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.
Can't Be My Lover
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I won't allow this girl to mess with my nerves
Blessed figure, not to mention the curves
Through the corner of her eyes she slowly observe
Anytime she come around
Something is about to go down
Listen to the siren sound
'Cause if I was to go to sleep
Catch me dreaming of a way to creep
Trouble always seems to follow me
Oh don't follow me now
Over and over and over again
I try to tell her no no no
I already have a friend
Over and over she's reeling me in
She says nobody has to know
But I got to let her go
So I had to walk on bye
(She can't be my lover)
She's flashing me them pretty brown eyes
(She can't be my lover)
Though there's green grass on the other side
(She can't be my lover)
All I can say is hi
She can't be my lover
Listen listen right now
Anytime she hear the beat
She be dancing right in front of me
Trying to lure me in between the sheets
But I'm a man and I still get week
But I'll be damned if I loose my girl
I'll be damned if I don't touch her
Curiosity it killed the cat
Oh and I don't want that (so)
Over and over and over again
I try to tell her no no no
I already have a friend
Over and over she's reeling me in
She says nobody has to know
But I got to let her go
So I have to walk on bye
(She can't be my lover)
Flashing me them pretty brown eyes
(She can't be my lover)
And though there's green grass on the other side
(She can't be my lover)
All I can say is hi
(She can't be my lover)
Listen listen right now
Ah couldn't let you pass even if I try
I'm a bird in the hand
Why chase one in the sky
Sex female refuse to comply
Plus she is an empress
Who want ah stand by
Been receiving love but she can't satisfy
Would like to have my cake and even enjoy the pie
Politely decline like me shy
Honey say me sof, come one give it a try
Look in ah me eyes with seductive eyes
Fill with deception trouble and lies
And ah doh want no more problems in a me life
Ask me if me number so that we could enjoy the night
She want
Over and over and over again
I try to tell her no no no
I already have a friend
(Can you hear)
Over and over she' reeling me in
Oh nobody has to know
But I got to let her go
So I have to walk on bye
(She can't be my lover)
Flashing me them pretty brown eyes
(She can't be my lover)
Though there's green grass on the other side
(She can't be my lover)
All I can say is hi
(She can't be my lover)
Listen listen right now
Listen listen right now
Listen listen right now
Listen listen right now
Listen listen right now
In John Legend [feat. Buju Banton]'s song Can't Be My Lover, Buju Banton talks about a woman he finds physically attractive but he refuses to engage in a romantic relationship with her. He mentions that every good guy deserves a woman like her, but he won't allow her to mess with his nerves. Even though she has an attractive figure and curves, and she tries to lure him in between the sheets, he knows that trouble always follows him and he can't afford another problem in his life. He tries to tell her "no" over and over again, but she keeps reeling him in with her seductive eyes and deceptive ways. Buju Banton knows that he has to let her go, and even though he finds her physically attractive, she can't be his lover.
The song is about the temptation of cheating and the consequences that come with it. Even though the person may seem physically attractive, it's important to resist temptation to avoid getting caught up in problems that could follow. The lyrics highlight the importance of fidelity and being loyal to your partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Have ah piece of body where every good guy deserve
I have a body that any good man deserves.
But I won't allow this girl to mess with my nerves
I won't let this girl get to me and cause me stress.
Blessed figure, not to mention the curves
She has an amazing figure, and her curves are especially noteworthy.
Through the corner of her eyes she slowly observe
She watches me carefully out of the corner of her eye.
Anytime she come around
Anytime she comes around,
Something is about to go down
I know something bad is going to happen.
Listen to the siren sound
Listen to the warning signs.
Wake up wake up right now
Wake up and pay attention right now.
'Cause if I was to go to sleep
Because if I were to fall asleep,
Catch me dreaming of a way to creep
I'd be dreaming of ways to cheat on my partner.
Trouble always seems to follow me
I always seem to attract trouble.
Oh don't follow me now
So don't follow me now.
Over and over and over again
Again and again and again,
I try to tell her no no no
I try to tell her no, but she doesn't listen.
I already have a friend
I'm already involved with someone else.
Over and over she's reeling me in
She keeps trying to seduce me.
She says nobody has to know
She says we can keep it a secret.
But I got to let her go
But I have to let her go.
So I had to walk on bye
So I had to walk away.
(She can't be my lover)
She's flashing me them pretty brown eyes
She's trying to seduce me with her beautiful brown eyes.
Though there's green grass on the other side
Even though there may be other options available,
All I can say is hi
I can only say hello.
Anytime she hear the beat
Whenever she hears the music,
She be dancing right in front of me
She'll start dancing in front of me,
Trying to lure me in between the sheets
Trying to seduce me into bed.
But I'm a man and I still get week
But I'm only human and I can be tempted.
But I'll be damned if I loose my girl
But I'll never let her go.
I'll be damned if I don't touch her
I'll regret it if I don't give in to temptation.
Curiosity it killed the cat
Curiosity got the best of me and I may pay for it.
Oh and I don't want that (so)
And I don't want that to happen, so...
Ah couldn't let you pass even if I try
I couldn't resist you even if I wanted to.
I'm a bird in the hand
I already have a good thing going on.
Why chase one in the sky
Why chase after something that may not be as good.
Sex female refuse to comply
She's trying to seduce me, but I won't give in.
Plus she is an empress
She's a powerful and regal woman.
Who want ah stand by
Who wants me to be her partner.
Been receiving love but she can't satisfy
She's been trying to show me affection, but it's not enough.
Would like to have my cake and even enjoy the pie
I want to have both the best of both worlds.
Politely decline like me shy
Politely turn her down because I'm shy.
Honey say me sof, come one give it a try
She's trying to convince me to give in and be with her.
Look in ah me eyes with seductive eyes
She's looking into my eyes seductively.
Fill with deception trouble and lies
But it's all a facade filled with deception, trouble and lies.
And ah doh want no more problems in a me life
I don't want any more problems in my life.
Ask me if me number so that we could enjoy the night
She's asking me for my number so we can spend the night together.
Listen listen right now
Listen very closely right now.
(Can you hear)
Can you hear?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUJU BANTONS, DWAYNE CHIN-QUEE, JOHN STEPHENS, MITCHUM CHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jordine Sua
My brother passed away a year ago. He was a musician and loved all kinds of music. Suddenly this popped in my head. He used to play this growing up about 13 years ago
Michelle Campbell
Loving this song. Very smooth and seductive. ❤🍾🍷
Rose White
Loving it .It's like sipping fine wine. The collaboration tun right up to the max.
$YNTAX_MUSIC_Official
@a
Just Maybe
Ordinary people never understand the power of collaborations and professionalism. Stop saying without Buju it wouldn't be great. Nice tune.
Docsta
These vibes..........I'm so loving it🎶🎶🎶🎶♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
nubia cairo
Yeah. Five stars for this one 🇯🇲🇺🇸🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. Love it.👍
YUNG IMAGE MUSIC
Always a vibes when 2 legends link up......🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Alec Duguid
Another fantastic collaboration, they have done it again.😀😀😀😀... who's playing this? ? ? 2020
Old Skool Appreciaters.
Alec Duguid
" I Do" ... "RESPECT. " 😀