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.
I Really Don
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There goes another dream
When will it be the right itme
It's later than it seems
I used to wait for you
All that has changed so soon
How much can someone love
A someone like you
[Chorus]
I really don't need no light to see through you
I really don't need your love to see me through
I really don't need your heart to set me free
I really don't need the way it used to be
And who was that lone arranger
How did he get to you
Who were those other strangers
What did they make you do
Where was their party from
You with that number one
How could you feel so high
Just living a lie
[Chorus]
I really don't need no light to see through you
I really don't need your love to see me through
I really don't need your heart to set me free
I really don't need the way it used to be
Oh I really don't need, I really don't need no light
I really don't need no light to see through you
The lyrics to Jeffrey Osborne's "I Really Don't Need No Light" speak to the aftermath of a failed relationship. The singer of the story has been let down by someone they loved deeply and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that they were deceived. The opening verses hint at the singer's sense of betrayal as they lament the loss of yet another night and dream that were spent waiting for someone who never showed up. They're conscious of the fact that time is passing by without any progress in the relationship, and they begin to feel that it's too late to make things right. The chorus reinforces this feeling of alienation, underscoring the fact that the singer no longer needs any of the things that were once essential to them. They don't need the light that shone on their relationship, the love they shared, or the way things used to be.
As the song progresses, we learn that the singer has reason to believe that there was another person involved in the break-up. The lines "who was that lone arranger, how did he get to you, who were those other strangers, what did they make you do" suggest that someone else played a role in their partner's decision to leave them. We can sense the singer's confusion and hurt as they try to make sense of what happened, and the chorus comes back again to emphasize the fact that the once-exalted relationship has lost all of its meaning. Ultimately, the song is a poignant reflection on the pain of heartbreak and the work it takes to rebuild oneself in the aftermath of a failed love.
Line by Line Meaning
There goes another nighttime
Another night has passed and I am still reflecting on my thoughts.
There goes another dream
Another dream that I held onto is now shattered, just like our relationship.
When will it be the right time
When will I find the right time to let go and move on from you?
It's later than it seems
The longer I stay with you, the more I realize that it's late and I need to move on.
I used to wait for you
I used to wait for you to come back to me, but I realize now that I can't wait forever.
All that has changed so soon
Things have changed quickly from what they used to be with you and me.
How much can someone love
I loved you so much, but I need to start loving myself more now.
A someone like you
Someone like you, who only brings heartbreak and pain, is not worth my love.
I really don't need no light to see through you
I can see through your lies and deceit without any help from you.
I really don't need your love to see me through
I don't need your love to feel complete and happy, I can do that on my own.
I really don't need your heart to set me free
I don't need you to tell me you love me to let me be free from you, I can move on without your approval.
I really don't need the way it used to be
I don't need the past to hold me back, I need to live in the present and look towards the future.
And who was that lone arranger
Who is the person that stole you away from me?
How did he get to you
How did he make you forget all we had and choose him?
Who were those other strangers
Who were the other people that you cheated on me with?
What did they make you do
What did they do to make you betray me and our love?
Where was their party from
Where did they come from and why did they ruin everything?
You with that number one
You were my number one, but now you are just a memory I need to forget.
How could you feel so high
How could you be so happy and content with yourself after hurting me so much?
Just living a lie
You were living a lie, pretending to love me while betraying me behind my back.
I really don't need no light to see through you
I don't need you to shine a light on your mistakes, I can see through them clearly.
I really don't need your love to see me through
I don't need your love to make me feel complete, I am strong enough on my own.
I really don't need your heart to set me free
I don't need you to give me permission to move on, my heart is strong enough to do it on its own.
I really don't need the way it used to be
The past is in the past, I am looking towards a future without you.
Oh I really don't need, I really don't need no light
I don't need any more light shed on your lies, I am done with you and moving on.
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFFREY L. OSBORNE, DAVID JAMES WOLINSKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valenciawhitehead9589
I'm forever grateful to Youtube for making songs like this so easy to access. These songs pump life into some great memories!
@benjamincarter1884
I thank GOD for the gift of music, Youtube, and all of the posters / mixologists who definitely keep me so well satisfied
@C0wboyzfan4life
Amen
@riverapablo6519
Who are you telling??
@SmartBrandon72
Yes, It Does! It Makes You High & Emotional Like I Am Nowπ―%ππΎ
@Tiberius291
The entire album is good, played it to death back in 1982.
@ianbeckles2912
Jeffrey Osborne one of the great voices of the 70's and 80's timeless
@4biddenflava
70's 80's 90's
@ATLienForLife
Truth!
@calvinwhitlock8630
Hello l'm Calvin and l've really liked the song music Artist Jeffery Osborne's song l Really Don't Need No Light,,,