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.
It Don't Have to Change
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the family was everything? (Ooh)
Oh do you remember? (Ooh)
It was so long ago and so much has changed (ooh)
I want to go back (ooh)
Want to go back to those simple days (ooh)
I want to go back (ooh)
But now we've grown and gone our separate ways (ooh)
(Aah) times is hard (times is hard)
And things are a changin'
I pray to God
That we can remain the same
All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change
No it don't have to change
Do you remember (ooh)
Back at grannie's house on Christmas day? (Ooh)
Help me sing
Do you remember (ooh)
How we'd gather 'round and sing all day? (Ooh)
And I want to go back (ooh)
To playing basketball and football games (ooh)
I wanna go back (ooh)
To yesterday but it's not the same (ooh)
(Aah) times is hard (times is hard)
And things are a changin'
I pray to God
That we can remain the same
All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change
No it don't have to change
Times is hard (times is hard)
And things are a changin'
So I pray to God
That we can remain the same
All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change
No it don't have to change
John Legend's It Don't Have to Change is an ode to nostalgia and the simple days of the past. The opening lines of the song sets the tone - "Do you remember when the family was everything? It was so long ago and so much has changed." The song reminisces on days spent with family, gathering around during Christmas, and playing sports, alluding to a time before the distractions of technology and adulthood took over. The lyrics convey a sense of longing to return to the past, to those simple days when family was the center of their lives.
However, as the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more mature, hopeful tone. Times are hard and things are changing, but amidst all this, the singer is praying that their love and unity as a family can remain the same. It's clear that the singer recognizes the inevitability of change, but is also determined to hold on to what's truly important - the love and bonds they share as a family. "All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change, no it don't have to change" are the perfect concluding words to this rendition.
Overall, It Don't Have to Change is a powerful and moving song that confronts the inevitability of change while emphasizing the importance of family, unity, and love. It's about holding on to what's truly important even when everything else might be shifting and changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh do you remember (ooh)
Can you recall?
When the family was everything? (Ooh)
When family mattered most
Oh do you remember? (Ooh)
Can you remember?
It was so long ago and so much has changed (ooh)
It's been a long time and things are different now
I want to go back (ooh)
I wish to return
Want to go back to those simple days (ooh)
Want to experience the simpler times again
I want to go back (ooh)
I wish to return
But now we've grown and gone our separate ways (ooh)
But we have all matured and pursued different paths
(Aah) times is hard (times is hard)
These are difficult times
And things are a changin'
And things are changing
I pray to God
I hope
That we can remain the same
That we can stay connected
All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change
I'm just saying we can still love each other the same way
No it don't have to change
It doesn't have to change at all
Do you remember (ooh)
Can you recall?
Back at grannie's house on Christmas day? (Ooh)
At grandma's house on Christmas
Help me sing
Please join me in singing
Do you remember (ooh)
Can you recall?
How we'd gather 'round and sing all day? (Ooh)
How we would come together and sing all day?
And I want to go back (ooh)
And I wish to return
To playing basketball and football games (ooh)
To playing sports
I wanna go back (ooh)
I wish to return
To yesterday but it's not the same (ooh)
But it's not like it used to be
Times is hard (times is hard)
These are difficult times
And things are a changin'
And things are changing
So I pray to God
So I hope
That we can remain the same
That we can stay connected
All I'm trying to say is our love don't have to change
I'm just saying we can still love each other the same way
No it don't have to change
It doesn't have to change at all
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE TOZER, JOHN STEPHENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@remrens9624
Get lifted was his best album, who agrees?
@ryanwilliams7600
Toss up between that and Once Again.
@jazznabistudio5789
Ordinary people do.
@bambambigalow5844
It’s funny I got the urge to listen to it like last week completely clueless to the fact he did this.
@Wardell.Koloi10037
1. Get lifted/Once again
2. Get lifted/Once again
3. Love in the future
@productions271
Yes I completely agree
@SPFS12
I cant even lie, im so emotional watching this lol. I've always wanted to see this preformed with his family and it brought literal tears to my eyes. Wow. Can John just remake this whole album please
@terrellgladneyjr.5980
Same sentiment
@olumo25
Been waiting well over a decade to hear a live version of this song with the fam. So much talent.
@rickjames21
I have waiting over 10 years to see this live. This album helped me get through a tough part of my life.