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.

Refuge
John Legend Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I pray for better days to come
I pray that I would see the sun
'Cause life is so burdensome
When everyday is a rainy one
But suddenly there's no more clouds
And I believe without a doubt
That heaven sent an angel down
Then she turned my life around

You know and I know
Friends come and friends go
Storms rise and winds blow
But one thing I know for sure

When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry 'cause
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
'Cause we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright

Ooh

Now peace is so hard to find
We're terrorized and victimized
But that's when I close my eyes
And think of you to ease my mind
You take me to another place
There's no more war (no more war)
Just love and grace
Baby you restore my faith
I know the struggle's not in vain

You know and I know
Through all the battles
Baghdad to Israel
There's one thing I know for sure

When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry 'cause
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
'Cause we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright

Alright it's alright
Ooh

When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry 'cause
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
'Cause we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright

Oh it's gonna be alright
Ooh

'Cause you give me peace
In the middle of the storm
When it's cold you're keeping me warm
It's alright
It's alright
I'm never gonna leave

You give me what I need
It's alright, alright

Overall Meaning

The song "Refuge" by John Legend is a celebration of love that gives peace and comfort in the midst of life's storms. The singer opens the song with a prayer for better days because life is challenging, and every day seems to be a rainy one. However, the preacher tells the story of how heaven sent an angel to turn his life around. He sings of the power of love and how it sustains him through his struggles. He finds solace in the fact that no matter the tumult caused by the winds of life, love always prevails.

John Legend's lyrics express his vision for a world where people’s differences are not reasons for hate, but rather a chance for love to shine. He highlights how difficult it can be to obtain real peace in a world where people continue to be victimized and terrorized by one another. Therefore, he uses the image of love being constant like a river flowing in a storm, bringing hope in the midst of chaos. When the world is full of chaos and storms, the singer finds solace in his love's embrace - in the middle of a storm, they keep him warm, and he knows it's all right.

Line by Line Meaning

I pray for better days to come
Expressing a wish for improved circumstances.

I pray that I would see the sun
Expressing a desire to see positivity.

'Cause life is so burdensome
Acknowledging the hardship of life.

When everyday is a rainy one
Describing the feeling of constant struggle.

But suddenly there's no more clouds
A sense of hope and relief.

And I believe without a doubt
Complete confidence in a positive change.

That heaven sent an angel down
Attributing positive change to a higher power.

Then she turned my life around
Positive change caused by the arrival of a person in life.

Friends come and friends go
The transient nature of friendships.

Storms rise and winds blow
Acknowledging life is full of hardships and challenges.

But one thing I know for sure
Despite the challenges, there is something certain.

When it's cold outside
Outer circumstances can be difficult.

There's no need to worry 'cause
Despite difficulties, there is a source of comfort.

I'm so warm inside
A sense of inner peace despite outward turmoil.

You give me peace
The source of inner peace.

When the storm's outside
External factors can be tumultuous.

'Cause we're in love I know
Love is a source of comfort and assurance.

It'll be alright
Despite uncertainty, there is a sense of hope.

Now peace is so hard to find
Difficulty finding inner calm and contentment.

We're terrorized and victimized
A sense of oppression or injustice.

But that's when I close my eyes
Finding respite from external circumstances through internal practices.

And think of you to ease my mind
Thinking of a loved one to bring comfort.

You take me to another place
Love can transport someone to a more positive mental state.

There's no more war (no more war)
A feeling of serenity and contentment.

Just love and grace
The presence of love and positive energy.

Baby you restore my faith
Positive influence on one's beliefs and worldview.

I know the struggle's not in vain
Acknowledging that personal struggles have meaning and lead to positive growth.

Through all the battles
Navigating the challenges of life.

Baghdad to Israel
Potentially referring to specific geopolitical conflicts.

When it's cold outside
Difficult external circumstances.

There's no need to worry 'cause
Despite hardship, there is a source of comfort.

I'm so warm inside
A sense of inner peace despite outward turmoil.

'Cause you give me peace
Positive influence of a loved one.

In the middle of the storm
Inner peace found amidst difficult external circumstances.

When it's cold you're keeping me warm
Love brings comfort and warmth.

It's alright
Encouraging words that everything will be okay.

I'm never gonna leave
Commitment to a loved one.

You give me what I need
Love provides what is necessary for contentment.

It's alright, alright
Everything is going to be okay.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Devon L. Harris, John Stephens, Paul Cho

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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