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]
Phoenix
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Battered and worn
Tired and torn
You've grown tired of me
No love grows on its own
Left all alone
It's inspired in me
Love falling from grace
Can rise from the ashes
And fall into place
Love is just like a phoenix
It can fly
It can glow
And it's based upon the dreams
That we've both been dreaming of
The promises you know
Promise you know
Love is just like a phoenix
Let it sky
Let it grow
This is just the thing
That, oh, I've been dreaming of
The promises you know
Promise you know
In love, we've come so far
Look to the stars
Hold onto me
Take my wings
Hold on tight
Cling to my love
Hold onto me
Oh, love
Falling from grace
Can rise from the ashes
And fall into place
Love is just like a phoenix
It can fly
It can glow
And it's based upon the dreams
That we've both been dreaming of
Oh, the promise you know
Promise you know
Love is just like a phoenix
Let it sky
Let it grow
This is just the sort of thing
That we've both been hoping for
The promises you know
Promise you know
So let's rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
Love is just like a phoenix
It can fly
It can glow
And it's based upon the dreams
That we've both been dreaming of
And oh, the promises you know
Promise you know
Love is just like a phoenix
Let it sky
Let it grow
This is just what we've both been dreaming of
All the promises you know
Promise you know
Rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise
In Gregory Porter's song Phoenix, the lyrics paint a picture of a tumultuous relationship that has faced its fair share of ups and downs. The love between the two individuals is described as battered and worn, tired and torn, and the partner has grown tired of the other. However, Porter suggests that love cannot grow on its own and needs to be inspired by individuals in the relationship. He then goes on to compare love to a phoenix - a mythical bird that rises from its own ashes after being burned. He says that love falling from grace can be reborn and fall into place just like a phoenix, and it can fly, glow, and be based upon the dreams of both individuals involved. The promises made to each other are reaffirmed, and the two are encouraged to hold on tight, cling to love, hold onto wings, and look to the stars.
The song is a powerful love ballad that speaks of the resilience of love and how two individuals can work through difficult times to come out stronger. It highlights the importance of communication and inspiration in a relationship and how promises made between partners should not be forgotten but instead held onto tightly. The phoenix metaphor used throughout the song creates a sense of hope for the future, emphasizing that even when love appears to be at its end, it can still rise again.
Line by Line Meaning
Our love
The love between two people
Battered and worn
Damaged and tired due to difficult times
Tired and torn
Exhausted and broken
You've grown tired of me
The other person has become disinterested in the relationship
No love grows on its own
Love requires work and effort to thrive
Left all alone
When neglected, love can feel lonely and abandoned
It's inspired in me
The singer's love has been reignited
Love falling from grace
When love has lost its beauty and charm
Can rise from the ashes
Love can be reborn and renewed
And fall into place
Love can settle and be comfortable in a relationship
Love is just like a phoenix
Love can be reborn and renewed like the mythical bird
It can fly
Love can reach great heights
It can glow
Love can radiate and shine
And it's based upon the dreams
Love is built upon shared aspirations
That we've both been dreaming of
Both people in the relationship share these aspirations
The promises you know
The assurances made in the relationship
Let it sky
Allow love to soar
Let it grow
Permit love to expand and develop
This is just the sort of thing
This is exactly what the singer has been looking for
We've both been hoping for
Both people in the relationship have wished for this
So let's rise, rise, rise
Let's move forward and improve the relationship
Look to the stars
Turn towards hope and possibility
Hold onto me
The singer asks their partner to hold onto them
Take my wings
Take the offered support and help
Hold on tight
Hold onto the love and connection tightly
Cling to my love
Embrace the love fully
All the promises you know
All the assurances made in the relationship
Rise, rise, rise
Continue improving the relationship and growing together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gregory Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Strength4today
Good Morning Mr.Gregory and the entire 🌎 world. Peace and blessings surrounded by a lifetime of prosperity and LOVE❤️ ❤️
LuvLegendary
D JONES Goodie Morning Dear Heart, Blessings To You And Yours, Stay Safe !!!! 💜🙏🏽👑💜
Strength4today
LuvLegendary ❤️
JesusLovesSinners Hope
It's flat
Jeri Jones890
Good afternoon Mr D Jones. God bless you and may love continue to guide you and keep you.
Adorfus Bell
@Strength4today j
nyore achoja
This is such a beautiful song. Can't wait to hear it performed live.
Sherida A. McLeod
Nyrore me too! He will be in Charlotte NC in April I can hardly wait to get my ticket 😊
DannieUploadsVideos
@Sherida A. McLeod How'd it go?? :)
Sherida A. McLeod
@DannieUploadsVideos Sorry I did not make it. Plans changed