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)
In My Head
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are a river running through the desert plain
You are my shelter, from the pouring rain
You were my comfort, even before the pain
I can hear the sound of five drummers in the wind
The leaves blowing in the breeze, ring out like guitars
A tin can rolls across the gravel like a tambourine
[Chorus]
In my head, you're always in my head
In my dreams, you're always in my head
In my pain, you're always in my head
In my peace, you're always in my head
A rainbow of rhythm stretches across the sky
An airplane in the distance, plays a beautiful cello line
It's no coincidence; it?s in tune with the music in my head
If you were a shoulder you're where I would rest, but I am yourvessel so I hear, you
[Chorus]
In my head,you're always in my head
In my fears,you're always in my head
In my joy,you're always in my head
In my tears, you're always in my head
You're like a cool breeze, on a summer?s day
You are a river, running through a desert plain
You've been my shelter, from the pouring rain
You were my comfort, even before the pain??cause I hear you
[Chorus]
In my head, you're always in my head
In my dreams, you're always in my head
In my pain, you're always in my head
In my peace, you're always in my head
[Chorus]
In my head,you're always in my head
In my fears, you're always in my head
In my joy, you're always in my head
In my tears, you're always in my head
The song, "In My Head" by India.Arie is about the constant presence of a person in the singer's thoughts and emotions. The imagery used in the lyrics adds depth to the meaning of the song. The opening lines compare the person to a cool breeze on a hot summer day and a river in the desert, signifying a sense of relief and comfort. The person is portrayed as a shelter from pouring rain and as someone who provides comfort before the pain even starts. The repetition of phrases like "you are always in my head" and "I hear you" signifies the constant nature of this presence.
The second stanza has an interesting use of imagery as well, as the singer compares the sound of the wind to five drummers, the leaves to guitars, and a tin can rolling across the gravel to a tambourine. These comparisons add depth to the idea that the person is constantly present in the singer's mind, as they are even able to hear the person's presence in the sounds of the world around them. The third stanza uses the imagery of a rainbow of rhythm in the sky and an airplane in the distance playing a beautiful cello line to again emphasize the idea that the person is always there, even in the most unexpected places. The final stanza repeats the opening lines, further emphasizing the constant presence of the person in the singer's life.
Overall, "In My Head" is a song about the ever-present nature of a person in the singer's life, and how their presence can be found in the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
You're like a cool breeze, on a summer's day
You bring comfort and relief to my life, like a refreshing breeze on a hot day.
You are a river running through the desert plain
You provide nourishment and sustenance to my otherwise dry and barren existence, like water in a parched desert.
You are my shelter, from the pouring rain
You protect me and provide a safe haven in times of trouble and adversity, just as a shelter may shield from rain.
You were my comfort, even before the pain
You have always been there to offer solace and reassurance, even before I experienced any pain or difficulty.
I can hear the sound of five drummers in the wind
The world around me seems to be alive and pulsing with energy, with the sound of the wind and nature resembling a musical ensemble.
The leaves blowing in the breeze, ring out like guitars
Even the smallest things in nature can strike a chord and create beautiful music, like the rustling of leaves on a tree.
A tin can rolls across the gravel like a tambourine
Every object and sound in the world can be a part of the music in my head, even something as seemingly mundane as a rolling can.
I am but a vessel, so I sing, because you are
I am a conduit for your influence and inspiration, and I express myself through song as a result.
In my head, you're always in my head
You occupy my thoughts and provide a constant presence and source of inspiration.
In my dreams, you're always in my head
You are a recurring dream and a symbol of hope and peace.
In my pain, you're always in my head
Even in times of suffering and distress, you offer comfort and support as a constant presence in my mind.
In my peace, you're always in my head
Just as you are present during my difficult times, you also bring a sense of tranquility and calm to my life.
A rainbow of rhythm stretches across the sky
Music and rhythm create a colorful and vibrant world around me, much like a rainbow spanning the sky.
An airplane in the distance, plays a beautiful cello line
Even the distant hum of an airplane can take on a musical quality and blend seamlessly with the world around me.
It's no coincidence; it's in tune with the music in my head
My perception and interpretation of the world is shaped by the music and rhythm that constantly play in my mind, making everything seem connected.
If you were a shoulder you're where I would rest, but I am your vessel so I hear, you
You provide a strong and supportive presence, like a shoulder to lean on, but I am also attuned to your voice and inspiration as your vessel for creativity.
In my fears, you're always in my head
Even in moments of anxiety and fear, you offer reassurance and calmness as a constant presence in my thoughts.
In my joy, you're always in my head
You are present in moments of happiness and celebration, adding to the beauty and wonder of my experiences.
In my tears, you're always in my head
You remain a source of comfort and support, even in moments of sadness and vulnerability.
You've been my shelter, from the pouring rain
You have protected me and provided a safe haven during times of hardship and adversity.
You were my comfort, even before the pain, 'cause I hear you
Even before difficult times arose in my life, you provided comfort and strength as a constant presence and source of inspiration that I hear and hold onto.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NED W. ALBRIGHT, BENJAMIN CHARLES JAFFE, RADD COOLIDGE, TODD MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind