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]
Wind Song
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sound it makes when love sings Songs of love to them
I try all day to not write songs
That sound cliché
When I sing songs of love to you
Some how I always do
And then I realize
After a million years
The Wind Song goes along
That's how I want to be
Until eternity
The Wind Song goes along
I'm glad it's clear the rain this year
Came down so strong to test my Song of love for you
I love you still
And always will
So if my song repeats
Know that I'm stuck on you
Oh yes, I'm stuck on you And then I realize
After a million years
The Wind Song goes along Oh yes, I realize
After a million years
The Wind Song goes along
I'm glad it's clear the rain this year
Came down so strong to test my Song of love for you
I love you still
And always will
So if my song repeats
Know that I'm stuck on you I'm stuck on you
And then I realize
After a million years
The Wind Song goes along
The lyrics of Gregory Porter's Wind Song embody the idea that love can be so profound and everlasting that it transcends time and harkens back to the beginning of creation itself. The repetition of the phrase "The Wind Song goes along" reinforces this sentiment by implying that love, like the unending breeze, is a force that moves constantly and unstoppably into eternity. The opening lines of the song describe the beauty of nature, which serves as a metaphor for the beauty of love. Porter then admits that he struggles to write songs of love that do not sound cliché, but concludes that despite his best efforts, his love song always comes out the same. He declares his undying love for his beloved, acknowledging that the "test" of their relationship in the face of hardships like strong rains only serves to strengthen his devotion.
The Wind Song is a powerful and evocative ballad that speaks directly to the heart of anyone who has felt the transformative power of love. Through his lyrics, Porter conjures up images of the natural world and the timeless quality of love. By using words and phrases that are both universal and deeply personal, he creates a song that resonates with listeners from all walks of life. Ultimately, the Wind Song is a celebration of the enduring nature of love that transcends all boundaries and unites us all.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun, the trees, the leaves, the ground
The beauty of nature that surrounds us
The sound it makes when love sings Songs of love to them
The way love adds meaning and depth to even the simplest things
I try all day to not write songs
Trying to avoid being too corny or cliché in expressing love
That sound cliché
Realizing that sometimes even with the best intentions, expressions of love can be overdone
When I sing songs of love to you Some how I always do
No matter how hard he tries, love always inspires him to write songs about it
And then I realize After a million years The Wind Song goes along That's how I want to be Until eternity
The realization that love is timeless and enduring, like the constant presence of the wind
I'm glad it's clear the rain this year Came down so strong to test my Song of love for you
The challenges of life and love, like a heavy rain, can test the strength and sincerity of one's love
I love you still And always will So if my song repeats Know that I'm stuck on you
Regardless of any obstacles, his love for her is unwavering and unchanging
Oh yes, I'm stuck on you
A simple but powerful declaration of love and devotion
And then I realize After a million years The Wind Song goes along Oh yes, I realize After a million years The Wind Song goes along
The repetition emphasizes the timelessness of love, like the never-ending presence of the wind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind