Early life
Ware was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London, on 15 October 1984. She was raised in Clapham, London. She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie), a social worker, and John Ware, a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of British actress Hannah Ware. Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother is Jewish and she was raised in the faith.
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, followed by the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle, did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
2009–11: Career beginnings
In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I’m doing now."
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on 'Nervous' (2010). She consequently met Sampha, best known as SBTRKT's main collaborator and live member. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their own personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. She also featured on Ceremonials, the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, although the song did not chart in the United Kingdom.
2011–13: Devotion
On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion, which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. She then released "Running" on 24 February 2012 as the lead single from her debut studio album, Devotion. "110%" was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. "Wildest Moments" was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
2014–16: Tough Love
The new album, Tough Love, was released on 6 October 2014. Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the new album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork. "Tough Love" is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of her new album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year.
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album ÷ and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
2017–18: Glasshouse
n October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album Glasshouse. Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the non-album single "Overtime."
2019–present: What's Your Pleasure?
Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June, 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. The first single from the album, "Adore You", was released in February 2019. This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November. The next single from the album, "Spotlight", was released in February 2020.
Other work
Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith. The show has since entered its fourth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran, Randy Jackson, Nigella Lawson, Sandy Toksvig, Daniel Kaluuya, Paloma Faith, George Ezra Annie Mac and Kylie Minogue .
On 23 January 2019 Jessie announced on her Instagram that she had created a unique premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by award-winning designer George Reddings. "Designed specifically to grow with your child, the oversized boxy shapes and simple minimal styles, are seasonless and gender-equal." The website officially went live on 31 March 2019.
Philanthropy
Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see the work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation.
Personal life
Ware shared a flat with Felix White of The Maccabees and is friends with Adele. In August 2014, she married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows, whom she had met at school, on the Greek island of Skopelos, where the couple had previously become engaged. On 15 April 2016, Ware revealed that she was expecting her first child. On 8 September 2016, Ware announced the birth of her daughter who was born three days prior.
She supports the Labour Party and endorsed Jess Phillips as leader in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
Overtime
Jessie Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready for the night to be the day?
Got temptation within all over your face
Won't you tell me that you only love the chase
Let's find a way
Meet me at the bar and don't be late
I could drink you up like summer lemonade
Give it to me, baby, straight, no chase
Once we get this thing in motion
We won't have no time to talk
Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop
Oh (oh)
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
Drop me a line
We can do this all the time
You and I
Let's go into overtime
Drop me a line
We can do this all the time
You and I
Let's go into overtime
I ain't someone
Someone who could share my point of view
Say you want to stay but love is true
Say you do, say you do
Baby, when we get it going
We won't ever want to stop
And, baby, when we kiss
It's gonna tear a roof off
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
Drop me a line
We can do this all the time
You and I
Let's go into overtime
Drop me a line
We can do this all the time
You and I
Let's go into overtime
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
Oh
You got me working
Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop
Oh
Overtime
Let's go into overtime
The lyrics of Jessie Ware's song 'Overtime' depict a sense of passion and lustful desire. The opening lines, 'What you say? Are you ready for the night to be the day?', sets the mood for a night of exhilaration and adventure. The chorus, 'We don't need no reason, we just keep the feeling, everybody's leaving, we go overtime', conveys a sense of recklessness and abandonment of all rational thought, instead encouraging a kind of primal indulgence in one's desires.
The second verse speaks of an intense attraction between two people who may not be able to share the same mindset or worldview, but they are able to fully immerse themselves in the moment. This is reinforced by the line, 'Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop'. Overall, the song is an ode to following one's instincts and desires, despite any reservations or apprehensions one may have.
Line by Line Meaning
What you say?
What are you saying?
Are you ready for the night to be the day?
Are you ready to party hard all night?
Got temptation within all over your face
You look very tempting.
Won't you tell me that you only love the chase
Tell me that you only like the thrill of pursuing me.
Let's find a way
Let's figure out how to be together.
Meet me at the bar and don't be late
Meet me at the bar at the appointed time.
I could drink you up like summer lemonade
I find you very attractive and tempting.
Give it to me, baby, straight, no chase
Tell me straight what you want without any hesitation.
Once we get this thing in motion
When we start what we have in mind,
We won't have no time to talk
We will be too busy to have conversations.
Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop
We will keep going even in the dark until we are exhausted.
We don't need no reason
We do not require an excuse or justification.
We just keep the feeling
We focus on keeping the emotion and vibe alive.
Everybody's leaving
Everyone else is leaving the bar or the party.
We go overtime
We will stay longer than everyone else.
Moving to the future
Progressing towards our future.
Let me see right through ya
Let me see the real you and understand who you are.
I don't wanna lose ya
I don't want to let you go or lose you.
Drop me a line
Let me know when you're ready to meet again.
We can do this all the time
We can continue doing this endlessly.
You and I
Just me and you.
Let's go into overtime
Let's stay together and continue having fun.
I ain't someone
I am not someone
Someone who could share my point of view
I'm not someone who can easily connect with others.
Say you want to stay but love is true
Tell me that your love for me is genuine and not just for fun.
Say you do, say you do
Confirm to me that you love me.
Baby, when we get it going
When we get started,
We won't ever want to stop
We will not desire to end our relationship or activity.
And, baby, when we kiss
And, when we kiss,
It's gonna tear a roof off
It will be incredibly passionate and intimate.
You got me working
You have me interested and engaged.
Overtime
Work longer than others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexandra Shungudzo Govere, Andrew Patrick Ferguson, Danny Parker, James Ellis Ford, Jessie Ware, Matthew James McBriar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ivana Klaric
What you say
Are you ready for the night to be the day
Got temptation within all over your face
Won’t you tell me that you only love the chase
Let’s find a way
Meet me at the bar and don’t be late
I could drink you up like summer lemonade
Give it to me baby straight, no chase
Once we get this thing in motion
We won’t have no time to talk
Moving in the dark, we ain’t never gonna stop
Oh
We don’t need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody’s leaving
We do overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don’t wanna lose ya
We do overtime
Drop me in light
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let’s go back to overtime
Drop me in light
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let’s go back to overtime
I ain’t someone
Someone who could share my point of view
Say you want to stay but love is true
Say you do, say you do
Baby when we get it going
We won’t ever want to stop
And baby when we kiss
It’s gonna turn it over up
We don’t need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody’s leaving
We do overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don’t wanna lose ya
We do overtime
Drop me in light
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let’s go back to overtime
Drop me in light
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let’s go back to overtime
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
We don’t need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody’s leaving
We do overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don’t wanna lose ya
We do overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
Oh
You got me working
Moving in the dark, we ain’t never gonna stop
Oh
Overtime
Let’s go back to overtime
Marcelo Mena
[Verse 1]
What you say?
Are you ready for the night to be the day?
Got temptation written all over your face
Won't you tell me that you only love the chase
Let's find a way
Meet me at the bar and don't be late
I could drink you up like summer lemonade
Give it to me baby straight, no chase
[Pre-Chorus]
Once we get this thing in motion
We won't have no time to talk
Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop
Oh
[Chorus]
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
[Post-Chorus]
Drop me in line
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let's go into overtime
Drop me in line
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let's go into overtime
[Verse 2]
I ain't someone
Someone who could share my point of view
Say you want to stay but love is true
Say you do, say you do
Baby when we get it going
We won't ever want to stop
And baby when we kiss
It's gonna tear the roof off
[Chorus]
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
[Post-Chorus]
Drop me in line
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let's go into overtime
Drop me in line
We can do this overtime
You and I
Let's go into overtime
[Bridge]
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
Overtime
[Chorus]
We don't need no reason
We just keep the feeling
Everybody's leaving
We go overtime
Moving to the future
Let me see right through ya
I don't wanna lose ya
We go overtime
[Outro]
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
You got me working
Overtime
Oh
You got me working
Moving in the dark, we ain't never gonna stop
Oh
Overtime
Let's go into overtime
Charlie Dungate
I’m so glad she finally has a home on the Platinum Pleasure edition
Derpy_Kirby
I only found out about this song in 2021, months after What’s Your Pleasures release.....
This is beautiful...... i hope it gets on the deluxe edition, and that all the other songs are just as good as this
i was shocked honey i was in tears almost
it will you guessed it 😁😁😁
RNCHFND
Yeah, I loved what is your pleasure and I'm just finding out it has more songs!
Dyre Winter Frost
I only found out about this deluxe in 2022, shitty spotifay algorithm
Derek
Jessie is one of the most versatile artists in the game!
Kevin Continelli
QUEEEENNNN!! What a song, serving me 80s 90s synth BOp! Thank you for bringing us some dance! Its been a hot minute since imagine it was us <3 On repeat for ever !
Baiahunlang Kharhunai
Jessie ware has one of the most beautiful voice in this generation.
Collette Post
Reminds me a lot of Lisa Stansfield
Rebecca M
Also Jessie reminds me of Sade. It’s so sad how underrated Jessie is as she is hugely talented and is creating music which is timeless.