John Stephens (born December 28, 1978 in Springfield, Ohio), better known a… Read Full Bio ↴John Stephens (born December 28, 1978 in Springfield, Ohio), better known as John Legend, is a Grammy award winning R&B singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet and actor signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label. Prior to the release of his debut album Get Lifted in 2004, Legend's career gained momentum through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established artists such as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. He released his second album, Once Again in 2006, and his latest release, 2008's Evolver showcased a more experimental and upbeat side of Legend. He is the recipient of six Grammy Awards, and in 2007 he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. You can get Cheap John Legend Tickets for his next performances.

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 Want You
John Legend Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Ooh)
Ayy
Oh, oh (ooh)

Layin' on the couch, how could I not stare?
How'd I get so lucky? Got you right there
Lookin' like a movie when you don't care
And even then, you reel me in

I know this is something you ain't used to
I ain't gonna hurt you like you used to
You got reservations, I'ma come through
And even then, you real me in

You love second guessing your every second and every move
You don't need to question the feeling that I have for you

Don't want you to wonder
I want you to know
I'm not like the others
I ain't gonna pick up and go
Don't want you to wonder
I want you to know
As long as I'm breathing
Just know that you're never alone

Don't want you to wonder
I want you to, I want you to
I want you to know
(Ooh)
I want you to, I want you to know
(Ooh)

I'd love to take a trip inside of your mind
Wonder what I'd see and what I might find
I wanna find the cheat codes underneath those
Pretty brown eyes, wanna know why

You love second guessing your every second and every move (every move)
You don't need to question the feeling that I have for you

Don't want you to wonder
I want you to know
I'm not like the others
I ain't gonna pick up and go
Don't want you to wonder
I want you to know
As long as I'm breathing
Just know that you're never alone

Don't want you to wonder (wonder)
I want you to, I want you to
I want you to know
(Ooh)
I want you to, I want you to know
(Ooh)
Yeah, yeah

You don't have to wonder, no
No, no, no, no
You don't have to wonder, no
No, no, no, no
You don't have to wonder, no (you don't have to wonder)
No, no (no)
I wanna find the cheat codes underneath those
Pretty brown eyes, oh, baby, I

I want you to know (yeah)
I'm not like the others
I ain't gonna pick up and go
(I'm not like the others, I ain't gonna)
Don't want you to wonder
I want you to know
As long as I'm breathing
Just know that you're never alone

Don't want you to wonder (wonder)
I want you to, I want you to
I want you to know
(Ooh)
I want you to, I want you to know

(Ooh)
I want you to know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Legend's song "I Want You" are about the singer's appreciation and admiration for his partner. The opening lines set the scene by describing the singer's view of his partner as she lounges on the couch. He admires her beauty and appreciates that she is with him. Throughout the song, the singer assures his partner that his intentions are genuine, and he wants her to know that he is not like other men who may pick up and leave without warning.

The chorus highlights the singer's desire for his partner to feel secure in their relationship. He doesn't want her to second-guess herself or the love that he has for her. He reaffirms his commitment to her by stating that as long as he is alive, she will never be alone. The song expresses the importance of trust, companionship, and support in a healthy relationship.

In the second verse, the singer expresses his curiosity about his partner's inner thoughts and feelings. He wants to understand her better, explore her mind, and know the secrets behind her beautiful brown eyes. Overall, "I Want You" is a love song that speaks to the desire for a stable and loving relationship characterized by mutual trust and respect.

Line by Line Meaning

Layin' on the couch, how could I not stare?
I am enamored with you, even when you're just hanging out on the couch.

How'd I get so lucky? Got you right there
I feel incredibly fortunate to have you in my life.

Lookin' like a movie when you don't care
You are so naturally beautiful, you don't even have to try.

And even then, you reel me in
I am drawn towards you regardless of the circumstances.

You love second guessing your every second and every move
You tend to doubt yourself and scrutinize your actions.

You don't need to question the feeling that I have for you
My love for you is genuine and unwavering, you can rely on it.

Don't want you to wonder
I don't want you to be unsure or hesitant about anything.

I want you to know
I want you to be confident in our relationship.

I'm not like the others
I am different from past people you've been with.

I ain't gonna pick up and go
I am committed to you, and not just looking for a fling.

As long as I'm breathing
For as long as I'm alive.

Just know that you're never alone
I will always be here for you, no matter what.

I'd love to take a trip inside of your mind
I am fascinated by your thoughts and perspectives.

Wonder what I'd see and what I might find
I am curious about the complexities of your inner world.

I wanna find the cheat codes underneath those pretty brown eyes
I want to uncover the secrets and depths hidden within your eyes.

You don't have to wonder, no
You can have complete faith in me and our relationship.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Stephens, Melanie Fontana, Lauren Frawley, Lindgren, Steven Franks, Stephen McGregor

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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