Legend also played the piano on Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Everything is Everything" and sang background vocals on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name". Legend frequently cites gospel, R&B, and hip hop music as his main musical influences.
Legend released his critically acclaimed and Billboard Top Ten second album, Once Again, in October 2006. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and will.i.am, it is again a mixture of gospel and classic soul showcasing his extraordinary voice, particularly on "Show Me".
Grammy Award Wins:
*2005 Best New Artist
*2005 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
*2005 Best R&B Album- Get Lifted
*2007 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Heaven
*2007 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Family Affair
Neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year. On the strength of enduring single "Ordinary People," the album reached the Top Five of the Billboard 200. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006. Live from Philadelphia, sold exclusively at Target stores, was a successful stopgap release that predated October 2008's Evolver.
Always
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My first love
My last love
I can't stop lookin' for you
I'm movin'
But can't move on
Since you've gone
I don't know what to do
So emotional
Can't let love go
I'm a midnight shade of blue
I've been broken in
I can't start again
Can't trade you for somethin' new
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I'll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I'll wait for you, oh
Why am I
Stuck in time?
Stuck inside
While the whole world's passin' me by
This old song
Keeps playin' on
The melody's so strong
I can't help but sing along
So emotional
Can't let love go
I'm a midnight shade of blue
I've been broken in
I can't start again
Can't trade you for somethin' new
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I'll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I'll wait for you, oh
I've been everywhere
No one else compares to you
Nobody here
In your stratosphere
I gotta get back to you
I'm telling you, I wanna get back to you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I'll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I'll wait for you, oh
Oh
Whoa, whoa
Hey love
My first love
My last love
Whoa
In these lyrics, John Legend expresses his deep, enduring love for someone who has left his life. He describes this person as his first love and his last love, implying that they were significant and irreplaceable. He confesses that he cannot stop looking for this person, even though he is moving forward in life. The longing and inability to move on are evident in the lines "I'm movin' but can't move on, since you've gone, I don't know what to do."
The emotions he experiences are overwhelming, as he finds it difficult to let go of love. He describes himself as a "midnight shade of blue," indicating his sorrow and melancholy state. Despite being broken, he cannot imagine starting again with someone new, emphasizing the depth of his feelings for the person he is addressing.
Throughout the lyrics, there is a sense of being stuck and out of sync with the world. He questions why he is "stuck in time" and feels as though he is left behind while the rest of the world is moving forward. The repetition of an old song that keeps playing on, a strong melody that he can't help but sing along to, represents the lasting impact this person has had on his life.
The singer expresses a strong desire to reunite with the person he loves. He compares his experiences with others, specifically mentioning that no one else compares to this person. He yearns to return to their relationship, stating that he wants to get back to them. This signifies his unwavering commitment and determination to wait for their return, no matter how long it takes.
In the closing lines, John Legend reiterates his love and devotion to this person. He reveals that they will always be the one for him, emphasizing their unique significance in his life. The phrase "know that always, I'll wait for you" further highlights his enduring love and unwavering commitment, promising that he will patiently wait for their reunion.
Overall, these lyrics convey the sincere and profound love John Legend holds for someone who has left his life. They showcase his vulnerability, remarkable loyalty, and the longing he feels to be reunited with his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey love
Addressing the person he loves
My first love
The first person he fell in love with
My last love
The person he wants to spend the rest of his life with
I can't stop lookin' for you
Continuously searching for this person
I'm movin'
Moving forward in life
But can't move on
Unable to let go and move on from this person
Since you've gone
Since the person left
I don't know what to do
Feeling lost and unsure without this person
So emotional
Overwhelmed with emotions
Can't let love go
Unable to let go of the love he feels
I'm a midnight shade of blue
Feeling deeply sad and melancholic
I've been broken in
Having experienced heartbreak
I can't start again
Unable to begin a new relationship
Can't trade you for somethin' new
No one else can replace this person
I will always love you
His love for this person is eternal
You will always be the one
This person will always hold a special place in his heart
I will always, I'll wait for you
He will always wait for this person
Why am I
Questioning his current state
Stuck in time?
Feeling stuck in the past
Stuck inside
Trapped in his own emotions
While the whole world's passin' me by
Feeling left behind while everyone else is moving forward
This old song
Referring to his memories and emotions
Keeps playin' on
Continuously affecting him
The melody's so strong
The impact of his emotions is intense
I can't help but sing along
He can't help but revisit and experience those emotions
I've been everywhere
Having searched everywhere
No one else compares to you
No one else matches up to this person
Nobody here
No one else in his current surroundings
In your stratosphere
This person is on a different level
I gotta get back to you
He is determined to get back to this person
I'm telling you, I wanna get back to you
Expressing his strong desire to be with this person
Oh
An exclamation or emotional expression
Whoa, whoa
Expressing surprise or awe
Hey love
Addressing the person he loves
My first love
The first person he fell in love with
My last love
The person he wants to spend the rest of his life with
Whoa
An exclamation or emotional expression
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Stephens, Dahryl Camper, Justus West, Ester Dean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nataliaviscito9287
Hey love
My first love
My last love
I can’t stop looking for you
I’m movin’
But can’t move on
Since you’ve gone
I don’t know what to do
So emotional
Can’t let love go
I’m a midnight shade of blue
I’ve been broken in
I can’t start again
Can’t trade you for something new
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I’ll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I’ll wait for you
Why am I
Stuck in time?
Stuck inside
While the whole world’s passing me by
This old song
Keeps playing on
The melody’s so strong
I can’t help but sing along
So emotional
Can’t let love go
I’m a midnight shade of blue
I’ve been broken in
I can’t start again
Can’t trade you for something new
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I’ll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I’ll wait for you
I’ve been everywhere
No one else compares to you
Nobody here
In your stratosphere
I gotta get back to you
I’m tellin’ you I wanna get back to you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
I will always, I’ll wait for you
I will always love you
You will always be the one
Know that always, I’ll wait for you
Ohhh
Ohhh, ohhh
Hey love
My first love
My last love
Ohhh
@ms.kaylaaa3988
At my wedding..Its gonna be strictly John Legend❤❤
@Ryanjleary
👍🏻 sounds like it’ll be a really great wedding reception then
@aliciakaters5131
Mine too 😂❤❤
@trishaustin882
John coming through with the wedding songs 💝💝
@Ryanjleary
Gonna be multiple John Legend songs at my wedding reception someday this song & conversations in the dark from this album alone
@noellaclarke9283
HONESTLY !!!! Like I’m ready to have a zoom wedding tomorrow 🤧🤣
@trishaustin882
@@noellaclarke9283 🤣🤣🤣
@NosakhareIyamu
facts
@brittanyclem1228
John Legend isn’t playing with this album
@MichaelSpearsJr
wHO ELSE BELIEVES THAT JOHN LEGEND IS TALENTED 100%🔥😜😅🔥😜😅🔥😍😜😅