but I refuse to be labelled as solely good or bad. I believe that we can always strive to be better and to find a place where we can truly belong.
We just ask about
God is ready, but you don't wanna
No one tell me, heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
When you're ready
We often seek guidance and help from a higher power, but we are not always willing to put in the effort or make the necessary changes. Despite this, there is always hope for redemption and acceptance in the eyes of God.
When we want it
We just ask it
God is ready, when you're ready
But you don't want it
God is ready, soon they tell me
Heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
We have the power to change our lives and ask for help, but we must first truly want it. While it might take time and effort, we can find solace in knowing that God is ready and waiting for us, regardless of our past deeds.
Someone tell me, heaven's waiting
For the sinner, God is ready
When it
Shine, shine
Even when we feel lost or hopeless, there is always someone who can offer us hope and remind us that we are destined for better things. We just need to keep going and shine our light, despite any setbacks or obstacles we might encounter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERICA WRIGHT, SIMON CHARLES GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@terrelltravis2870
I love this song. this idea that god (however you define him/her/it) is waiting no matter how damning your past may. Let your light shine. Let your love shine
@Lejoueursilencieux
Badu + Bonobo = Perfection !
@Lirrah_Lee
God is waiting, when you're ready. Amen!
@Lirrah_Lee
But we don't wanna :D
@Lebo-Aaliyah
God is great. 🙏🏿
@OmbreydeGrate05
This song is so lifting
@haraldhaslerud4224
It's no place for willingly sinners in a resting place, but the sinners who try getting through following the greatest power, the most high.
Much love people, fight for your soul to live.
@naebaeee1958
Harald Haslerud What you stated moved me within and a brought tears to my eyes 😢 This is my daughter account but I hope I see you there PEACE & BLESSINGS BELOVED ♥️ It’s a everyday struggle to do what’s right but so easy to do what’s wrong ...
@non-fungibleartist3836
Some words just feel great coming out of the mouth: Erykah Badu, Coccolino Deep, and Isuzu Trooper. Others?
@BlackMamba-vl4ks
After listening to Hip-Hop for extended time, returning to this feels like homecoming after traveling the world.