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.
Waiting for Christmas
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The town has come to life, waiting for Christmas
I still feel low, searching for some meaning
Until you come home, I'm waiting for Christmas with you
Christmas without you, a long, dark shade of blue
I feel like I've been waiting here forever
All the gifts arrive, all the children singing
I could sing along, but I can't find the meaning
The melody feels wrong, I'm waiting for Christmas with you
Oh, when I see your face on this Christmas Day
I'll know the light of love brought us together
But until that hour, my eyes will be wide open
I'm like a little child, waiting for Christmas
When that morning comes, we can count our blessings
It was worth it all along, waiting for Christmas with you
In "Waiting for Christmas" by John Legend, the lyrics depict the anticipation and longing for the holiday season. The opening lines establish the festive atmosphere with descriptions of illuminated trees and the town coming to life. However, despite the joyful surroundings, the singer still feels a sense of emptiness and seeks meaning in their life. The phrase "searching for some meaning" suggests a deeper longing for fulfillment and a desire for a personal connection during this time.
The chorus expresses the singer's yearning for a loved one who is absent during Christmas. Their absence casts a "long, dark shade of blue" over the holiday, emphasizing the loneliness and sadness they feel. The lyrics convey the emotion of waiting indefinitely, as if time stands still while waiting for the loved one's return. The arrival of gifts and the cheerful voices of children singing in anticipation of Christmas highlight the contrast between the singer's inner loneliness and the external joy surrounding them.
The second verse deepens the singer's sense of disconnection. Despite being surrounded by the cheerful atmosphere of Christmas, they struggle to connect or find meaning in the festivities. The melody feels wrong, indicating a discordance between their emotions and the celebratory spirit of the season. The repeated phrase "waiting for Christmas with you" emphasizes the desperate longing for the loved one's presence and their potential ability to bring joy and purpose back into the singer's life.
The bridge introduces a glimmer of hope and anticipation. Seeing the loved one's face on Christmas Day is presented as a transformative moment, where the light of love brings them together. Until that moment arrives, the lyrics suggest that the singer's eyes remain wide open, symbolizing their constant vigilance and longing for the loved one's return. The comparison to a little child waiting for Christmas evokes an innocent and pure yearning for happiness and togetherness.
The final lines of the song emphasize the singer's belief that all the waiting will be worthwhile once the loved one returns. They express the hope that when the Christmas morning finally comes, they will be able to count their blessings and find satisfaction in the patient waiting they endured. The phrase "It was worth it all along" suggests that the joy of being reunited with the loved one will overcome all the loneliness and sadness experienced during the waiting period. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a message about the transformative power of love and the profound meaning it brings to the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
All the trees alight, all the holly streaming
The festive decorations and lights bring joy and excitement to the surroundings
The town has come to life, waiting for Christmas
The entire town is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Christmas
I still feel low, searching for some meaning
Despite the festive atmosphere, the singer feels a sense of emptiness and longs for deeper significance
Until you come home, I'm waiting for Christmas with you
The singer's ultimate source of happiness and fulfillment is being reunited with their loved one during Christmas
Christmas without you, a long, dark shade of blue
The absence of the loved one during Christmas causes a profound feeling of sadness and loneliness
I feel like I've been waiting here forever
The longing for the loved one's presence makes the singer feel as if time has slowed down and the wait feels endless
All the gifts arrive, all the children singing
As the preparations for Christmas continue, there is an anticipation of joy and excitement through gift exchanges and cheerful songs from children
Gathered 'round the fire, waiting for Christmas
Family and friends come together in anticipation of Christmas, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere by the fire
I could sing along, but I can't find the meaning
Despite participating in the traditional festivities, the singer struggles to find true fulfillment and purpose without the presence of their loved one
The melody feels wrong, I'm waiting for Christmas with you
Even though there is music and celebration, the absence of the loved one makes everything feel incomplete and unsatisfying
Oh, when I see your face on this Christmas Day
The joy and happiness experienced by seeing the loved one's face on Christmas Day is immeasurable
I'll know the light of love brought us together
The singer recognizes that their love and the connection they share is the reason they are reunited on this special day
But until that hour, my eyes will be wide open
The singer eagerly awaits the moment of reunion, keeping their eyes open and alert for their loved one's arrival
I'm like a little child, waiting for Christmas
The anticipation and excitement felt by a child eagerly waiting for Christmas morning is analogous to the singer's own anticipation of being with their loved one
When that morning comes, we can count our blessings
On Christmas morning, both the singer and their loved one can appreciate and be grateful for the numerous blessings in their lives
It was worth it all along, waiting for Christmas with you
The wait and longing for the loved one's presence during Christmas is justified by the joy and happiness they bring, making it all worthwhile
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Daniel Wilson, John Stephens, Raphael Saadiq
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luisa Kruschewsky
I love the album i love the voice i like the melodies i love everything about this beautiful voice ๐๐๐
Jonas Odhner
This literally made my christmas while waiting for christmas
Mary Df
His Voice is so sweet.
Rithanya Sevakula
So good ๐โค๏ธ
Michelle Martinez
I love this album cover ๐he looks like... a black Frank Sinatra! ๐๐๐๐
Rin Rin
Well, now that the songs are out I'm waiting for Christmas with John Legend..
Flor De Villa
Bella canciรณn de navidad. Dale Like si te gustรณ quiรฉn la escucha en 6 de noviembre 2019. Ya casi navidad la รฉpoca mรกs linda del aรฑo.
DeAnna Smith
My Heart โค ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ โค is not an excuse the lord is
?ษชแดสแดษด๊ฐแดสส๊ฐสแดแดสสยฟ
Actually- Waiting for christmas sucks- A minute feels like an hour a day feels like a week time goes by so slowly and you start dying more and more waiting for your presents.
Sirpa Bister
<3 Merry Christmas everyone, with Love from Finland ๐๐ ๐๐