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)
Part Of My Life
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you be a part of my life?
Oh it's easy to find some one to play with
And almost anyone will do to fill your idle time
But that very special someone,
you can share all your dreams with is so hard to find
But these days it ain't too easy to make up my mind
Cause apparently you body just to temporally to take up my precious time
See I've got to know that
That I can be free with you and
you've got to show that
That you're worthy of my time
Can you stimulate my mind?
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
I still appreciate the beauty of a man
But there's more to what I need now than what meets the eye
And if beauty's only skin deep,
Then your pretty skin won't send me to my highest high
Oh it's been along time come for maturity
And I believe that it's truly what it has to be
Cause as much as I admire you
My sexual desire, ain't controlling me
See I've got to know that
That I can be free with you and
you've got to show that
That you're worthy of my time
Can you stimulate my mind?
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
And I know that it looks good,
But can you be a part of my life
And I'm sure that it feels good
But can you be a part of my life
And it probably even taste good
But can you be a part of my life
I've got to know
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that
Can you be a part of my life?
I got to know that??.
India.Arie's song "Part of My Life" is a reflection on the importance of finding a meaningful and long-lasting romantic relationship. The lyrics suggest that it is easy to find someone to pass the time with, but it is much harder to find someone who can share your deepest thoughts and dreams with. The song's central message is that physical attraction alone is not enough to sustain a relationship; it also requires emotional and intellectual connection.
The song is about the singer's search for a partner who is more than just attractive. She wants someone who is intellectually stimulating and who she can be truly happy with. She acknowledges that physical attraction is important, but she also wants someone who can be a part of her life in a meaningful way. The lyrics suggest that she has learned from the past and is now looking for something deeper in her relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you be a part of my life?
The singer is looking for someone who they can share their life with in a meaningful way.
Oh it's easy to find some one to play with
It's easy to find someone to pass time with but not someone to truly connect with.
And almost anyone will do to fill your idle time
People often settle for someone who they don't truly connect with, just to pass time.
But that very special someone,
The artist is searching for someone who they can truly connect with emotionally.
you can share all your dreams with is so hard to find
Finding someone who you can trust with your deepest desires and aspirations is a difficult task.
And it use to be like me to settle for the physical
The singer used to look for physical attraction rather than emotional connection.
But these days it ain't too easy to make up my mind
The singer now values emotional connection and finds it hard to settle for anything less in a relationship.
Cause apparently you body just to temporally to take up my precious time
The artist values their time and wants to make sure they are spending it with someone who is worth it.
See I've got to know that
The artist needs to make sure that they are emotionally connected with someone before investing their time and energy into that person.
That I can be free with you and
The artist wants to make sure that they feel comfortable opening up to someone emotionally.
you've got to show that
The other person needs to show emotional maturity and stability in order for the singer to feel comfortable opening up to them.
That you're worthy of my time
The artist values their time and wants to make sure they are only giving it to someone who is worth it.
Can you stimulate my mind?
The singer is looking for someone who can have deep and meaningful conversations with them, someone who can intellectually stimulate them.
I still appreciate the beauty of a man
The singer still values physical attraction, but only as part of a deeper connection.
But there's more to what I need now than what meets the eye
The singer now values emotional connection over physical attraction.
And if beauty's only skin deep,
The artist acknowledges that physical beauty is not enough to sustain a meaningful relationship.
Then your pretty skin won't send me to my highest high
Physical attraction alone will not fulfill the artist's emotional needs in a relationship.
Oh it's been along time come for maturity
The singer has matured emotionally and now values emotional connection over physical attraction.
And I believe that it's truly what it has to be
The singer believes that emotional connection is the key to a fulfilling relationship.
Cause as much as I admire you
The artist may be physically attracted to someone but that alone is not enough to sustain a meaningful relationship.
My sexual desire, ain't controlling me
The artist is not controlled solely by physical desire and is looking for a deeper connection in a relationship.
Can you be a part of my life?
The artist is asking whether the person they are interested in can provide the emotional connection and stability they need.
I got to know that
The singer needs to be sure that the person they want to be with can meet their emotional needs.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTHONY DAVID HARRINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind