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.
shine On
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics
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Upon your loving face
But that was yesterday
Now just a dream
A dream that lives inside my memory
Wish it could be reality
Shine on yesterday
And let me back in your arms
Holding you again
Shine on yesterday
Carry me away to be with you
Somehow let my dream come true
You know sometimes I stop and stare
No matter where I am
Thinking of you again
Once in a while I call your name out loud
Hoping you'll hear
Hoping my prayer will bring you here
Shine on yesterday
Carry me away
And let me be back in your arms
Holding you again
Shine on yesterday
Carry me away to be with you
Somehow let my dream come true
These lyrics speak to the longing for a lost love, someone who was once physically present but now exists only in memory. The singer cast their eyes upon their love's face just yesterday but it was not meant to be. The dream of their past love is a memory that they hold onto tightly, wishing it could be their reality again. They are wanting to be carried away by the past, to the times when they were in their ex's arms, and to hold them again like they used to. The singer hopes that somehow their dream of being with their ex will come true because sometimes they stop and stare, thinking of them again and again.
Line by Line Meaning
Just yesterday I cast my eyes
I recently looked at you
Upon your loving face
and saw your face filled with love
But that was yesterday
But it was just a day ago
Now just a dream
now it feels like a dream
A dream that lives inside my memory
a memory that lives like a dream
Wish it could be reality
I wish it was real
Shine on yesterday
Let the memory shine bright
Carry me away
Take me away in my thoughts
And let me back in your arms
and hold me again
Holding you again
embrace you one more time
Shine on yesterday
Let the memory shine bright
Carry me away to be with you
take me away to be with you
Somehow let my dream come true
Somehow, make my wish come true
You know sometimes I stop and stare
Sometimes, I just stop and look
No matter where I am
Regardless of where I am
Thinking of you again
I start to think about you once more
Once in a while I call your name out loud
Sometimes I say your name aloud
Hoping you'll hear
Hoping you can hear me
Hoping my prayer will bring you here
Hoping my call will bring you close to me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LEVOX, JAY DEMARCUS, JOE DON ROONEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind