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 Used to Love You
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't love you just the same
No, I couldn't pretend
Be a liar if I said we haven't changed
No, it's not the honeymoon
We've gone on our different phases
But if I had the chance
I wouldn't turn back none of the pages
'Cause after all the years with you
I don't love you like I used to
I love you so much more with every day, ayy
Oh, I'm in too deep to run away, ayy
'Cause you and I been through so much together
And we get closer, the closer we get to forever
'Cause ever since we said, "I do"
I don't love you like I used to
I know you better than I used to
Every corner, every curve, yeah
I fell in love with your mind
Put in the time to make it work
Yeah, after all the years with you
I don't love you like I used to
I love you so much more with every day, ayy
Oh, I'm in too deep to run away, ayy
'Cause you and I been through so much together
And we get closer, the closer we get to forever
'Cause ever since we said, "I do"
I don't love you like I used to
I don't love you like I used to
I don't love you just the same
No, I couldn't pretend
Be a liar if I said we haven't changed
I love you so much more with every day, ayy
Better than before and that'll never change, ayy
'Cause you and I been through so much together
And we get closer, the closer we get to forever
'Cause ever since we said, "I do"
'Cause after all the years with you
Oh, every day brings something new
I don't love you like I used to
I don't love you like I used to
The lyrics of John Legend’s “Used to Love U” talk about the aftermath of a break-up. The song is a reflection on a past relationship where he stopped loving his partner like he used to. He admits his mistakes, including not being able to afford her and not being enough for her. John battles with the idea of being able to win her back by doing something drastic like robbing someone, living like “Whitney and Bobby”, but it is clear that he knows it won’t work. The pain of the break-up is evident as he sings, “I bet you’re miss me now”. He remembers the love he had for her, but he knows that he has to move on.
The repetition of “Holla holla haaa” throughout the song adds to the song’s catchy vibe. The phrase captures John’s desperation and hopelessness as he tries to cope with his heartbreak. The hip-hop feeling of the song is complemented by the seamless blending of rhythm and blues.
The song’s lyrics of heartbreak and trying to move on make it relatable to many. John’s emotional delivery of the lyrics adds layers of depth to the song that makes listeners feel as though they are in the experience with him. Overall, the song’s lyrics and catchy beats make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Holla holla haaa
The song starts with an ad-lib that expresses excitement, and it is not related to the message of the song
Maybe it's me, maybe I bore you
The singer is questioning if they are the cause for the love falling apart
Oh no, it's my fault 'cause I can't afford you
The singer blames themselves for not being able to provide for their partner
Maybe, baby, Puffy, Jay-Z, would all be better for you
The singer thinks that their partner might be better suited with someone who's wealthier and popular than them
'Cause all I could do was love you
The singer acknowledges that they did everything they could to show their love
Baby when I used to love you (there's nothin' that I wouldn't do)
In the past, the singer did everything to please their partner
I went through the fire for you (anything you asked me to)
The singer did everything their partner asked of them, even when it was challenging
But I'm tired of living this lie (It's getting harder to justify)
The singer has been pretending to love their partner for a while, and it's becoming more difficult to keep up with the facade
I realize that I just don't love you (Not like I used to)
The singer admits that the love they had for their partner is no longer as strong
Now maybe I should rob somebody
The singer is jokingly suggesting they should commit a crime, so they can afford to live a lavish lifestyle with their partner
So we could live like Whitney and Bobby
The singer is referring to the iconic couple of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, who notoriously had a tumultuous relationship
It's probably my fault, my bad, my loss, but you are the cause
The singer is conflicted about whose fault the failed relationship is, but ultimately blames their partner for not being understanding or supportive enough
Do you remember (I used to) when I used (love you) to (used to) love you (love you)?
The singer is reminiscing about the good times when they were in love with their partner
Baby no, not anymore (I don't love you) (Used to love you) I love you
The singer clarifies that although they don't love their partner the way they used to, they still love them and care for them
And you're gonna miss me now
The singer is warning their partner that they will regret losing them
And I can't live this lie, I can't justify
The singer admits that they can't continue faking the love they have for their partner and can't see a reason to keep trying to save the relationship
And I can't make you my wife, I don't love you (Not like I used to)
The singer can't commit to marrying someone they don't feel the same way about anymore
Oh I used to love you (used to love you) Oh but I don't love you (I don't love you)
The singer repeats that their love for their partner has diminished over time
I used to love you (used to love you)
The singer underscores how strong their love was for their partner in the past
Oh but I don't love you (I bet you miss me 'cause I)
The singer is convinced that their partner misses them and regrets their decision
I used to love you (you miss me 'cause I) I used to love you (I bet you're miss me now 'cause I, I don't love you)
The singer repeats the idea that their partner will miss them now that they don't love them anymore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Stephens, Michael Pollack, Davin Kingston, Gian Stone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@meshackachigili6666
Kanye west predicted his own feature by acting as a preacher in this song
@thatguycmk7548
Learn how to spell.
@vanessa9024
Yeah that is so cool lol
@1All0RA
Future*
@pinchewey7
Prediction or vision he already had back then that ended up playing out? Lol
@torredavis2854
He produce
@kylinhunter9773
This song is easily one of the dopest tracks by John to this day. Nothing but heat even going into 2022. 🔥🔥
@thomasseverson3747
Agreed
@mrk7201
I Highly agree. Real music, He is very talented
@nazcarjonez_201
Facts on Facts