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.
Love I've Never Known
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Street cars always get in the way
Daylight enter us a starry gaze
She goes seems we ran out of time
But the memory left a picture on the canvas of my mind
So I'll wrap myself in the thought of her smell
Locked in a kiss
She floats in to my bedroom every night
Close my eyes
She's alive
Here comes the morning but I'm all alone
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
Dreams of her love I've never known
New day, same hot sun on the street
And I say I wonder if we'll ever meet
Then she goes
Taxi steals her way
I keep tellin myself I'll find her love
I come back everyday
I still wrap myself in the thought of her smell
Wish of our lips
Locked in a kiss
She floats in to my bedroom every night
I close my eyes
She's alive
Here comes the morning but I'm all alone
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
Dreams of her love I've never known
Dreams of her love
Will they ever come true?
Am I a fool to dream of you?
You float in to my bedroom every night
I close my eyes and your alive
Here comes the morning and I'm still alone
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
Dreams of her love I've never known
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
Dreams of her love I've never known
John Legend's song "Love I've Never Known" tells the story of a man who has never known love but constantly dreams of it at night. In the first verse, Legend sings about a love interest who got away, leaving behind only a memory that he has captured in his thoughts. He wishes to experience her scent and kisses and imagines that she visits him in his dreams. As the song progresses, he continues searching for this love interest, unable to let go of the hope that they will meet again.
The lyrics show an intense longing for love and the willingness to keep pursuing it. The imagery of the street cars and the hot sun emphasizes the man's persistent search in the face of obstacles. The idea of her visiting him in his dreams offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that he refuses to give up on finding love.
Overall, "Love I've Never Known" speaks to the power of hope and the human desire for connection. It captures the sense of loss and longing that comes with being alone, but also provides a sense of hope and possibility for finding love in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Street cars always get in the way
The distractions of everyday life can hinder one's ability to find and experience true love.
Daylight enter us a starry gaze
Taking the time to appreciate the beauty of the world and the people in it can make even ordinary moments feel magical.
She goes seems we ran out of time
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, love just doesn't work out and the timing may not be right.
But the memory left a picture on the canvas of my mind
Even if a love story ends, the memories and experiences can leave an indelible mark on one's heart and psyche.
So I'll wrap myself in the thought of her smell
Longing for someone can be so intense that even imagining their scent can provide a sense of temporary comfort.
Wish of our lips
The desire to be physically close to someone and share an intimate moment with them.
Locked in a kiss
The ultimate expression of love and connection between two people.
She floats in to my bedroom every night
Even in dreams, the person you love can be a comforting presence.
Close my eyes
Shutting out the outside world and focusing on the memory or thought of the person you love.
She's alive
Although the person may not physically be with you, their essence and spirit can still feel present in your mind and heart.
Here comes the morning but I'm all alone
The loneliness that can come with the realization that the person you love is not with you and you are alone without them.
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
The hope and wish that the love you dream of will eventually come true and be yours to cherish, regardless of whether it currently exists or not.
New day, same hot sun on the street
Time continues to march on even when we are heartbroken or searching for love, and the world continues to turn - this is a reminder of the constant nature of the world and the brevity of life.
And I say I wonder if we'll ever meet
The anticipation and anxiety surrounding the possibility of finding and connecting with one's soulmate.
Taxi steals her way
The fleeting nature of some connections, where one moment someone is there and the next they are gone, leaving you wondering if you will ever see them again.
I keep tellin myself I'll find her love
The commitment and persistence in continuing to search for true love, even when it may seem elusive or difficult to attain.
Dreams of her love Will they ever come true?
Wondering if the love we dream of will ever truly be realized and actualized in our lives.
Am I a fool to dream of you?
Doubting oneself and feeling foolish for holding onto the idea of finding true love and connection.
Dreams of her love I'll call my own
Reaffirming the desire and hope for true love, even in the face of adversity and potential heartbreak.
Dreams of her love I've never known
Yearning and longing for a love that may not currently exist or hasn't yet been discovered, but feeling the hope and faith that it will be found someday.
Writer(s): Andres Levin, Steve Barber, John Stephens
Contributed by Ian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.