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]
When Love Was King
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love was the rule of the day.
Nothing more nothing less
Than to give your friend your best.
There's much more story that I could tell
To make the hardest hearts swell.
This is the story when love was king.
When love was king, do you remember?
When love was king, when love was king
I remember when love was king
He ruled the land, with his fist unfurled
With open arms for the world
Of hungry children, first he'd think
To pull their lives from the brink
When love was king
He rescued souls lost in the sea
In drifting vessel he would hear their plea
When love was king
He threw a line before they'd sink
And gave the thirsty ones a drink
He told the meek that they should try
To use the sword to smite the lie
That being king is for the weak
When love was king
I pray the lord these words we seek
When love was king
He showed respect for every man
Regardless of their skin or clan
Beside him stood his mighty queen
and equal force wise and keen
He lifted up the underneath
And all his wealth he did bequeath
To those who toiled with out a gain
SO they would remember his reign
So seek someplace to call your own
Right next to this mighty shinning throne
When love was king
When love was king
In Gregory Porter's song "When Love Was King," he laments over the loss of a society where love was the ruler of the day. The lyrics paint an idyllic picture of a faraway kingdom where love was the reigning value. Nothing was more important than showing love to friends and family, the most important aspect of life. As Porter continues with his storytelling, he notes that there are many more stories that he could tell to make even the most unemotional of people emotional.
The chorus "when love was king" is repeated throughout the song, making the message hit home. The verses show what a kind and generous leader the society had when love was king. The leader ruled with equal force and wisdom, lifting up the underprivileged people and leaving a legacy for those who toiled in obscurity. The song presents the image of a utopian society where there is no pain, no discrimination, and where love conquers all. The singer appeals to the listener to find a place near the 'mighty shining throne' where love is still king.
Line by Line Meaning
Once was a kingdom, far far away.
There was a kingdom in a distant place, a long time ago.
Love was the rule of the day.
The most important thing in this kingdom was love.
Nothing more nothing less
There was nothing else that mattered, except for showing love to others.
Than to give your friend your best.
The best thing you could do for someone was to give them your all.
There's much more story that I could tell
There are many more details about this story that I could share.
To make the hardest hearts swell.
The story is powerful enough to make even the most unemotional people feel something.
He ruled the land, with his fist unfurled
The ruler of this kingdom was in charge, but he didn't need to use violence to control his people.
With open arms for the world
He was welcoming and loving to everyone.
Of hungry children, first he'd think
He always prioritized the needs of hungry children.
To pull their lives from the brink
He would do everything in his power to save them from danger.
He rescued souls lost in the sea
He would help anyone who was lost or in danger, even if they were at sea.
In drifting vessel he would hear their plea
He would listen to their cries for help, even if they were far away.
He threw a line before they'd sink
He would try to save them before it was too late.
And gave the thirsty ones a drink
He would provide for those in need, even if they were just thirsty.
He told the meek that they should try
He encouraged those who were weak and powerless to fight for what was right.
To use the sword to smite the lie
He encouraged them to stand up against falsehoods and injustices.
That being king is for the weak
He believed that true strength came from love and compassion, not from being king.
When love was king
This is all a reflection of the time when love was the most important thing.
I pray the lord these words we seek
We hope that these words will resonate and inspire us to love more deeply.
He showed respect for every man
He treated everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their status or background.
Regardless of their skin or clan
He didn't discriminate based on race or ethnicity.
Beside him stood his mighty queen
He had a partner who was just as powerful and wise as he was.
And equal force wise and keen
She was just as capable as he was.
He lifted up the underneath
He helped those who were struggling and marginalized.
And all his wealth he did bequeath
He used his resources to help others and make the world a better place.
To those who toiled with out a gain
He gave his wealth to those who worked hard but didn't have much to show for it.
SO they would remember his reign
He hoped that his legacy would be one of love and compassion, and that people would remember him for it.
So seek someplace to call your own
He encouraged people to find their own place in the world.
Right next to this mighty shinning throne
He hoped that people would find a place next to his throne of love and compassion.
When love was king
When love was the most important thing in the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markishajohnson1499
His voice is like a hug from your grandmother after a long, hard day. It engulfs and soothes you. I'm so grateful to have discovered his amazing talents
@fidodido2867
well said
@paulawilliams759
His voice is so smooth and captivating.
@siwakhambule4078
There are musicians who are skilled, talented and you get Gregory Porter, who is absolutely anointed. His music surpasses time and distance, ability to touch your soul and give healing. I am truly impressed and I can't wait to see this legend live one day.
@IAmQueen54
I can't get enough of this man's beautiful voice...Love this guy!
@L3Nstrum3ntalz
Saw this brother live in San Francisco with some friends. Intimate venue with great acoustics. This song literally brought me to tears. It was truly a spiritual experience. There's so much wisdom and majesty in this song. It literally hurts to hear this song, yet SEE the world we live in.
@ikefunderburk3207
We had the honor of being at a Gregory Porter concert last night. "When Love was King" was his encore piece. The entire hour and a half was a spiritual experience. Porter's amazing vocal range, breath control, and ability to phrase a melody line make him truly a Prince of Love in a world of decisiveness.
@user-ez7th7sr8q
Ike Funderburk thank you for the coment
@mfrancoreview1732
There is so much genuine and profound Christian spirituality and political awareness in this song. It is a true masterpiece. Gregory is living his path of bringing healing to thousands of people through his music. This man is an absolute treasure of our time. Go see him live if you can.
He's absolutely awesome live!!!
@marcelludwig9782
oh man i smoked a good cigar and sipped on a whiskey to that great song. mmmm just love it. thx mr. gregory porter