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.
Hold on Longer
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I won't run, I'm with you, that's enough
Kiss me now so you won't run
Out of breath underwater
Girl you can hold on longer
Girl you can hold on longer
Girl you can hold on longer
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Love is an ocean
Swimming and try not to drown
Right in the waves
Praying we don't go down
In the undertow I'll pull you out
Out of breath underwater
Girl you can hold on longer
I know the waves get stronger
Girl you can hold on longer
Long as you want
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Hold on
John Legend's song "Hold On Longer" is a love ballad that speaks to the struggles that come with being in love. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery that perfectly depict the depth of feeling that two people have for each other. The opening line of the song, "Broken hearts rain on our angelic flies," serves as a warning that this love is not going to be easy. The next line, "But I won't run, I'm with you, that's enough," shows that the singer is ready to take on whatever challenges come their way, as long as they are with the one they love.
The chorus of the song, "Out of breath underwater, girl you can hold on longer," is a powerful metaphor for the challenges that come with love. It shows that even when things get tough and it feels like you're drowning, you can hold on for as long as it takes. The line "Love is an ocean, swimming and try not to drown" reinforces the metaphor and shows that love can be overwhelming at times. However, the singer is determined to stay afloat and "pull [their partner] out" when they're struggling.
As a whole, "Hold On Longer" is a beautiful love song that speaks to the ups and downs of being in a relationship. It shows that even when things get tough, if you hold on and support each other, you can make it through anything.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken hearts rain on our angelic flies
We face heartbreak and disappointment but we will not let them defeat us.
But I won't run, I'm with you, that's enough
I will stand by your side no matter what happens because our love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle.
Kiss me now so you won't run
Let's express our love now and commit to each other so we don't lose each other later on.
Out of breath underwater
We are in a difficult and suffocating situation.
Girl you can hold on longer
I know you are strong and can endure this challenge.
Girl you can hold on longer
I believe in your ability to stay resilient and persevere through tough times.
Girl you can hold on longer
You have the strength to keep going no matter how hard it gets.
Long as you want
Stay as determined and committed as you need to be.
Love is an ocean
Our love is vast and deep and can take us to great lengths.
Swimming and try not to drown
We are navigating through challenges and trying not to let them overcome us.
Right in the waves
We are facing our troubles head-on, without fear.
Praying we don't go down
We are hoping and believing that we will overcome our struggles.
In the undertow I'll pull you out
If you ever feel like you are sinking, I will be there to lift you up and help you stay afloat.
I know the waves get stronger
Challenges can get more difficult, but I still believe in our ability to endure them.
Hold on
Let's persevere together and stay committed to each other through thick and thin.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALLEN RICH, CHARLES M. NJAPA, DAVE TOZER, JAMES FAUNTLEROY, JOHN LEGEND, KANYE WEST
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.