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)
Nature
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, Oh Yeah
Hey baby
Why you rushing
Let's sit back and watch the flowers grow
Why you want
To swim against the tide
Here in god's creation
There is always a reason
I know, that love is there for us
Yeah
[Chorus]
I don't want to watch no movie
Let's sit and watch the stars put on a show
If you want to win my favor
Be creative, and show me your flavor
Cause here in god's creation
For everything there is a session
Let go Let life
Let love let god
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Like the sun shines and
The wind blows
Like the birds fly
And the moon glows
If I am meant for you and
You are meant for me
Then we will flow together
Ever lastly
[Chorus: x2]
Out
Baby we should sit, watch the flowers grow
Baby we should sit, back and watch the moon glow
Baby, we should feel the wind blow
First you plant a seed
And then it grows and
Then it blooms
And it dies
That the cycle of life
Same goo's for you and I
Maybe this time we'll get it right
Go with the flow
Maybe we'll get it right
India.Arie's song "Nature" is a soulful and reflective piece that encourages embracing nature and letting go of worries to experience the beauty of the world. The opening lines "Why you rushing/Let's sit back and watch the flowers grow/Why you want/To swim against the tide/Let's lay and watch the river flow" urge the listener to slow down, relax, and enjoy the laid-back pace of life. The singer also refers to the creation of God, emphasizing the power and beauty of nature. The chorus "If you want to win my favor/Be creative, and show me your flavor/Cause here in god's creation/For everything there is a session/Let go Let life/Let love let god" encourages the idea of accepting and reveling in the beauty of the natural world. The bridge "If I am meant for you and/You are meant for me/Then we will flow together/Ever lastly" brings up the idea of fate and trust in the universe to bring people together, just like the cycles of nature.
The song speaks to the importance of taking a step back from the constant hustle and bustle of life to appreciate the beauty of the world. As humans, we often get so caught up in our own lives and worries that we forget about the magnificence of nature surrounding us. The lyrics encourage an appreciation of the natural world, and a reminder that everything is cyclical, just like the blooming and dying of a flower. India.Arie's soft, soothing vocals, paired with her wise lyrics, make this song a perfect pick-me-up for anyone feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby
Why you rushing
Let's sit back and watch the flowers grow
Why rush through life when we can just sit back and appreciate the beauty of the world around us, like watching flowers grow?
Why you want
To swim against the tide
Let's lay and watch the river flow
Rather than fighting the natural way of things, let's go with the flow and enjoy the journey, like watching a river flow.
Here in god's creation
There is always a reason
I know, that love is there for us
Yeah
In this incredible world we live in, there is a purpose for everything and love is always present.
I don't want to watch no movie
Let's sit and watch the stars put on a show
If you want to win my favor
Be creative, and show me your flavor
Cause here in god's creation
For everything there is a session
Let go Let life
Let love let god
Rather than settling for mundane entertainment, let's appreciate the natural wonders of the world, and if you want to impress me, show me your unique perspective on this incredible creation. Let go of your worries and just let life and love take its course, guided by a higher power.
Like the sun shines and
The wind blows
Like the birds fly
And the moon glows
If I am meant for you and
You are meant for me
Then we will flow together
Ever lastly
Just like the natural workings of the world, if we are meant to be together, then we will flow together, enduring forever like the sun, wind, birds, and moon.
First you plant a seed
And then it grows and
Then it blooms
And it dies
That the cycle of life
Same goo's for you and I
Maybe this time we'll get it right
Life is a cycle, starting with a small seed that grows into something beautiful, only to eventually fade away. The same is true for us, but maybe this time we can make the most of it and find the beauty in every moment.
Go with the flow
Maybe we'll get it right
In the end, it's best to let go and just go with the natural flow of life, hopefully finding our way and making the most of it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: INDIA ARIE, JOYCE SIMPSON, MARK BATSON, MELVIN GLOVER, ALBERT JOHNSON, SYLVIA (USA) ROBINSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind