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.
She
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics
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Toss me and turn me then disappear
Here on the edge of obsession, I turn off all the lights
And pray that this fantasy can be real
Night and day I want to kiss her lips
And caress her like a man should do
She's become the center of my emotions
She's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
She's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
I, I can almost taste her and smell the scent of her perfume
I wish she were here for me to lay next to
She's so very close, but like every illusion that's just how it appears
And you reach out to touch and find there's no one there
Right now I'm gonna close my eyes
And go back to where I need to be
Maybe then I'll get to hear her say
That she loves me and she'll never leave
She's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
Oh, she's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
Oh, she's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
She's on the left, she's on the right, actin' in the middle of my mind
Night and day I want to kiss her lips
And caress her like a man should do
She's become the center of my emotions
And I can't fight through
Oh, baby
Oh, she's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
Oh, she's on the left, she's on the right
Is actin' in the middle of my mind
Hey, she's on the left, she's on the right, she's on the middle of my mind
Oh, she's on the left, she's on the right
She's in the middle of my, of my, of my, of my mind
Girl's in the middle of my mind, she's like in the middle of my mind
She's on the left, she's on the right
The girl's on the right, the girl's in the middle of my mind
The lyrics to Jeffrey Osborne’s “She’s On The Left” depict the singer’s intense passion for a woman who he only encounters in his dreams. The first verse describes how she possesses him in the heat of the night but disappears once morning arrives, leaving him in a state of obsession. The chorus repeats the phrase “she’s on the left, she’s on the right, she’s in the middle of my mind,” emphasizing how she is always present in his thoughts. The second verse continues to describe the singer’s intense desire for her, including his wish to lay next to her and hear her say she loves him. Despite the uncertainty of her existence, the singer cannot help but be consumed by his feelings for her.
The song explores the idea of a passionate but unattainable love. The woman is unreachable and only exists in the singer’s mind, but his feelings for her are no less intense. His obsession with her is all-consuming and makes it difficult for him to focus on anything else. The lyrics are reflective, suggesting that the singer is aware of the unlikelihood of this love ever coming to fruition, but he cannot seem to help his emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Why must she come and possess me in the heat of the night
I wonder why I am consumed by thoughts of her at night when I am most vulnerable
Toss me and turn me then disappear
She enters my thoughts and then leaves me with an achingly vivid memory
Here on the edge of obsession, I turn off all the lights
I am on the brink of becoming obsessed with her, and I shut everything out to focus on her
And pray that this fantasy can be real
I hope that the way she makes me feel can someday be a reality
Night and day I want to kiss her lips
I think about her constantly and yearn for the touch of her lips
And caress her like a man should do
I long to hold her in a way that shows how much I care for her
She's become the center of my emotions
She has taken over my heart and mind completely
And I can't fight through
I am powerless to resist the intensity of my feelings for her
She's on the left, she's on the right, she's in the middle of my mind
No matter where I turn or what I do, she is always at the forefront of my thoughts
I, I can almost taste her and smell the scent of her perfume
I can recall her smell and taste as if she were right beside me
I wish she were here for me to lay next to
I wish for her presence and comfort through my deepest desires
She's so very close, but like every illusion that's just how it appears
Although I feel like she's almost within reach, I know that it's just a figment of my imagination
And you reach out to touch and find there's no one there
When I try to connect with her, I'm alone and she is nowhere to be found
Right now I'm gonna close my eyes
I am going to let go of reality and dream of her instead
And go back to where I need to be
I am returning to the world where I am complete with her by my side
Maybe then I'll get to hear her say
Perhaps in my dreams, she will tell me that she loves me and will never leave
Oh, baby
I am drawn to her, and she has become an irresistible force in my life
The girl's on the right, the girl's in the middle of my mind
She is present and persistent, and she is always in my thoughts
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: C. BLANSON, J. OSBORNE, R. BROOKINS, T. HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind