Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, "Fantastic" (1983) and "Make It Big" (1984), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. They had commercial success with singles "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", "Young Guns (Go for It)", "Bad Boys", "Club Tropicana", "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Last Christmas", "Everything She Wants", “Freedom”, and “I'm Your Man”. Their 1985 tour in China was the first by a Western popular music act and generated worldwide media coverage. Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed at the following year's Live Aid concert.
Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US. The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael released the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". His debut solo album, "Faith" (1987), stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the best-selling music artist of 1988, and "Faith" was awarded Album of the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), was also a number one in the UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the worldwide hit "Freedom! '90". Michael went on to release a series of multimillion-selling albums, including "Older" (1996), "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (1998), "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), "Patience" (2004), and "Twenty Five" (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".
Michael came out as gay in 1998 and was an active LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for public lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offenses. The 2005 documentary "A Different Story" covered his career and personal life. Michael's "25 Live" tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. Michael fell into a coma in 2011 during a bout with pneumonia but later recovered. He performed his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day in 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michael
Solo discography
Faith (1987)
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)
Older (1996)
Songs from the Last Century (1999)
Patience (2004)
Wham! discography
Fantastic (1983)
Make It Big (1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven (1986)
You Have Been Loved
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Past the school that has not changed
In all this time
She thinks of when the boy was young
All the battles she had won
Just to give him life
That man
For all his life
But now we meet to take him flowers
And only god knows why
For what's the use in pressing palms
When children fade in mother's arms
It's a cruel world, we've so much to lose
And what we have to learn, we rarely choose
So if it's god who took her son
He cannot be the one living in her mind
Take care my love, she said
Don't think that god is dead
Take care my love, she said
You have been loved
If I was weak, forgive me
But I was terrified
You brushed my eyes with angels wings, full of love
The kind that makes devils cry
So these days
My life has changed
And I'll be fine (and I'll be fine)
But she just sits and counts the hours
Searching for her crime
So what's the use in pressing palms
If you won't keep such love from harm
It's a cruel world, you've so much to prove
And heaven help the ones who wait for you
No, I've no daughters, I've no sons
Guess I'm the only one
Living in my life
Take care my love, he said
Don't think that God is dead
Take care my love, he said
You have been loved
The lyrics of George Michael's song "You Have Been Loved" have a depth and complexity to them that is not immediately evident. The song tells the story of a mother who takes the back road to the school where her son attended, and remembers the battles she fought for him when he was young. She loved her son's father for all his life, but now he has passed away, and the only thing left to do is to take flowers to his grave. The mother, however, wonders why this is necessary, why we press palms when children fade in their mother's arms, and why there is so much cruelty and loss in the world.
The mother understands that if it was God who took her son, then he cannot be the one living in her mind. This line indicates that the mother may be struggling with her faith, and questioning the purpose of life and death. George Michael's lyrics offer a sense of contemplation and acceptance, as she says that she is fine, even though her life has changed.
The chorus, "Take care my love, she said, don't think that God is dead, take care my love, she said, you have been loved," tells us that although the mother may be grappling with existential questions, she still believes in love and wants her loved ones to take care of themselves. The lyrics of "You Have Been Loved" speak to life's complexities and uncertainties and ask us to reflect on the significance of our daily actions.
Line by Line Meaning
She takes the back road and the lane
She goes the long way and takes the less traveled path
Past the school that has not changed
She passes the same school as before unchanged
In all this time
Over the years
She thinks of when the boy was young
She remembers when he was little
All the battles she had won
All the struggles she fought and overcame
Just to give him life
To bring him into this world
That man
Her husband/partner
She loved that man
She loved him deeply
For all his life
Throughout his entire existence
But now we meet to take him flowers
Now they bring flowers to his grave
And only god knows why
They don't understand why he had to die
For what's the use in pressing palms
What's the point in shaking hands
When children fade in mother's arms
When kids die in their mom's embrace
It's a cruel world, we've so much to lose
The world can be harsh, and we have much at stake
And what we have to learn, we rarely choose
We often don't choose the lessons we learn
So if it's god who took her son
If God was the one who took her son
He cannot be the one living in her mind
God can't be the only thing she thinks of
Take care my love, she said
Be careful, my love, she warned
Don't think that God is dead
Don't feel God isn't there
If I was weak, forgive me
If I seemed weak, pardon me
But I was terrified
But I was really afraid
You brushed my eyes with angels wings, full of love
You touched my eyes with love from above
The kind that makes devils cry
The kind of love that can even move the devil
So these days
Lately
My life has changed
My life is different now
And I'll be fine (and I'll be fine)
But everything will be okay
But she just sits and counts the hours
But she just spends her time passively waiting
Searching for her crime
Trying to understand what she did wrong
So what's the use in pressing palms
So what's the point in clasping hands
If you won't keep such love from harm
If you won't protect love from being hurt
It's a cruel world, you've so much to prove
The world can be harsh, and you have much to show
And heaven help the ones who wait for you
God help those who depend on you
No, I've no daughters, I've no sons
I have no kids
Guess I'm the only one
I'm alone, I suppose
Living in my life
Living in my own world
Take care my love, he said
Be careful, my love, he warned
Don't think that God is dead
Don't feel God isn't there
You have been loved
You have experienced love
Lyrics © ONErpm, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Austin, George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rochelleo.s6799
dewy200884 totally agree with you.....George's songs got us through soooooo much.......I so wanted to see him in concert.....it was never meant to be 😔
I have always never understood why he was never given a knighthood?????
We have sooooo many sir's flouncing around......but look at his contribution to the UK music industry & endless charity's he supported! He was far more deserving than some?
Yes I know he had a colourful private life at times......but that shouldn't have nothing to do with his music talent!
I really do hope they finally use their brains......& honour him with a memorial......that is the least they can do? 🤔
George Michael R.I.P gone but never forgotten 😇
@incrediblenif
I weep every time i listen to this song. The sense of loss is so palpable and profound. All these years later, i sit here and listen to this song with fresh tears coming from my eyes. George Michael had a voice that just gets right into your soul and evokes so much emotion. He's greatly missed.
@mankoka03
What a beautiful comment!!! I feel such a tremendous loss that he is no longer here.
@nicolebenson1889
Beautifully said. ❤
@user-du4bj3bd2i
George Michael had a eunique voice and a gentleman RIP GEORGE❤❤
@user-du4bj3bd2i
Such a beautiful song so good George RIP❤❤
@zizizizi9632
Spot on😢
@rodrigopiris2431
No one sang like George did...even while singing live he sounded clear, smooth, almost angelic, everything sounded pristine, and full of emotion...perfection did exist, every time he sang...
@renatamieli8861
I absolutely agree
@dianasomoza1811
🎼❤🌹
@elliegoldie6140
Yes agree xx