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]
Water Under Bridges
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Get over it"
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
They say
"It gets better
It gets easier"
The memories start to fade
And sad songs that always play
You start to hate
Do you remember
The days we used to spend?
Memories so strong
It keeps me from moving on
If I could go back
I'd take our worst days
Even our worst days are better
Than loneliness
Somebody told me
"Get over it"
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
Do you remember
The days we used to spend?
Memories so strong
It keeps me from moving on
If I could go back
I'd take our worst days
Even our worst days are better
Than loneliness
Somebody told me
"Get over it"
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
They say
They say
They say
It's like water under bridges
That have already burned
In "Water Under Bridges," Gregory Porter explores the struggles of moving on from a past relationship. The opening lines suggest that someone has advised him to simply "get over it," as though the relationship is like water under bridges that have already burned. This metaphor suggests that it is futile to try to salvage anything from the relationship since it is long gone, destroyed. Despite this advice, the memories of the relationship are so strong that they keep Porter from moving on completely. He wishes that he could go back to the days when he and his partner were together, even if those were the worst days. At least they were better than being alone.
The song's chorus is a repetition of the metaphor introduced in the opening lines: "It's like water under bridges that have already burned." The chorus reinforces the idea that the relationship is beyond repair and that Porter needs to accept this fact and move on with his life. However, his continued longing for the past suggests that this is easier said than done. The melancholic tone of the song is heightened by the use of piano and strings in the background, further emphasizing the depth of emotion that Porter is feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody told me
The song begins with the singer recalling an advice given to them by someone else.
"Get over it"
The advice given to the singer can be interpreted as an instruction to overcome an issue or a problem that they may be facing.
It's like water under bridges
The singer compares their situation to water that flows under a bridge, suggesting that the issue they are facing has already passed and is no longer significant.
That have already burned
The use of the word 'burned' implies that the issue was serious and impactful, but it's significance is now minimized as it is in the past.
They say
The artist chooses to shift to third person to quote what people who are not directly involved in the situation may say.
"It gets better
People who offered the advice also affirm that the situation will improve with time and there is a possibility of resolution.
It gets easier"
The advice given might be reassuring to the singer, who might find some relief in the prospect of the issue becoming less difficult over time.
The memories start to fade
Narrator feels that with time, the intensity of the memories associated with the issue will begin to weaken and lose their grip on their emotions.
And sad songs that always play
The artist uses music as a metaphor to suggest that they might be stuck in a loop where they constantly dwell on their problems.
You start to hate
The artist realizes that the constant fixation with their problems can lead to negative emotions such as anger and resentment towards the situation.
Do you remember
The song shifts focus to the past as the singer asks the listener a rhetorical question about going back to an earlier time.
The days we used to spend?
The artist is lamenting the good times that they can no longer enjoy since the issue arose.
Memories so strong
The memories of the past are detailed and vivid for the singer, which makes it difficult to move on.
It keeps me from moving on
The strong memories of the past make it hard for the singer to let go of things and move forward in their life.
If I could go back
The singer expresses their longing to go back in the past and fix things that led them to their current situation.
I'd take our worst days
The artist's words suggest that even the difficult days they might have had in the past were still worthwhile compared to the challenges they are currently facing.
Even our worst days are better
The artist reinforces the idea that the current situation is worse than any struggles they have faced in the past.
Than loneliness
The singer implies that the current issues they are facing leave them feeling isolated and lonely, which is far worse than even the difficulty of their past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind