Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
Lonesome Lover
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear me pleadin', love
My heart is bleedin'
Take me back
Where I belong
I know folks are sayin'
From you I've been strayin'
But still I keep prayin'
Take me back
Where I belong
Poor lonesome me
Why can't you see
Let bygones be
Take me back
Where I belong
Don't be hesitatin'
Too long I've been waitin'
Love, I'm agitatin'
Take me back where I belong
Poor lonesome me
Why can't you see
Let bygones be
Take me back where I belong
Don't be hesitatin'
Too long I've been waitin'
Love, I'm agitatin'
Take me back where I belong
Take me back now, where I belong
Take me back, where I belong
In Gregory Porter's song "Lonesome Lover," the singer is desperately pleading with his lover to take him back. He opens the song with "So long I've been needin' your love," emphasizing how long he has been longing for his lover's embrace. His heart is bleeding and he is clearly deeply hurt by whatever events led to their separation. Despite others telling him that he has been straying, he still prays for his lover to come back to him. He asks his lover to let bygones be and take him back where he belongs. He is agitated and can't wait any longer for his lover's return.
The song is a classic example of the "lonesome lover" trope in blues and jazz music. The singer is helpless without their lover and is willing to do anything to win them back. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's desperation and heartbreak. The music is also slow and melancholic, emphasizing the singer's hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
So long Ive been needin' your love
I have been longing for your love for a long time.
Hear me pleadin', love
Please hear my plea for love.
My heart is bleedin'
My heart is hurting from being apart from you.
Take me back Where I belong
I want to be back with you where I belong.
I know folks are sayin'
I am aware that people are saying things about me.
From you I've been strayin'
I have been away from you.
But still I keep prayin'
But I keep hoping and praying for your forgiveness.
Poor lonesome me
I feel lonely and sad.
Why can't you see
Why can't you see how much I need you?
Let bygones be
Let's forget about the past.
Don't be hesitatin'
Don't hesitate to take me back.
Too long I've been waitin'
I have been waiting for too long.
Love, I'm agitatin'
Love, I am feeling restless and anxious.
Take me back where I belong
Please take me back to where I feel like I belong.
Take me back now, where I belong
Please take me back to where I belong.
Take me back, where I belong
Please take me back to where I feel like I belong.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ABBEY LINCOLN, MAX ROACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind