Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popula… Read Full Bio ↴Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popular funk and soul group called Love Men Ltd. The band moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and changed its name to L.T.D. Osborne was originally brought on as the drummer and eventually became the lead vocalist. After more than ten years with the band, he decided to pursue a solo career, which produced such Top 40 hits as "Don't You Get So Mad," "Stay With Me Tonight," and "Love Power," which he performed with Dionne Warwick.

Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.

Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.

Greatest Night
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics

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The 23rd of June
A freaky full moon
A thousand stars were in the sky
I was out on the town
Just kinda walkin’ ’round
And out the corner of my eye

I saw this lovely face
I turned her way
She smiled at me and walked on
So I ran up to her
And introduced myself

Chorus
That was the greatest night of my life
I fell in love that night
I knew it right away
You only had to say ‘hello’
That was a night I’ll never forget
That moment we first met
I knew it at a glance
A storybook romance for sure

The 24th of June
I didn’t wake ’til noon
And frantically I looked around
Hoping I did not lose
The paper that I used
To carefully write her number down

I could have pinched myself
But I could tell
That somehow I had fallen

Could it have been the moon
That drew me to your charm?

Overall Meaning

In Jeffrey Osborne's song "Greatest Night," the lyrics describe the singer's experience of meeting someone special on a magical night. The 23rd of June is highlighted as a significant date, with a full moon and a sky filled with stars setting the scene for a serendipitous encounter. The singer is out in town, aimlessly wandering around, when he notices a beautiful face that catches his attention. There is an instant connection as she smiles at him and walks past, prompting him to approach her and introduce himself. This initial meeting sparks a sense of excitement and romance in the singer.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the impact of that night on the singer's life, declaring it as the greatest night he has ever experienced. He describes falling in love at first sight and feeling a deep connection from the moment they exchanged greetings. The simplicity of just saying "hello" was enough to spark a lasting memory and a significant moment in the singer's life. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and a feeling of blissful infatuation that comes with the rush of new love.

As the narrative progresses to the 24th of June, the singer wakes up late in the day, realizing the significance of the momentous night before. He frantically searches for the paper where he had hastily written down the woman's phone number, anxious not to lose it and potentially lose the chance to reconnect with her. The sense of urgency and desire to hold onto the memory of their encounter adds to the romantic and sentimental tone of the song.

The final lines of the lyrics hint at a sense of fate or destiny, pondering whether it was the alignment of the stars and the influence of the full moon that drew the singer to this enchanting stranger. There is a sense of wonder and bewilderment at the strong pull felt towards this mysterious woman, as if something supernatural or unexplainable had brought them together. The lyrics capture the essence of a whirlwind romance and the exhilaration of new love, leaving the listener with a sense of hope and anticipation for what the future holds for the singer and his newfound love.

Line by Line Meaning

The 23rd of June
On that particular night in June

A freaky full moon
A strange, mystical full moon was shining

A thousand stars were in the sky
The night sky was filled with countless stars

I was out on the town
I was walking around the town

Just kinda walkin’ ’round
Casually strolling around

And out the corner of my eye
I noticed something in my peripheral vision

I saw this lovely face
I spotted a beautiful face

I turned her way
I turned towards her direction

She smiled at me and walked on
She gave me a smile and kept walking

So I ran up to her
I hurried over to her

And introduced myself
And introduced who I am