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.
Cross the Line
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The love story begins,
Now here's a happy ending to believe in.
And always there for me,
Now you're with me in my dreams
It's got me wondering if you ever,
Dream of me.
I don't wanna risk losing everything.
[Chorus]
Girl, you'll be my best friend,
Can we put this to bed then?
Tonight's the night
To cross the line
Baby won't you be mine?
Not just my home girl
Time that I take you home girl
Tonight's the night
To cross the line
Let me love you tonight.
I, I, I
Kiss, kiss, kiss me on my lips
We've been dancing 'round the moment
Now we're doing it.
Breathe, breathe.
And sigh your sweet relief
We've been holding it so long,
The wait was killing me.
Oh and we, are what we, have been waiting for.
So baby, open your mind, while I close the door.
[Chorus]
Don't let this moment just slip away.
Cause we'll never know, unless we try someday
If you're ready, I'm so ready
Tonight's the night
Tonight's the night.
[Chorus: x2]
The song "Cross The Line" by John Legend tells the story of two individuals who started as just friends but slowly begin to develop romantic feelings for one another. The lyrics express the singer's reluctance to risk their friendship, but their desire to take things to the next level. The song's message is about taking chances and seizing the moment when the opportunity arises.
The chorus repeats the idea of "crossing the line," which symbolizes taking the risk of confessing their feelings and possibly changing the dynamic of their relationship. The singer assures the other person that they will be their best friend no matter the outcome, but they want to see if there is something more substantial and meaningful between them. The second verse describes the pivotal moment when they kiss, and the anticipation and tension that had been building up for so long have finally been released.
The lyrics of "Cross The Line" are a testament to John Legend's ability to craft a narrative around emotional moments in life. The song builds towards a moment of emotional climax that is both satisfying and poignant, making it attractive for both casual listeners and dedicated fans alike.
Line by Line Meaning
Only just a friend,
We started out as friends and nothing more.
The love story begins,
But then something changed and the possibility of a romantic love story arose.
Now here's a happy ending to believe in.
This is a story with a positive outcome that we can be optimistic about.
And always there for me,
You have been a constant presence in my life, always there to support me.
Now you're with me in my dreams
I find myself thinking about you even when you're not physically present, and you feature in my dreams.
It's got me wondering if you ever,
I can't help but speculate whether you ever have similar thoughts and feelings about me.
Dream of me.
Do you dream of me like I dream of you?
I don't wanna risk losing everything.
I'm hesitant to push our relationship in a new direction because I don't want to jeopardize what we already have.
But I'll take the chance and tell you what I'm thinking.
Despite my reservations, I'm willing to take a risk and express my feelings for you.
Girl, you'll be my best friend,
If we take this next step, I still want you to be my best friend and confidante.
Can we put this to bed then?
Can we move past the uncertainty and finally take action on our feelings?
Tonight's the night
The time has come to take action.
To cross the line
To take a risk and change our relationship in a romantic direction.
Baby won't you be mine?
I'm asking you to take a chance on love with me.
Not just my home girl
I don't just want you as a platonic friend.
Time that I take you home girl
It's time for me to show you how I feel about you, and bring you into my romantic life.
Let me love you tonight.
Tonight is the night I want to show you how much I care for you.
Kiss, kiss, kiss me on my lips
The physical act of kissing is a symbol of our deeper emotional connection.
We've been dancing 'round the moment
We've been hesitant to take the next step in our relationship, but we both know it's coming.
Now we're doing it.
Finally, we are taking action and pursuing our romantic feelings.
Breathe, breathe.
Take a moment to pause and appreciate what's happening.
And sigh your sweet relief
Let yourself feel the relief and happiness of finally being together romantically.
We've been holding it so long,
Our romantic feelings have been pent up for a while, waiting to be released.
The wait was killing me.
The anticipation and uncertainty was difficult to handle.
Oh and we, are what we, have been waiting for.
We have been waiting for this moment, and now that we are together, we know it's right.
So baby, open your mind, while I close the door.
I'm asking you to be open to the possibility of a new kind of relationship, and to close the door on the past.
Don't let this moment just slip away.
Let's savor this moment and not let it pass us by.
Cause we'll never know, unless we try someday
If we don't take a chance on love, we might always wonder what could have been.
If you're ready, I'm so ready
I'm ready to take this next step if you are.
Chorus
Repeating the message that tonight is the night to take action and explore our romantic feelings for each other.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN STEPHENS, WILL ADAMS, KAWAN PRATHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jaxon
on All of Me
really really good I love it
Rickie
on All of Me
Good
Christine Bañega
on All of Me
like
Promise Sokyes
on All of Me
A perfect love song.