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.
I Know Better
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I've sung what they want
Some folks do what they're told
But baby this time I won't
Will look through that door
I know the truth won't lie
Some things I've done before I can't justify
Things no one can be proud of
But I stand in the light I've casted
And turn away from any lack of love
Oh, and I walked through that door
I say here I go
You see me and nothing more
I'm singing what I know
I know better
I know better
Legend is just a name
I know better than to be so proud
I won't drink in all this fame
I'll take more love than I'm allowed
I won't have to cut it off from where it came
My history has brought me to this place
This power and the color of my face
And I know better, oh oh
I know better
Oh! I'll rise from the floor if I don't win
I'll bust open that door so let me in
And the music chooses me to sing I let her
I'll sing what I know, yes
I know better, oh
I know better, yes
I know better
I know better
In the song "I Know Better," John Legend reflects on his life experiences, mistakes, and personal growth. He acknowledges the pressure to sing what other people want to hear rather than speaking his own truth. However, through his journey, he has come to know better and is choosing to tell his own story. He recognizes his past mistakes, including some things that he cannot justify, but chooses to stand in the light of his own casting and turn away from any lack of love.
The lyrics further touch upon Legend's humble nature and how he knows better than to let fame get to his head. He won't drink in all the fame and will take more love than he's allowed. He also believes in the power of his history, which has brought him to where he is today. Despite any obstacles he may face, he is willing to rise from the floor if he doesn't win and bust open doors to let himself in. He is willing to sing what he knows, regardless of popular opinion.
The song serves as a reminder to listeners that it's okay to make mistakes and that personal growth is a fundamental aspect of life. It also speaks to the importance of speaking your own truth and not succumbing to the pressure to please others.
Line by Line Meaning
They say sing what you know
People advise that singers should perform songs that reflect their personal experiences
But I've sung what they want
However, I have previously sung what others wanted me to sing instead of what I truly believe in
Some folks do what they're told
Some people choose to follow what they are told to do
But baby this time I won't
But this time, I will not follow their instructions and will instead follow my own intuition
Will look through that door
I will search for the truth behind the choices that I have made
I know the truth won't lie
I am certain that the truth will prevail, regardless of what may be revealed
Some things I've done before I can't justify
I have done things in the past that cannot be justified or rationalized
There are kings in my past
There are events in my past that may have given me a sense of power or superiority
Things no one can be proud of
However, these actions are nothing to be proud of
But I stand in the light I've casted
Despite those actions, I will stand confidently in the light that I have created for myself
And turn away from any lack of love
I will distance myself from anything that does not bring love and positivity into my life
Oh, and I walked through that door
I have made the choice to leave behind my past and move forward
I say here I go
I am ready to move forward without reservations and with confidence in myself
You see me and nothing more
I am determined to be seen for who I am and nothing more or less than that
I'm singing what I know
I am committed to singing about truths that I know and believe in
Legend is just a name
Being a legend or famous person is just a label and does not define who I am
I know better than to be so proud
I am aware that being too proud can lead to negative consequences and I will remain humble
I won't drink in all this fame
I will not let fame consume me or dictate my actions
I'll take more love than I'm allowed
Instead, I will prioritize love in my life above all else
I won't have to cut it off from where it came
I will not have to separate myself from my origins or past to embrace my present and future
My history has brought me to this place
My past experiences and actions have led me to where I am today
This power and the color of my face
My identity and past experiences have given me a unique perspective and power in the world
Oh! I'll rise from the floor if I don't win
I am willing to pick myself up and try again, even if I don't succeed initially
I'll bust open that door so let me in
I will continue to work hard and push through challenges to achieve my goals
And the music chooses me to sing I let her
I will follow the guidance of the music and let it guide me in what I sing and create
I know better, oh
I have learned from my past experiences and know better now
I know better, yes
I am confident in my knowledge and abilities to move forward
I know better
Ultimately, I trust in myself and know what is best for me
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: John Roger Stephens, Joseph Will Oldham, Blake Mills, John Legend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thuliomartiins
LYRICS:
But I’ve sung what they want
Some folks do what they’re told
But baby this time I won’t
We’ll look through that door
I know the truth won’t lie
Some things I’ve done before I can’t justify
There are kings in my past
Things no one can be proud of
But I stand in the light I’ve cast
Turn away from any luck of love
Oh, and I walk through that door
I say here I go
You see me and nothing before
I’m saying what I know
I know better
I know better
Legend is just a name
I know better than to be so proud
I won’t dream in all this fame
I’ve taken more than I’m allowed
I wanna highly cut it all from where it came
My history has brought m to this place
There’s power in the color of my face
And I know better
Oh oh oh
I know better
Oh
I’ll rise from the floor without a wing
I’ll bust open that door so let me in
And if music chooses me to sing I’ll let her
I’m saying what I know, yes
I know better
Oh
I know better
Yes
I know better
I know better
@Islandmemes
THE MAN....... THE MYTH...... THE LEGEND.........!!!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾it's going to be an awesome Holiday season for music lovers 💯
@naseerawan6583
La Quica
@reginageorge3845
I got chills. He really knows how to get to somebodies feelings.
@kimjohns5845
Regina George YES HE DOES
@josmis1234
things song speaks to my soul, guys be blessed with this song. thank you Jesus for John legends life
@JohannaAFlorez
This seems to be a rougher, rawer side of his voice than I'm used to hearing. Very classic soul sound 👌
@shinigamieyes8901
Johanna A. Florez it's like raspier and hot
@ReputableSubterfuge
Still never heard a John Legend song I don't like
@StingSting844
There are only a few voices in the world that are likable when heard the first time. This nigga one of em. Mad respect.
@brownlaydee
always a reminder of how music can touch your soul.