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.

One Last Dance
John Legend Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And I see your face
The memories race
Right back to me

And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?

One last dance
(One last) dance
One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yeah

Is it wrong to reminisce?
Is it wrong to steal a kiss?
Is someone waitin' for you at home?
Whoa, tonight could be the only night
A fleeting glimpse, what could we might've been
If we had never let go?

Oh, when that melody plays
I whisper your name
I want you to stay
Right next to me

And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?

One last dance
(One last) dance
One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yeah

Oh, when that melody plays
The crowd starts to fade
I need you to stay

And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?

And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?

One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yes
One last dance

(One last dance) yeah
One last dance

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "One Last Dance" by John Legend tell a nostalgic and bittersweet story of longing for a past love. The opening lines set the scene of the singer wandering down a street where he first fell in love with someone. He mentions not having seen the person in a while, but everything around him reminds him of their time together. The familiarity of the drink and the DJ playing their favorite record evokes memories and emotions.

As the melody plays and he sees the person's face, the singer's memories come rushing back. It's clear that they had a deep connection and shared moments that were significant to both of them. The singer hopes for one last dance, a chance to relive or recapture the magic they once had. He wants to hold onto this moment before it slips away, emphasizing the urgency of their reunion and the fleeting nature of time.

The lyrics also delve into moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. The singer questions if it's wrong to reminisce and steal a kiss, hinting at the possibility that the person he desires may have moved on or is in a committed relationship. Despite these doubts, he yearns for a chance to see what could have been if they had never let go of each other.

Throughout the song, the power of music is highlighted as the melody evokes strong emotions and brings the singer back to the presence of his lost love. The repetition of the phrase "one last dance" emphasizes his desire to hold onto this moment, to create a lasting memory before the bar closes, metaphorically symbolizing the end of the opportunity.

In essence, "One Last Dance" captures the longing for a second chance with a past love, the nostalgia of shared experiences, and the overwhelming desire to make the most of the present moment. The song beautifully encapsulates the complexity of emotions that arise when faced with the possibility of reconnecting with someone meaningful from the past.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I wander down the street
Occasionally, I find myself aimlessly walking along the street

The place I swept you off your feet
The location where I made a great impression on you

I haven't seen you here in a while
It has been a considerable amount of time since I last encountered you in this place

That drink you love still tastes the same
The beverage you adore has retained its familiar flavor

The DJ hasn't changed
The disc jockey remains unaltered

He just put on our favorite record right now
At this very moment, he played the song we hold dear

When that melody plays
Upon the commencement of that melodious tune

And I see your face
In that instance, your countenance comes into view

The memories race
My mind is flooded with recollections

Right back to me
Returning to my thoughts and emotions

And I hope you give me one last dance
I desire that you grant me a final opportunity to dance with you

Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Rest your head upon my shoulder as if our connection is not yet concluded

Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
This particular instant offers us another opportunity

Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?
Let us seize this moment before the establishment shuts its doors

Is it wrong to reminisce?
Is it morally incorrect to indulge in nostalgic thoughts?

Is it wrong to steal a kiss?
Is it morally incorrect to surreptitiously take a kiss?

Is someone waitin' for you at home?
Is there an individual anticipating your arrival at your place of residence?

Whoa, tonight could be the only night
Tonight might possibly be the sole opportunity

A fleeting glimpse, what could we might've been
A transient moment of seeing each other, pondering what our potential could have been

If we had never let go?
Would our fate have been different if we never parted ways?

I whisper your name
In a hushed tone, I utter your name

I want you to stay
I yearn for you to remain by my side

Right next to me
In close proximity to me

The crowd starts to fade
The multitude of people gradually diminishes

I need you to stay
It is imperative for you to stay with me

One last dance
Just one final occasion of dancing together

One last dance oh, yes
Only one last dance, oh, indeed

One last dance yeah
One last dance, yeah

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Andrew Langston Neely, Anthony Jones, John Legend, Kevin Ekofo, Melvin Moore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@janethuo6437

1y↑2

Sometimes I wander down the street
The place I swept you off your feet
I haven't seen you here in a while
That drink you love still tastes the same
The DJ hasn't changed
He just put on our favorite record right now
When that melody plays
And I see your face
The memories race
Right back to me
And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?
One last dance
(One last) dance
One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yeah
Is it wrong to reminisce?
Is it wrong to steal a kiss?
Is someone waitin' for you at home?
Whoa, tonight could be the only night
A fleeting glimpse, what could we might've been
If we had never let go?
Oh, when that melody plays
I whisper your name
I want you to stay
Right next to me
And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?
One last dance
(One last) dance
One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yeah
Oh, when that melody plays
The crowd starts to fade
I need you to stay
And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?
And I hope you give me one last dance
Head on my shoulder like it ain't over
Oh, this moment gave us one more chance
Why don't we hold it before the bar closes?
One last dance
(One last dance) oh, yes
One last dance
(One last dance) yeah
One last dance
Source: LyricFind

All comments from YouTube:

@faithmwenya6656

47w

John always leaves me in my feelings. Reminiscing about a love lost is just so sad but John knows exactly how to explain it in a song. The world is so cruel but at least we have music for comfort.