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.
Today
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wear blue ain't green
so flowers can bloom and birds can sing
today
Hang out with your friends
cool breezing sun
and I'ma join y'all so we can all have fun
and blow me a kiss
and dry my clothes
while I run through the sheets like I'm 5 years old
today
You got the natural wood grain with the big ol' 'fro
your fresh 15's got me ridin' low
today
smile today
smile today
smile today
smile
today
See you got this new man
who treats you wrong
but I'ma do you good before you're used and gone
today
and if you feelin' kinda grey
I understand
emotions sway but I'm still your friend
today
You got bugs in your house
that you let run free
but if they don't bug you then they don't bug me
today
See, I respect you and you respect me back
so I'ma make sure I put my trash in the sack
today
smile today
smile today..
(feel good today)
In orange and brown you look so young
so let's spend the night 'n tell purple to come
today
and I'ma sing you a song so play that track
with the crickets in the back that so abstract
today
and as I take a deep breath
I close my eyes
I say a little prayer for the sun to rise
today
(tomorrow)
and I see in the morning all bright and fresh
and I'll be the girl in the yellow dress
new day, new day
smile today
smile today
...
The lyrics to Erykah Badu's song "Today" emphasize the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in life's simple pleasures. Badu urges the listener to wear blue instead of green, so that flowers can bloom and birds can sing. This is a metaphor for making choices that benefit not only ourselves but also the world around us. Badu also encourages spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and being grateful for those who care for us.
The song also touches on themes of self-respect, friendship, and acceptance. Badu acknowledges that life can be challenging and emotionally complex, but she reinforces the idea that we can still find happiness and comfort in our connections with others. She celebrates the natural beauty and uniqueness of individuals, including one person with a "big ol' 'fro" and another who leaves bugs in their house. By accepting and respecting others for who they are, we can create meaningful relationships and a more harmonious world.
Line by Line Meaning
Please oh please
wear blue ain't green
so flowers can bloom and birds can sing
today
Please wear blue instead of green, so flowers can bloom and birds can sing today
Hang out with your friends
cool breezing sun
and I'ma join y'all so we can all have fun
today
Hang out with your friends in the cool sun and I'll join you so we can all have fun today
and blow me a kiss
and dry my clothes
while I run through the sheets like I'm 5 years old
today
Blow me a kiss and dry my clothes while I run through the sheets feeling like a kid again today
You got the natural wood grain with the big ol' 'fro
your fresh 15's got me ridin' low
today
You have a natural beauty with your big afro and fashionable sneakers that have me feeling low to the ground today
smile today
smile today
smile today
smile
today
Smile today, feel good today, smile today, feel good today
See you got this new man
who treats you wrong
but I'ma do you good before you're used and gone
today
I see you have a new man who treats you poorly, but I'm going to treat you well before he uses you up and leaves, today
and if you feelin' kinda grey
I understand
emotions sway but I'm still your friend
today
And if you're feeling down or sad, I understand that emotions come and go, but I'm still your friend today
You got bugs in your house
that you let run free
but if they don't bug you then they don't bug me
today
You have bugs in your house that you let be, but if they don't bother you then they don't bother me today
See, I respect you and you respect me back
so I'ma make sure I put my trash in the sack
today
I respect you and you respect me back, so I'm going to make sure I put my trash in the bag today
In orange and brown you look so young
so let's spend the night 'n tell purple to come
today
You look so young in your orange and brown outfit, so let's spend the night and invite purple to come, today
and I'ma sing you a song so play that track
with the crickets in the back that so abstract
today
I'm going to sing you a song, so play that track with the sound of crickets that's so abstract, today
and as I take a deep breath
I close my eyes
I say a little prayer for the sun to rise
today
(tomorrow)
As I take a deep breath, I close my eyes and say a small prayer for the sun to rise today (or tomorrow)
and I see in the morning all bright and fresh
and I'll be the girl in the yellow dress
new day, new day
And in the morning, I see everything bright and fresh, and I'll be the girl in the yellow dress for the new day, new day
smile today
smile today
...
Smile today, feel good today...
Contributed by Mia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yaazzyy8
Please oh please
Wear blue and green
So flowers can bloom and birds can sing
Today
And hang out with your friends
Cool breeze and sun
And I'ma join y'all so we can all have fun
Today
And blow me a kiss
And dry my clothes
While I run through these sheets like I'm five years old
Today
You got that natural wood grain with the big ol' 'fro
Your fresh 15's got me ridin' low
Today
Smile today (plant some seeds)
Smile today (run with the breeze)
Smile today
Smile
Today
See you got this new man
Who treats you wrong
But I'ma do you good before you're used and gone
Today
And if you feelin' kinda grey
I understand
Emotions sway but I'm still your friend
Today
You got bugs in your house
That you let run free
But if they don't bug you then they don't bug me
Today
See, I respect you and you respect me back
So I'ma make sure I put my trash in the sack
Today
Smile today (run with the breeze, plant some seeds)
Smile today (rap with the trees, learn the plus degrees)
(Feel good today)
In orange and brown you look so young
So let's spend the night 'n tell purple to come
Today
And I'ma sing you a song so play that track
With the crickets in the back that so abstract
Today
And as I take a deep breath
I close my eyes
I say a little prayer for the sun to rise
Today
(Tomorrow)
And I see in the morning all bright and fresh
And I'll be the girl in the yellow dress
New day, new day
Smile today
Smile today
R E N É E
Just learned about this beautiful song during the #VERZUS "battle." It really was far from a battle though, it was two GROWN WOMEN showing nothing but love for each other. This song, and Jill's song, JAHRAYMECOFASOLA, both new to me, deeply touched my soul. Thanks to both of you #QUEENS for introducing me to these songs that will be with me for a lifetime.
chapjelk
Same
Vanessa Merino
nf094e R E N É E I could watch those beautiful soul queens vibing & singing to their classics all day, everyday. They exude such beautiful, powerful, positive energy. No tearing each other down, just appreciating & celebrating each others music. That is how it’s done! Yesterday’s “battle” was a real treat.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the special mothers out there!
R E N É E
@Vanessa Merino
Yes, we all definitely got a huge treat. Happy Mother's Day to you all.
M Jes
Yesss both these songs touched me. Soooo good!
LOVE_LAAS
M?
Unique Drea
Why is TODAY the FIRST time I'm hearing this song!??!?!? LOVE IT
Rhonda S.
Because radio think they know what we want to here so They don't play Beautiful music like this..
Pedro Velez
Rhonda Sidibe song wasn’t on her album so it went unheard.
Han Solo ☯️
Damn. Enjoy!!!