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)
Good Man
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La-la-la, la
La-la-la
La-la-la, ooh
I remember the first day
I met you
We were so young
And there was no guessing
You were the one
Love is so crazy
We had a baby
And said our vows
That's when you told me
Should anything happen
I can hear you now
You told me
If the sun comes up
And I'm not home
Be strong
If I'm not beside you
Do your best to
Carry on
Tell the kids about me
When they're old enough to understand
Tell them that their daddy was
A good man, yeah
La-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
First anniversary
Remember we
Chose a star
And as I stand under it
I can't help but wonder if
You see it where you are
For whatever reason
We don't see the seasons
Change again
Go there with peace of mind
We'll meet on the other side
'Cause true love don't end
Ooh baby
If the sun comes up
And you're not home
I'll be strong
If you're not beside me
I'll do my best to
Carry on
I'll tell the kids about you
When they're old enough to understand
I'll tell them that their daddy was
A good man
La-da-da, la-da-da ooh
La-da-da, la-da-da ooh
Two eyes
Looking
Up at me
Pointing to the picture like, "Where is he?"
Mama, are you okay?
What did the paper say
To make you cry that way?
It said your daddy lived for you
And your daddy died for you
And I'll do the same
Now, baby if the sun comes up
And I'm not home
Be strong
If I'm not beside you
Do your best to
Carry on
Tell your kids about me
When they're old enough to understand
Tell them that your daddy was
A good man, a good man
La-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
India.Arie's song "Good Man" is a heartfelt tribute to her lover, who she envisions leaving her behind after his untimely death. The song begins with a nostalgic account of their earliest days together, reminiscing on infancy of their love, how their family and friends would be amazed and talking about their eternal devotion to each other. On the first anniversary of their union, they decided to choose a star and look at it often - a symbol of their love.
Throughout the song, the listener is led to believe that the couple is married and has children together as Arie sings about telling the kids about their Daddy and how he was a good man. The third verse, which is the bridge of the song, is where the emotions reach their peak. Arie takes the role of the mother here, holding a photograph of her partner and children asking about him. It is explained that the father lived and died for his children and she will do the same.
The overall sentiment of "Good Man" is one of incomparable love, devotion, and commitment. India.Arie's tender vocals and lyrics highlight the pain of the loss of a lover - but also a sincere appreciation of the time they spent together and the knowledge that it will never be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
La-la-la
Intro
La-la-la, la
Intro
La-la-la
Intro
La-la-la, ooh
Intro
I remember the first day
Reflecting on the first time she met her lover
I met you
Referring to the person she fell in love with
We were so young
They were young when they met
You were a blessing
Her lover was a blessing in her life
And there was no guessing
There wasn't any doubt in her mind that her lover was the one for her
You were the one
Her lover was the one she chose
Love is so crazy
Love can be unpredictable and inexplicable at times
We had a baby
They had a child together
And said our vows
They made a commitment to each other
That's when you told me
Her lover made a promise to her
Should anything happen
In case something goes wrong
I can hear you now
She remembers her lover's words vividly
If the sun comes up
When the morning comes
And I'm not home
If she's not there with her lover
Be strong
Be strong without her
If I'm not beside you
If she's not there with him
Do your best to
Try your hardest to
Carry on
Move on with life
Tell the kids about me
Tell their children about their love story
When they're old enough to understand
When their kids are mature enough to comprehend
Tell them that their daddy was
Tell them that their father was
A good man, yeah
A good man who loved his family well
First anniversary
Celebrating their first wedding anniversary
Remember we
She reminisces about their past
Chose a star
They chose a star together
And as I stand under it
As she stands under the star
I can't help but wonder if
She wonders whether he can see the same star where he is
You see it where you are
Referring to her lover
For whatever reason
For unknown reasons
We don't see the seasons
They aren't able to experience life changes together
Change again
Things will never be the same like before
Go there with peace of mind
She wishes him peace of mind
We'll meet on the other side
She hopes to meet him again on another plain of existence
'Cause true love don't end
Their love will never die or diminish
Ooh baby
Expresses her love for him
Two eyes
Their child's eyes
Looking
Looking at her
Up at me
Her child is looking at her
Pointing to the picture like, "Where is he?"
He is asking where his daddy is
Mama, are you okay?
Her child is concerned about her tears
What did the paper say
Asking about the reason for her sadness
To make you cry that way?
Her child wants to know why she's upset
It said your daddy lived for you
Referring to her lover's obituary
And your daddy died for you
Her lover gave his life to protect his family
And I'll do the same
She assures her child that she will do the same as her lover
Now, baby if the sun comes up
Addressing her child
If I'm not home
If she's not there with her child
Be strong
Be strong without her
If I'm not beside you
If she's not there with him
Do your best to
Try your hardest to
Carry on
Move on with life
Tell your kids about me
Tell their children about their love story
When they're old enough to understand
When their kids are mature enough to comprehend
Tell them that your daddy was
Tell them that she will always love them like their father did
A good man, a good man
A good man who loved his family well
La-da-da
Outro
Da-da-da-da-da
Outro
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: India Arie, Shannon Sanders, Andrew Ramsey, Will Baker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind