She absorbed musical skill early in life, encouraged by both parents: her mother, Joyce, herself a former singer, and now India Arie's stylist; and her father, former ABA and NBA basketball player Ralph Simpson (not former NBA star player Ralph Sampson, as has been mistakenly reported in some media). She had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, Colorado, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. "When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs," she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.
Co-founding the Atlanta-based independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed (Groovement was the collective artists' name and Earthshare was their independent label name), her one-song turn on a locally released compilation led to a second-stage gig at the Lilith Fair. Their Universal Records/Motown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Sidestepping all the devices of flavor-of-the-month record-making, Acoustic Soul acquainted listeners with a brave and eloquent new voice, drawing an uncommonly broad swath of listeners from hip-hop, the so called neo-soul, blues, folk, and classic troubadour-style singer/songwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001, debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and number three on the R&B album chart. Within months, without the concentrated radio play that typically powers pop and rap albums, Acoustic Soul was certified double-platinum.
India.Arie also features on Stevie Wonder's album A Time To Love which was released on October 18, 2005. India.Arie and Stevie Wonder duet on the title track "A Time To Love" that India wrote, which was nominated in the 2006 forty-eighth Grammy Awards, for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration with Vocals.
On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show, Arie performed "Just 4 2day". She wrote this song especially for Tyra's show. Arie also wrote "What About the Child", a song that did not air but was made available as a $1 internet download to support child victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Voyage to India
India.Arie followed the success of her debut in 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. Debuting at number six on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B chart, the album eventually earned a 2003 Grammy for Best R&B Album. The single "Little Things" also won a 2003 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Soon after its release, Voyage to India was certified gold; and it was certified platinum on Friday 4 August 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
India.Arie's third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, was released on June 27, 2006. Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship gave India.Arie her first number-one on the Billboard 200 and was her second chart-topper on the U.S. R&B album chart. This album was also the first #1 album for the Motown record label in 33 years since Diana Ross's #1 Lady Sings the Blues Its first week sales of 161,000 copies is Arie's best sales week to date and was certified gold on Friday, August 4, 2006.
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Songversation (2013)
Christmas with Friends (2015)
Worthy (2019)
Can I Walk With You
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know were it came from all I know is I need you in my life, yeah
You make me feel like I can be a better woman
If you just say you want to take this friendship to another place
Can I walk with you through your life
Can I lay with you as your wife
Can I be your friend 'till the end
You've got me wondering if you know that I am wondering about you.
This feeling is so strong that I can't imagine you're not feeling it too.
You've known me long enough to trust that I want what's best for you.
If you want to be happy then I am the one that you should give your heart to.
Can I walk with you through your life
Can I lay with you as your wife
Can I be your friend 'till the end
Can I walk with you through your life (fades away)
Now everyday ain't gonna be like the summers day.
Being in love it really ain't like the movies screen.
But I can tell you all the drama aside you
And I can find what the worlds been looking for forever.
Friendship and love together.
Can I walk with you through your life
Can I lay with you as your wife
Can I be your friend 'till the end
Can I walk with you through your life (fades away)
Can I walk with you in your life?
Till the day that the world stops spinning.
Can I walk with you in your life?
Till the day that my heart stops beating.
Can I walk with you in your life?
Can I walk with you
Till the day that the birds no longer take flight
Till the moon is underwater
Can I walk with you
Can I walk with you
This is the moment I've been waiting for
Can I walk with you
Can I walk with you
Can I walk with you
You are everything I've been looking for
Can I walk with you
Creative intellectual
Can I walk with you
Can I walk with you as your wife
India.Arie's song "Can I Walk With You" is a love song that is essentially about taking a friendship to the next level. It is a genuine and honest expression of love that is not over the top but leaves a lasting impact. The singer wakes up thinking about the love interest and is consumed with the thought of the person throughout the day. The lyrics explain how the singer believes that the love interest would make her a better woman, and she hopes that the friendship will lead to something more.
The song invites the love interest to consider starting a romantic relationship, becoming best friends that walk together through life. The singer then acknowledges that true love is not always sunshine and rainbows but can be complicated with its share of drama. However, the singer's ultimate goal is to find a lifelong friend and love that will stand the test of time.
Overall, "Can I Walk With You" is a song expressing a desire for a lasting romantic and platonic relationship with the person. India.Arie's beautiful voice and the soothing melody convey the song's message of love, which stands out compared to traditional love songs' over-the-top lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up this morning you were the first thing on my mind
I can't stop thinking about you and I woke up with you on my mind today.
I don't know were it came from all I know is I need you in my life, yeah
I'm not sure how it happened, but I just know I need you in my life.
You make me feel like I can be a better woman
Being with you inspires me to be the best version of myself, especially as a woman.
If you just say you want to take this friendship to another place
If you're interested in more than just being friends, I'm open to that too.
You've got me wondering if you know that I am wondering about you.
I'm curious if you're aware that I have feelings for you too.
This feeling is so strong that I can't imagine you're not feeling it too.
My emotions are so intense, it's hard to believe you don't feel the same way.
You've known me long enough to trust that I want what's best for you.
We have a history that's built on trust, and I genuinely care about your well-being.
If you want to be happy then I am the one that you should give your heart to.
I'm confident that I'm the person who can make you truly happy if you give me a chance.
Now everyday ain't gonna be like the summers day.
Life isn't always perfect, and our relationship won't be either.
Being in love it really ain't like the movies screen.
Hollywood romance isn't realistic, and our love story won't exactly match a movie.
But I can tell you all the drama aside you
Regardless of the challenges we may face, I can promise you one thing.
And I can find what the worlds been looking for forever.
Together, we can achieve something that the world has been searching for forever.
Can I walk with you through your life
Will you let me be a part of your journey and walk alongside you?
Can I lay with you as your wife
Would you consider marrying me and sharing a life together?
Can I be your friend 'till the end
Even if we don't end up in a romantic relationship, can we still be lifelong friends?
Till the day that the world stops spinning.
I want to be by your side for the rest of our lives, until the end of time.
Till the day that my heart stops beating.
My love for you won't fade until the day I die.
Can I walk with you in your life?
Will you let me walk with you through the ups and downs of your life?
This is the moment I've been waiting for
I've been waiting for an opportunity to express my feelings for you openly and honestly.
You are everything I've been looking for
You fulfill everything I ever wanted in a partner and I love you for that.
Creative intellectual
I appreciate your intelligence and creativity and I find them attractive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blue Miller, India Arie, India Arie Simpson, Joyce Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alziecastillo8424
India Arie will forever be a vibe...PERIODT!!!
@mizzmcgill1210
I used to play this song over and over again when I was a teenager. In 2021 and married, I’m playing it over and over!!💖
@ivaniribeiro6787
kiki
@kevindillard81
❤
@always_cornelia
You really cannot dislike any of her music.
@fashamoore9322
Well, 200 hundred people would disagree with you, but I totally concur with your comment.
@robbiehernandez8019
It should be illegal
@gbrow3191
Ain’t that the truth
@heatherheadley1704
Unless you are unconscious
@myhappyness1
Some people have that special gift where they can pull something from deep out of another person with music. Something that one might not know that they possess. I've learned many things about myself from the first cd that she presented to the world. I own every one. Her music is uplifting to me, for me & for that, I'm thankful.