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.
Used to Love Her
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holla holla haaa
Maybe it's me, maybe I bore you
Oh no, it's my fault 'cause I can't afford you
Maybe, baby
Puffy, Jay-Z
Would all be better for you
Baby when I used to love you (there's nothin' that I wouldn't do)
I went through the fire for you (anything you asked me to)
But I'm tired of living this lie
It's getting harder to justify
I realize that I just don't love you
Not like I used to
Holla holla holla haaa (yeaa)
Holla holla holla haaa (yea, yea)
Now maybe I should rob somebody
So we could live like Whitney and Bobby
It's probably my fault, my bad, my loss
But you are the cause
'Cause all I could do was love you
Baby when I used to love you (there's nothin that I wouldn't do)
I went through the fire for you (anything you asked me to)
But I'm tired of living this lie
It's getting harder to justify
I realize that I just don't love you
Not like I used to
Holla holla holla haa (yeaa)
Holla holla holla haa
Do you remember (I used to) when I used (love you) to (used to) love you (love you)?
Baby no, not anymore (I don't love you)
(Used to love you) I love you
And you're gonna miss me now
Baby when I used to love you (there's nothin that I wouldn't do)
I went through the fire for you (but I'm not gonna play the fool)
And I can't live this lie
I can't justify
And I can't make you my wife, I don't love you
Not like I used to
Holla holla holla haa (not like I used to)
Holla holla holla haa (not like I used to)
Oh I used to love you (used to love you)
Oh but I don't love you (I don't love you)
I used to love you (used to love you)
Oh but I don't love you (I bet you miss me 'cause I)
I used to love you (you miss me 'cause I)
I used to love you (I bet you're miss me now 'cause I, I don't love you)
The lyrics of John Legendβs βUsed to Love Uβ talk about the aftermath of a break-up. The song is a reflection on a past relationship where he stopped loving his partner like he used to. He admits his mistakes, including not being able to afford her and not being enough for her. John battles with the idea of being able to win her back by doing something drastic like robbing someone, living like βWhitney and Bobbyβ, but it is clear that he knows it wonβt work. The pain of the break-up is evident as he sings, βI bet youβre miss me nowβ. He remembers the love he had for her, but he knows that he has to move on.
The repetition of βHolla holla haaaβ throughout the song adds to the songβs catchy vibe. The phrase captures Johnβs desperation and hopelessness as he tries to cope with his heartbreak. The hip-hop feeling of the song is complemented by the seamless blending of rhythm and blues.
The songβs lyrics of heartbreak and trying to move on make it relatable to many. Johnβs emotional delivery of the lyrics adds layers of depth to the song that makes listeners feel as though they are in the experience with him. Overall, the songβs lyrics and catchy beats make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Holla holla haaa
The song starts with an ad-lib that expresses excitement, and it is not related to the message of the song
Maybe it's me, maybe I bore you
The singer is questioning if they are the cause for the love falling apart
Oh no, it's my fault 'cause I can't afford you
The singer blames themselves for not being able to provide for their partner
Maybe, baby, Puffy, Jay-Z, would all be better for you
The singer thinks that their partner might be better suited with someone who's wealthier and popular than them
'Cause all I could do was love you
The singer acknowledges that they did everything they could to show their love
Baby when I used to love you (there's nothin' that I wouldn't do)
In the past, the singer did everything to please their partner
I went through the fire for you (anything you asked me to)
The singer did everything their partner asked of them, even when it was challenging
But I'm tired of living this lie (It's getting harder to justify)
The singer has been pretending to love their partner for a while, and it's becoming more difficult to keep up with the facade
I realize that I just don't love you (Not like I used to)
The singer admits that the love they had for their partner is no longer as strong
Now maybe I should rob somebody
The singer is jokingly suggesting they should commit a crime, so they can afford to live a lavish lifestyle with their partner
So we could live like Whitney and Bobby
The singer is referring to the iconic couple of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, who notoriously had a tumultuous relationship
It's probably my fault, my bad, my loss, but you are the cause
The singer is conflicted about whose fault the failed relationship is, but ultimately blames their partner for not being understanding or supportive enough
Do you remember (I used to) when I used (love you) to (used to) love you (love you)?
The singer is reminiscing about the good times when they were in love with their partner
Baby no, not anymore (I don't love you) (Used to love you) I love you
The singer clarifies that although they don't love their partner the way they used to, they still love them and care for them
And you're gonna miss me now
The singer is warning their partner that they will regret losing them
And I can't live this lie, I can't justify
The singer admits that they can't continue faking the love they have for their partner and can't see a reason to keep trying to save the relationship
And I can't make you my wife, I don't love you (Not like I used to)
The singer can't commit to marrying someone they don't feel the same way about anymore
Oh I used to love you (used to love you) Oh but I don't love you (I don't love you)
The singer repeats that their love for their partner has diminished over time
I used to love you (used to love you)
The singer underscores how strong their love was for their partner in the past
Oh but I don't love you (I bet you miss me 'cause I)
The singer is convinced that their partner misses them and regrets their decision
I used to love you (you miss me 'cause I) I used to love you (I bet you're miss me now 'cause I, I don't love you)
The singer repeats the idea that their partner will miss them now that they don't love them anymore
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LEGEND, KANYE WEST, KANYE OMARI WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@meshackachigili6666
Kanye west predicted his own feature by acting as a preacher in this song
@thatguycmk7548
Learn how to spell.
@vanessa9024
Yeah that is so cool lol
@1All0RA
Future*
@pinchewey7
Prediction or vision he already had back then that ended up playing out? Lol
@torredavis2854
He produce
@kylinhunter9773
This song is easily one of the dopest tracks by John to this day. Nothing but heat even going into 2022. π₯π₯
@thomasseverson3747
Agreed
@mrk7201
I Highly agree. Real music, He is very talented
@nazcarjonez_201
Facts on Facts