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)
Ready For Love
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why are you hiding from me?
I'd quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity
I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Lately I've been thinking
Maybe you're not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
'Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I'll say the same thing
I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won't complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here
If you give me half a chance
I'll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respect's the spirit world
And thinks with his heart
I am ready for love
If you'll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can
I am ready for love
Here with an offering of
My voice
My eyes
My soul
My mind
Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready for love
I am ready
In India.Arie's "Ready For Love," the singer expresses their readiness to fall in love and be vulnerable with their partner. They question why their partner is hiding from them and express their eagerness to give up their freedom to be held captive by them. The singer acknowledges that love comes with joy and pain, and that it takes time to earn and maintain it. They wonder if their partner is not ready for them or thinks they need to mature before committing to a relationship.
The singer pleads with their partner to give them a chance and promises to be patient, kind, faithful, and true to someone who loves music, art, and respects the spiritual world. They present themselves as a humble student willing to learn and do their best to make the relationship work. The singer ends with an offering of their voice, eyes, soul, and mind and asks their partner what is enough to prove their readiness for love.
Line by Line Meaning
I am ready for love
I am prepared to experience love and all its components.
Why are you hiding from me
What is stopping you from letting me in and sharing a connection?
I'd quickly give my freedom
I am willing to sacrifice my independence to be held in your clutches.
To be held in your captivity
I want to be captured by your love and remain under your control.
All of the joy and the pain
I am prepared to face the highs and lows that love brings into life.
And all the time that it takes
I am willing to wait for as long as it takes for us to connect and be together.
Just to stay in your good grace
I am committed to doing everything to make you happy and earn your love and affection.
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
Perhaps you feel that I need to grow more before I am ready to experience true love.
If you ask me tomorrow, I'll say the same thing
My readiness and willingness to love remains consistent despite time.
Would you please lend me your ear?
Can you listen to me and take me seriously?
I promise I won't complain
I vow not to nag, moan, or express discontentment.
I just need you to acknowledge I am here
All I ask is for you to notice my presence and existence.
If you give me half a chance
If you grant me the slightest chance, I will make the most out of it.
I'll prove this to you
I will leave no stone unturned to demonstrate my love and devotion.
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
I will exercise endurance, kindness, faithfulness, and sincerity in my pursuit of love.
Respect's the spirit world
I recognize and honor the supernatural, the divine, and the unseen.
And thinks with his heart
I make decisions that resonate with my emotions, feeling, and soul.
Here with an offering of my voice, my eyes, my soul, my mind
I am presenting every part of myself to you as an offering of love and devotion.
Tell me what is enough to prove I am ready for love
Give me a sign or let me know what it takes to demonstrate that I am now ready to love and be loved.
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blue Miller, India Arie, India Arie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lanilaughlin4302
I am ready for love
Why are you hiding from me?
I'd quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity
I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Just to stay in your good grace
Lately I've been thinking, maybe you're not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for, 'cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow, I'll say the same thing
I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won't complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here
If you give me half a chance, I'll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music, a man who loves art
Respect's the spirit world and thinks with his heart
I am ready for love
If you'll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can
I am ready for love
Here with a offering of
My voice, my eyes, my soul, my mind
Tell me what is enough to prove I am ready for love
I am ready
@worshiplibrary7157
My husband was abused physically and had cancer as a child, when i met him he stuttered so bad he could barely state his name. Today he speaks clearly, is cancer free, and a great father to both our children. The victory belongs to Jesus!!
@lakeishamonte
What blessing!
@somebody71172
Beautiful ❤
@tobes911
Thanks for sharing. That's a beautiful story. 🙏🙏🙏
@honeybee4566
Thank you Jesus!🙏🏽🙌🏽
@jewelz5761
❤️💯
@lanaefancyxo
This is one of those songs that make you cry every time you hear it. So deep and so beautiful. Anyone still listening in 2022 you're absolutely amazing!!🥰🤗
@ronascott4449
Yep...she makes me cry every time! 😂
@chellepatricefisher4379
Me I'm Guilty this song is so all that SMH 2022 for all the Sisters and Brother's looking for that someone I dedicate this to you may your heart find a heart that Ready for Love.!!!!!!
@jamaicanlife-Myeyes
You are amazing too....🤗