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)
Outro
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uncle Joe
Aunt Joanne
Uncle para
And to all of the names
That I do not know
But whose blood runs through my veins
This is a song for you
The lyrics of India.Arie's song Outro is a tribute to her ancestors, who have passed away, and the ones who are still alive. She mentions the names of her grandma, uncles, and aunts to give a personal touch to the song. However, she also acknowledges the people whose names she does not know but are related to her by blood. Therefore, the song is a celebration of her lineage and the people who have contributed to her existence.
The lyrics are also an acknowledgment of the fact that we are all connected, irrespective of the time or place we come from. By mentioning the names of her ancestors, she is sending a message of gratitude and love to them. She recognizes that their lives have shaped her life, and their legacy lives on in her. Consequently, she wants to honor them in this song, which is, in a way, a eulogy or a love letter to her ancestors.
In conclusion, the lyrics of India.Arie's song Outro are a heartfelt tribute to her ancestors, and a reminder of the connectedness of all humanity. By acknowledging her lineage, she is sending a message of love, gratitude, and respect to her past, present, and future.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma Lousie
This line refers to the singer's grandmother named Lousie, who is a part of her family.
Uncle Joe
Uncle Joe is another member of the singer's family.
Aunt Joanne
Aunt Joanne is also a member of the singer's family like her uncle and grandmother.
Uncle para
Uncle Para is the singer's another uncle whom she is referring to in the song.
And to all of the names
The singer is extending the song's dedication to all the people whose name she is not aware of but are related to her by blood.
That I do not know
The singer expresses that she is not familiar with the people whose names she has not mentioned, but they are still an integral part of her family.
But whose blood runs through my veins
This line signifies that all these people mentioned in the song are related to the singer by blood, and she has inherited their genes.
This is a song for you
The entire composition is a tribute to the singer's family members, including her grandmother, uncles, aunts, and others, expressing gratitude and love for them.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind