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.
Running
Jessie Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A thousand tears
All the same words, that kept me here
For all the years
I'm lost again, it's happening
When you're around I just go weak
All I wanna know, is it mutual
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
Whoa, would you hold my hand like the air, it's so gently here
Never give up, never give up
Whoa, would you pull me closer and nobody knows we're there
No one can find us
I'm lost again, it's happening
When you're around I just go weak
All I wanna know, is it mutual
Then I never want to leave
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
You keep me
Keep me running
Me running
Me running
And I'm lost again, it keeps happening
But when I'm around you
When I'm around you
I just go weak
All I wanna know, is it mutual
Am I'm ready to run, am I ready to fall?
I think I'm ready just to lose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you keep me running
(Never give up, never give up)
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you keep me
In the song "Running" by Jessie Ware, the lyrics suggest a strong emotional connection between two people, with the singer feeling lost when they're not together. The first verse talks about how the other person's words can bring the singer to tears but also kept them around for years. The chorus repeats the phrase "keep me running" as if the singer needs the other person to continue moving forward in life. The second verse talks about the desire to be close to the other person and the need to know if their feelings are mutual. The bridge suggests a feeling of safety and comfort when with the other person, as if they can disappear from the world and just be together.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and dependency on the other person. The singer is willing to lose everything for the chance to be with them, and seems to feel incomplete without their presence. The song's repetitive nature emphasizes this emotional repetition and the hold the other person has on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Your words alone, could drive me to
Your words alone have a powerful effect on me, they can make me feel emotional and cry.
A thousand tears
My emotions are so strong that they could cause me to cry countless tears.
All the same words, that kept me here
Despite the fact that these words have an emotional impact on me, I have stayed in this situation because of the same words.
For all the years
I have been affected by these words for a long time, possibly for many years.
I'm lost again, it's happening
I am experiencing confusion again, it has happened before and it is happening again right now.
When you're around I just go weak
Your presence has a powerful effect on me, making me feel vulnerable and weak.
All I wanna know, is it mutual
I am trying to establish whether or not you feel the same way as I do. I want to know if the feelings are mutual.
Then I never want to leave
If our feelings are mutual, I never want to be apart from you.
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
If our feelings are mutual, I am ready to take risks and do whatever it takes to be with you, even if it means taking a leap of faith and risking everything.
Think I'm ready to lose it all
I am prepared to take a chance and lose everything if it means being with you, because my feelings for you are so strong.
Keep me running, you keep me running
You have a powerful effect on me that keeps me moving forward, even if the path is difficult or uncertain.
Whoa, would you hold my hand like the air, it's so gently here
I want you to hold my hand softly and gently, like the air around us is gentle and calm. It would make me feel safe and comforted.
Never give up, never give up
We should never give up on each other or our relationship, even when things are difficult or uncertain.
Whoa, would you pull me closer and nobody knows we're there
I want you to hold me close and keep our relationship private, so no one knows about us except for us.
No one can find us
Our relationship is a secret and special, and no one can take that away from us if we keep it private.
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
Your presence has a powerful effect on me that keeps me motivated and moving forward, as long as you are there.
And I'm lost again, it keeps happening
I am experiencing confusion and uncertainty again, something that has happened before and is happening again right now.
But when I'm around you
Despite the confusion and uncertainty, being around you has a positive effect on me.
I just go weak
Your presence has a powerful effect on me and makes me feel vulnerable.
Am I'm ready to run, am I ready to fall?
I am questioning whether or not I am ready to take risks for our relationship and if I am willing to face the consequences, even if they are negative.
I think I'm ready just to lose it all
Despite the risks and consequences, I am willing to take a chance and risk everything for our relationship because my feelings for you are so strong.
Keep me running, you keep me running, you keep me
Your presence has a powerful effect on me that keeps me motivated and moving forward, and I rely on you to keep me going.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew Stephen Walker, Jessica Lois Ware, Breyner Laurindo Da Silva Baptista
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rodrigocunha3791
Lyrics
Your words alone, could drive me to
A thousand tears,
All the same words, that kept me here
For all the years
I'm lost again, it's happening
When you're around I just go weak
All I wanna know, is it mutual
Then I never want to leave
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to loose it all
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to loose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
Whoa, would you hold my hand like the air it's so gently here
Never give up, never give up
Whoa, would you pull me closer and nobody knows we're there
No one can find us
I'm lost again, it's happening
When you're around I just go weak
All I wanna know, is it mutual
Then I never want to leave
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to loose it all
Then I'm ready to run, ready to fall
Think I'm ready to loose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
You keep me, keep me running, me running
And I'm lost again, it's keep happening
But when I'm around you,
When I'm around you
I just go weak
And I wanna know, is it mutual
Am I'm ready to run, am I ready to fall?
I think I'm just ready to loose it all
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running
Keep me running, you keep me running, you
@ThinkMillionaireNow
Your words alone
Could drive me to
A thousand tears
All the same words
That kept me here
For all the years
I'm lost again
It's happening
When you're around, I just go away
All I wanna know, is it mutual?
Then I never want to leave
Then I'm ready to run
Ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Then I'm ready to run
Ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
You keep me
Whoa
Would you hold my hand like the air is so gently here?
Never give up, never give up
Oh
Would you pull me closer, nobody knows we're there
No one can find us
I'm lost again, it's happening
When you're around, I just go away
All I wanna know, is it mutual?
Then I never want to leave
Then I'm ready to run
Ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
And I'm ready to run
Ready to fall
Think I'm ready to lose it all
Keep me running
You keep me running, you keep me running
(For your love)
Keep me running
You keep me running
(For your love)
Keep me running
You keep me running
(For your love)
Keep me running
You keep me running
You keep me
Keep me running
Keep me running
And I'm lost again
It is happening
Whoa, when I'm around you, when I'm around you, I just go away
All I wanna know
Is it mutual?
Am I ready to run?
Am I ready to fall?
I think I'm ready just to lose it all
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
You keep me running
Never give up
Never give up
Keep me running
You keep me running
('Cause you never give up)
Keep me running
You keep me running
Keep me running
You keep me running
('Cause you never give up)
Keep me running
You keep me running
You keep me
Source: Musixmatch
@HesterDW
This is the kind of music that will make kids 30 years from now say "I wish music was still like this". Timeless.
@vinicyusfreire5619
YES
@joshuarodriguez9477
Jessie Ware music is timeless
@2frot2trot
still true, and she is still releasing wildly good music
@socalevo53
True
@REAMELISHGmcox
this track always hits the spot . . ten years on and im still running
@hlovewood5636
Word!
@190780saab
Best British soul music since Sade, pure class, pure beauty, pure classic, love it, no adore it ❤
@community1949
Why isn't this girl a huge superstar? She's wonderful and really has talent.
@randiparis
if she becomes famous,.what will happend to airheads running the music business these days,. #talentunderated#