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.
Where Did My Baby Go
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder where she ran off to
I miss my baby so
I'm calling but I can't get through
Please tell that girl if you meet her
That someone's longing to see her
Where did my baby go?
I wish that she would get back soon (get back soon)
I'm searching for the lover I knew
Have you seen her?
Where did she go?
Feels like I've just lost my only friend
Flames subsided, colors faded
Love just got so complicated
Wish that I could see her smile again
So if you see her out there, tell her I'm still here
Waiting for the day when she will reappear
Where did my baby go?
I wonder where she ran off to
I miss my baby so
I'm calling but I can't get through
Please tell that girl if you meet her
That someone's longing to see her
Where did my baby go?
I wish that she would get back soon (get back soon)
Maybe I was wrong and I
Ignored her for too long and I
Didn't even notice when she slipped away
Maybe while I lay fast asleep then
Out into the night she creeps
I'll leave the light on, so she'll come back someday
So if you see her out there, tell her it's not fair
That life's just not the same when she's not here
Where did my baby go?
I wonder where she ran off to
I miss my baby so
Just what am I supposed to do?
Please tell that girl if you meet her
That someone's longing to see her
Where did my baby go?
I wish that she would get back soon (get back soon)
John Legend's song "Where Did My Baby Go" expresses the feelings of a man searching for a lost love. As the lyrics unfold, the song's protagonist pleads with anyone who may have seen his former partner to let her know that he is still waiting for her to return. Throughout the song, there is an overwhelming sense of longing and regret. The opening line, "Where did my baby go?" sets the tone for the rest of the song.
The first verse establishes the feeling of loss and the singer's desperate need for his former partner to return. He is "calling but can't get through," and he longs to see her again. Then, he asks anyone who may have seen her to let her know that he is searching for her. The chorus reiterates this sentiment, with the singer expressing his longing for his lost love.
In the second verse, the singer begins to question what may have gone wrong in the relationship. He wonders if he may have ignored his partner for too long and failed to notice her slipping away. The line "Flames subsided, colors faded, love just got so complicated" suggests that their relationship may have become stagnant or lost its spark. The singer continues to express his hope that his partner will return and that things can be repaired.
Overall, "Where Did My Baby Go" is a relatable and emotional song that speaks to the experience of heartbreak and loss. Through its thoughtful lyrics and John Legend's soulful vocals, it captures the devastating feeling of searching for a lost love and the hope that one day they may return.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did my baby go?
John Legend is wondering where his lover went and he's expressing his worries about her sudden disappearance.
I wonder where she ran off to
He's expressing confusion on where his lover could have gone.
I miss my baby so
John Legend is expressing how much he misses his lover.
I'm calling but I can't get through
He's trying to reach his lover but he's unable to get in touch with her.
Please tell that girl if you meet her
John Legend is requesting anyone who comes across his lover to pass on a message to her on his behalf.
That someone's longing to see her
He's expressing how much he yearns to see his lover again.
I wish that she would get back soon (get back soon)
He's expressing how much he wants his lover to return to him as soon as possible.
Maybe I was wrong and I
John Legend is considering the possibility that he could have done something wrong to make his lover leave.
Ignored her for too long and I
He's considering the possibility that he could have neglected his lover for too long leading to her departure.
Didn't even notice when she slipped away
He's expressing how unaware he was when his lover left.
Maybe while I lay fast asleep then
He's considering the possibility that his lover left when he was sound asleep.
Out into the night she creeps
John Legend imagines his lover sneaking out into the night.
I'll leave the light on, so she'll come back someday
He's hoping that by leaving the light on, his lover will find her way back home someday.
Just what am I supposed to do?
He's expressing confusion and helplessness over his lover's sudden disappearance.
Tell her it's not fair
He wants whoever comes across his lover to tell her that it's not fair for her to have left him without any warning or explanation.
That life's just not the same when she's not here
He's expressing how much his life has changed since his lover left, highlighting the significance of her presence in his life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN STEPHENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BREANNA JAMES
Sometimes we just need a refresher and a reminder of what good music is and how to really truly love somebody💕 I’m here for it John, this whole album. Thank you I appreciate it.
tomáš horváth
Lovely. You dont skip tracks on this LP, its a masterpiece.
BrainyyBrittanyy
This entire album was everything
Syn
The best
Megale Smith
Absolutely.
Sampie Louw
Word feels like he singing to me😜crazy
Ian Cole
It was a Good time in life.
oskamadison
My favorite album of his...
Xavier
My love left me, and this song reminds me of the moment she was leaving at the airport. I miss her so much... Even a man can come to tears once his reason for life has left him. I don't think i'll love as much as i've ever loved her. It's been 5 years now and i still love her. This is the ONLY song that brings back those beautiful memories i had with her. Thanks John Legend.
Muhammad Nabil
Xavier it’s been 13 years now, I wish you’re okay now.