Born India Arie Simpson on 3rd October 1975 in Denver, Colorado, she tried various musical instruments at school there, but it was after moving to Georgia when her parents divorced that she took up the guitar. This led her into song writing, and from there into a professional career as a musician.
She co-founded the Atlanta-based independent music collective GroovmentEarthseed (Groovement was the collective artists' name and Earthshare was their independent label name), and began to perform publicly. A Universal Records/Motown music scout spotted her and introduced her to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. The consequent album, Acoustic Soul (2001), involved a wide mixture of styles, and thus attracted a wide audience. It entered the Billboard albums chart at number ten, and at number three on the R&B album chart., eventually going double platinum.
India.Arie also features on Stevie Wonder's 2005 album A Time to Love. She and Wonder duet on the title track "A Time to Love", which Arie wrote, and 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", written especially for the show. She 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.
Promises
India Arie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know it's because of you, that I receive so many blessings
I had a home but no privacy, I didn't know a thing about my legacy
When I realized you were there for me, I called on your name and you came
And you did, just what you said, for that I'll love you forever
You kept, your word to me, for that I'll love you forever
[Chorus]
Can't say you're gonna just to compromise
The very thing that keeps two hearts intertwined
A promise is a promise you can't deny, there's no way
I think of when there was a young boy, not even two years old
Blessed with a mother who loved him so, she abandoned her dreams to nourish his own
It wasn't easy for the two of them, but she knew she had to give him a chance
At a better life, it was only right, so she worked and she prayed
And she did, just what she say, for that he'll love her forever
She kept her word to him, for that he'll love her forever
[Chorus]
A man's only as good as his word
Her wedding day and she's thinking ‘bout the way he won her affection
She was so cynical about love ‘cause she didn't want to be heart broken again
He looked her in her eye with sincerity, said he only wanted to protect her so she
Took a chance on him and she's glad she did because he came for real
And he did, just what he said, for that she'll love him forever
He kept his word to her, for that she'll love him forever
[Chorus]
A man's only as good as his word
The opening verse of India Arie's song "Promises" reflects on the blessings that the singer has in her life, and she attributes them to a higher power that has kept to its promises to her. She acknowledges that she was once without privacy and knowledge of her legacy and was only able to overcome these limitations through the assistance of this entity. The singer declares that she will love the divine forever because it did what it promised to do. This verse suggests a message of faith and gratitude towards a higher power that one believes in.
The second verse shifts focus to a story about a young boy and his mother. She sacrificed her dreams to ensure that her son would have a better life. The verse acknowledges the struggles that the mother and son faced and commends the mother for keeping her promise to her child. The singer believes that the boy will love his mother forever because she did what she promised to do. The verse speaks to the power of promises and the immense gratitude that can arise when they are kept.
The third verse tells a story about a woman on her wedding day. The woman was initially cynical about love, but her partner won her affection by promising to protect her. Despite her initial skepticism, the woman decided to trust her partner, and he lived up to his word. The verse praises honesty and sincerity in relationships, highlighting the importance of promises in maintaining a strong and loving partnership. The song ends by reiterating the value of a man's word, suggesting that one's integrity is closely tied to their ability to keep their promises.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think about the turn my life has taken
Reflecting on the changes in my life, I realize it's because of you that I have received many blessings.
I know it's because of you, that I receive so many blessings
I'm aware that you are the reason I have received and continue to receive many blessings.
I had a home but no privacy, I didn't know a thing about my legacy
Though I had a place to live, I lacked privacy and knowledge of my family's history and traditions.
When I realized you were there for me, I called on your name and you came
When I recognized that you were present and supportive, I called upon you and you responded.
And you did, just what you said, for that I'll love you forever
You fulfilled your promises, and for that, I will always love you.
You kept, your word to me, for that I'll love you forever
You remained true to your word, and for that, I will always love you.
A promise, is a promise in my eyes
To me, a promise is a sacred commitment.
Can't say you're gonna just to compromise
One cannot make a promise simply to appease someone without truly intending to keep it.
The very thing that keeps two hearts intertwined
Honoring promises is crucial to maintaining a strong bond between two people.
A promise is a promise you can't deny, there's no way
A promise cannot be disregarded or refused without negative consequences.
I think of when there was a young boy, not even two years old
I recall a young child who was not yet two years old.
Blessed with a mother who loved him so, she abandoned her dreams to nourish his own
The child was fortunate to have a devoted mother who sacrificed her own ambitions to care for him.
It wasn't easy for the two of them, but she knew she had to give him a chance
Despite the challenges they faced, the mother recognized the importance of providing her child with opportunities.
At a better life, it was only right, so she worked and she prayed
She believed that her child deserved a better life and put in effort and faith to make it happen.
And she did, just what she say, for that he'll love her forever
She kept her promises to her child, and for that, he will always love her.
She kept her word to him, for that he'll love her forever
She remained true to her commitments to her child, and for that, he will always love her.
A man's only as good as his word
The value of a person is reflected in how well they keep their promises.
Her wedding day and she's thinking 'bout the way he won her affection
On her wedding day, she reflects on how her partner earned her love.
She was so cynical about love 'cause she didn't want to be heartbroken again
She was guarded and suspicious of love because of past experiences with heartbreak.
He looked her in her eye with sincerity, said he only wanted to protect her so she
He made a genuine promise to protect her, and she believed him.
Took a chance on him and she's glad she did because he came for real
She decided to trust him, and she's happy she did because he lived up to his promise.
And he did, just what he said, for that she'll love him forever
He fulfilled the promises he made to her, and for that, she will always love him.
He kept his word to her, for that she'll love him forever
He remained true to his commitments to her, and for that, she will always love him.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: INDIA ARIE, PAIGE LACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind