Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Tony Award-winning and Grammy A… Read Full Bio ↴Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Tony Award-winning and Grammy Award-winning R&B singer and actress from Trinidad and Tobago.

Headley began playing the music of her native country at a young age, including calypso, reggae and soca. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God (in Anderson, Indiana).

After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre. In 1997, she played Nala in The Lion King, the Broadway musical. Headley's performance was well-received and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1999.

Headley released her debut album, This Is Who I Am, in October 2002 on RCA Records. Although its first single, "He Is", was not very successful, the second single, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved moderate success and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Headley was also nominated for Best New Artist.

On September 6, 2003, Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Her second album, In My Mind, was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony, and Headley joked that it should have been called Caught Up instead. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time, Headley released the album in January 2006. The title track was released as the first single; it was produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders, and its music video was directed by Diane Martel. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

If It Wasn't for Your Love
Heather Headley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Would I be standing here
After all these years
Among the stars above?
Maybe not
If it wasn't for your love

Smiling faces all around
Like when the king has just been crowned

A battle has been won
That I'd have lost
If it wasn't for your love

A fairy tale unfolds
More true than stories I've been told

At last my chance to shine
And all in perfect time
A life I'd once dreamed of
Who'd have thought
If it wasn't for your love

And oh, the wonderful surprise
To have a light so bright it blinds
It blinds my eyes

But finally I see
How it feels to live a dream
But would I have touched the sky?
Ever flown so high?

Ooh, not I
If it wasn't for your love

Overall Meaning

Heather Headley's song "If It Wasn't for Your Love" is a powerful testimonial to the impact that love can have on one's life. Through the lyrics, the singer reflects on the positive changes that have taken place in her life, resulting in where she stands today, among the stars. The first verse poses the question, "Would I be standing here after all these years among the stars above?" This line is significant as it indicates that she has been successful and that she has achieved her ambitions. However, even though she's worked hard to get to where she is now, she acknowledges that it may not have been possible without the love of her partner.

The second verse speaks to the happiness she feels in the present, surrounded by the people she loves. The use of the metaphor of a king's coronation serves to amplify the magnitude of her celebration. The battle in this context represents the challenges she faced in her life before reaching success, making it clear that without her partner's love, she would have lost the fight. The bridge is the climax of the song, an upbeat tempo and soaring vocals convey the sheer delight that the singer feels regarding her current circumstances. Finally, she acknowledges that without her partner's love, she would not have reached the heights she has today, and the fairytale she's living would still be a dream.

Line by Line Meaning

Would I be standing here
Reflecting on whether I would be in my current position

After all these years
After a long time has passed

Among the stars above?
Amongst great success

Maybe not
Admitting that it is possible I wouldn't be where I am

If it wasn't for your love
If it wasn't for the love received from another person

Smiling faces all around
People are happy and excited

Like when the king has just been crowned
People celebrate a great achievement

A battle has been won
Succeeding in a difficult challenge

That I'd have lost
Accepting failure was a possibility

If it wasn't for your love
If it wasn't for the love received from another person

A fairy tale unfolds
A dream-like story comes to life