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)
These Eyes
India.Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This heart is in need of some healing
These arms are letting you go
And our life is the greatest story never told
How many more ways can I explain this to you, boy?
We had had this conversation several times before
I will accept nothing less than your complete respect
[Chorus]
These eyes never saw you leavin'
This heart is in need of some healing
These arms are letting you go
Our life is the greatest story never told
All this cryin', all this fightin' simply ain't my style
Though you're one of the most important people in my life
I love you from the day we met, I know you love me, too
But at this point, walking away is the best thing we can do
[Chorus]
Are we meant to be man and wife? The answer I don't know
Of life's many mystery's, what intrigues me the most
Is who our children would have been; I guess we'll never know (never know)
Even as I walk away I'll always keep the hope
These eyes never saw you leavin'
This heart is in need of some healing
These arms are letting you go
That's life
That's the way the story goes
(Truth is) every relationship is a lesson
(Truth is) I saw it coming but it hurts anyway
(Truth is) I'm not the reason you're so angry
(Truth is) you're not the reason I'm so passive
Truth is (I've got to take back the power)
Truth is
The reason why it hurts so bad to walk away from you
(These eyes)
I never saw you leavin'
(This heart)
My heart is in need of some healing
(These arms)
These arms are letting you go
(That's life)
The greatest story never told
(These eyes)
(This heart)
I'm in need of your healing
(These arms)
I'm letting you go
(That's life)
The greatest story never told
(Our love)
The greatest story never told
Our life is the greatest story never told
Our love is the greatest story never told
(That's life)
And that's the way the story goes
India.Arie's song "These Eyes" expresses the pain and heartbreak of a woman who is trying to transition from a dysfunctional relationship. She tries to communicate that she wants respect from her partner, and if she cannot have that, it is best to step away. Throughout the song, she talks about how their love story will never be told, and how walking away is the best thing they can do. Despite the pain, she has resolved to end the relationship with grace and dignity.
The lyrics suggest that the couple has had many conversations like this before. However, this time, India.Arie has had enough, and she understands that walking away is the best thing for both of them. She even acknowledges the importance of the person in her life, but she recognizes that they cannot be together. The line "Our life is the greatest story never told" is an acknowledgment that they had the potential to have a great love story, but they never lived up to their full potential.
Overall, "These Eyes" is a poignant song that beautifully captures the pain of ending a relationship. India.Arie's lyrics are vulnerable, honest, and relatable, making this song popular with audiences who have experienced heartbreak themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
These eyes never saw you leavin'
I did not anticipate you leaving me
This heart is in need of some healing
I am hurting and require time to recover
These arms are letting you go
I am accepting that our relationship is over
And our life is the greatest story never told
Our story is a mystery that will never be shared
How many more ways can I explain this to you, boy?
I've tried to convey my feelings to you multiple times
We had had this conversation several times before
We've already talked about our issues at length
I will accept nothing less than your complete respect
I require your full consideration and esteem
If you cannot give me that, then maybe I should step
If you cannot provide what I am asking, maybe we should break up
[Chorus] These eyes never saw you leavin'...
Repeating the previous meaning
All this cryin', all this fightin' simply ain't my style
I do not like the emotional turmoil in our relationship
Though you're one of the most important people in my life
You are still significant to me
I love you from the day we met, I know you love me, too
Our love has always been mutual
But at this point, walking away is the best thing we can do
Breaking up is our best course of action
[Chorus] These eyes never saw you leavin'...
Repeating the previous meaning
Are we meant to be man and wife? The answer I don't know
Our future together is uncertain
Of life's many mystery's, what intrigues me the most
I am fascinated by what could have been
Is who our children would have been; I guess we'll never know (never know)
We will never have the chance to know what our children could have been like
Even as I walk away I'll always keep the hope
I will still hold onto the possibility of a future together
That's life, that's the way the story goes
Life is unpredictable and our story ended this way
(Truth is) every relationship is a lesson
Every relationship teaches us something
(Truth is) I saw it coming but it hurts anyway
I knew the end was near but it still hurts
(Truth is) I'm not the reason you're so angry
I am not the root of your anger
(Truth is) you're not the reason I'm so passive
You are not the reason for my docile nature
Truth is (I've got to take back the power)
I must regain control of my life
The reason why it hurts so bad to walk away from you...
Explaining the pain of breaking up
[Chorus] These eyes never saw you leavin'...
Repeating the previous meaning
(Our love) The greatest story never told
Our love story will never be known to anyone else
(That's life) And that's the way the story goes
Accepting that our story ended this way
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: INDIA ARIE, JOYCE M SIMPSON, MARK BATSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind