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.
Nervous
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Running through my veins and my skeleton
When you say my name, and the high
No, it never goes away
Like jumping out of airplanes
And swimming with the sharks
That existential feeling when you're staring at the stars
But the lightning in my heart makes it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sending sparks through the air like the 4th of July
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Every time, every time we touch
It's like paradise fell down from above
And the high, even too much ain't enough, no, no
Like flying in the fast lane
No headlights in the dark
That existential feeling when wonder what you are
Got a wild wind in my head
But the butterflies in my heart make it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sending sparks through the air like the 4th of July
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Oh, you walk in so perfect
And my heart short-circuits
No, I don't deserve this
That's why I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sending sparks through the air like the 4th of July
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
I, I, I still get nervous
In John Legend's song "Nervous," the lyrics convey the feeling of intense excitement, adrenaline, and vulnerability that comes with being deeply in love. The opening lines illustrate the physical effects of love, comparing the rush of adrenaline to the sensation of running through the veins and skeleton. The mention of the high that never goes away indicates the continuous state of euphoria experienced when the person says the singer's name.
The following lines use powerful metaphors to amplify the intensity of the emotions. Comparing the feeling of being in love to jumping out of airplanes and swimming with sharks suggests that it is both thrilling and dangerous. Similarly, staring at the stars and feeling existential highlights the overwhelming awe and wonder that love can evoke. The hurricane in the head represents the chaos and overwhelming thoughts, but the lightning in the heart symbolizes the electrifying, passionate aspect that makes it all worthwhile.
The chorus further emphasizes the impact of love, describing the nervousness and excitement when the person walks through the door and looks into the singer's eyes. It portrays the sense of returning to that initial spark and feeling like it's the first time all over again. The mention of fireworks and the 4th of July represents the explosive and celebratory nature of the connection.
The bridge adds to the vulnerability and astonishment at the perfection of the person loved. The heart short-circuiting signifies being overwhelmed and feeling undeserving of the love received.
Overall, the lyrics of "Nervous" depict the exhilaration and nervousness that come with loving someone deeply, evoking feelings of wonder, passion, and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Adrenaline
A rush of excitement and energy
Running through my veins and my skeleton
Flowing intensely through my entire body
When you say my name, and the high
When you speak my name, and the euphoria
No, it never goes away
No, it never fades or diminishes
Like jumping out of airplanes
Similar to the thrilling act of parachuting
And swimming with the sharks
And daringly interacting with dangerous creatures
That existential feeling when you're staring at the stars
That profound sensation when contemplating the universe
There's a hurricane in my head
There's a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions in my mind
But the lightning in my heart makes it worth it
But the intense passion in my heart makes it all worthwhile
Yeah, I still get nervous
Yes, I still experience anxiety or apprehension
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
When you enter the room and gaze into my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
Yes, it feels, yes, it feels as if it's the initial encounter
I could fall for you forever, I'm certain
I could endlessly develop feelings for you, I'm confident
'Cause I still get nervous
Because I still experience anxiety or apprehension
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
When our lips meet and a burst of intense passion arises
Sending sparks through the air like the 4th of July
Causing sparks to radiate through the atmosphere, akin to fireworks on Independence Day
Oh, you walk in so perfect
Oh, you enter so flawlessly
And my heart short-circuits
And my heart experiences a temporary malfunction
No, I don't deserve this
No, I feel undeserving of this love or connection
That's why I still get nervous
That's the reason I still experience anxiety or apprehension
I, I, I still get nervous
I, I, I still experience anxiety or apprehension
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Stephens, Michael Pollack, John Ryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ahmed Moussa
Adrenaline runnin' through my veins
I'm a skeleton when you say my name
And the high, no, it never goes away
Like jumpin' out an airplane to swimmin' with the sharks
That existential feelin' when you're starin' at the stars
There's a hurricane in my head
But the lightnin' in my heart makes it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door
And you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Every time, every time we touch
It's like paradise, fell down from above
And the high, even too much ain't enough, no, no
Like flyin' in the fast lane, no headlights in the dark
That existential feelin' when you wonder what you are
Got a wild wind in my head
But the butterflies in my heart make it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Oh, you walk in so perfect
And my heart short circuits
No, I don't deserve this
That's why I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Warren Coetzee
This song hits different ❤ we hardly get music this good these days
La Shondra Williams
Man, this song 🎵 right here made me feel feelings I had forgotten about 😢😮❤. I’m so in love with it😊
Rowan Prown
I love hearing song about love lasting and becoming more beautiful. He does this really well
Ro
So true
Benjamin Gold
The man was on Epstein island lmaooo
Trev Dorish
You can feel every emotions he is going through as he sings. The man is what he is named... A legend
Ahmed Moussa
Adrenaline runnin' through my veins
I'm a skeleton when you say my name
And the high, no, it never goes away
Like jumpin' out an airplane to swimmin' with the sharks
That existential feelin' when you're starin' at the stars
There's a hurricane in my head
But the lightnin' in my heart makes it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door
And you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Every time, every time we touch
It's like paradise, fell down from above
And the high, even too much ain't enough, no, no
Like flyin' in the fast lane, no headlights in the dark
That existential feelin' when you wonder what you are
Got a wild wind in my head
But the butterflies in my heart make it worth it
Yeah, I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Oh, you walk in so perfect
And my heart short circuits
No, I don't deserve this
That's why I still get nervous
When you walk through the door and you look in my eyes
Yeah, it feels, yeah, it feels like the very first time
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
When your lips hit my lips and the fireworks fly
Sendin' sparks through the air, like the Fourth of July
I can fall for you forever, I'm certain
'Cause I still get nervous
Jane Chinyere Uchendu
So good that you wrote it down. Thanks ❤
Kiki Di
Your voice is truly healing our hearts 💕 best singer ever ❤
Renata Cruz
Amo essa música ela tem uma energia surreal ❤