Gill, the son of a minister, started singing at age five in a family gospel group called "Wings of Faith". His solo career began in 1983 when his childhood friend, singer Stacy Lattisaw convinced him to record a demo. The demo he recorded fell into the hands of the president of Atlantic Records, and his self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter. Then, Johnny teamed up with Stacy for a duet album, which featured their first together, "Perfect Combination", a second album on Atlantic Records, Chemistry, yielded the song "Half Crazy,".
Gill's big break came in 1987, when he replaced Bobby Brown in New Edition, a 1980s pop group. With Gill as one of the lead singers, the group developed a more mature, adult sound, hitting the charts with songs such as "Can You Stand The Rain," "N.E. Heartbreak," and the Johnny Gill lead "Boys To Men". During a hiatus from New Edition, Johnny embarked on a solo career. The hits from his self entitled 1990 album include "My, My, My," "Rub You the Right Way," "Fairweather Friend" and "Wrap My Body Tight". On this album, Gill played guitar, bass, bongos, and drums in addition to performing his lead and background vocals.
In 1993, Gill released another solo project, Provocative, which included the songs "Quiet Time to Play," "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addiction," and a gospel song, "I Know Where I Stand." In 1996, Gill was reunited with his New Edition bandmates, including Brown, as they recorded Home Again together, an album noted for the singles "Hit Me Off" and "Still In Love". Gill also released Let's Get the Mood Right in 1996, which included the title song, "Love In an Elevator," and "Maybe." The following year, he collaborated with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat to form the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill) which resulted in the multi platinum debut album, Levert-Sweat-Gill, and a follow-up album entitled LSG2.
Gill, the only member of New Edition who is not from Boston, was raised in Washington DC where he attended Kimball Elementary and Sousa Junior High. His career dictated that he complete his high school education through the services of a tutor. Johnny had planned to attend college and pursue a degree in electrical engineering, but his career came first.
His latest recording, "You For Me (The Wedding Song)" from the Madea's Family Reunion Soundtrack received strong reviews from music critics as well as the general public. As of 2006, he is still performing with the group as well as performing solo as part of the Body and Soul Tour, which includes fellow NE members Bell Biv DeVoe.
At the 2011 BET Awards, he announced that he will be releasing a new album, after a 16 year hiatus.
Let's Spend The Night
Johnny Gill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holding everything
Without love
Now Im holding you
And it feels so good
Dont let go now
Come home with me
(Lets spend the night)
(Lets spend the night)
It feels so good
To know your love will be there
For me
And only me
Scratch my friends opinions
Im not blind I see
All they want to do
Is get you away from me
But now I have you
Totally
(Lets spend the night)
With someone who cares
(Lets spend the night)
It feels so good
To know your love will be there
When I wake up
With you by my side
Roll on over wont you
I feel so alive
Lets spend the night
(Lets spend the night)
Close together
(Lets spend the night)
It feels so good
To know youre there
[not sure of this line]
Yes to know that youll be there
It feels so good
Yeah, yeah
I dont have to worry
Cause it feels
Will be there for me
When I roll over, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Just be there
Lets spend the night
In "Let's Spend The Night," Johnny Gill expresses his newfound happiness thanks to finding someone to love. The song starts with Johnny expressing how lonely he's been lately, and how he's been carrying everything alone without love. However, now that he's found someone to hold, he feels great and doesn't want to let go. He urges this person to come home with him and spend the night together. He wants to enjoy the feeling of being with somebody who truly cares, no matter what his friends' opinions may be.
Johnny acknowledges that his friends may not agree with his choices, believing that they only want to take this person away from him. But having this person in his life is worth the risk of disagreeing with his friends. He is wholly devoted to them and wants to spend the whole night close together, feeling the excitement and joy that only love can bring. He feels confident that this person's love will be there when he wakes up in the morning, empowering him to roll over and take on the day ahead.
Overall, the song is a celebration of a new love, and how it can bring light and joy to one's life, even in moments of darkness and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately I've been so lonely
I have been feeling very lonely lately
Holding everything
Bearing all the burdens
Without love
Devoid of love
Now I'm holding you
I have you in my arms now
And it feels so good
It makes me feel wonderful
Don't let go now
Please don't leave me now
Come home with me
Let us go to my place
(Let's spend the night)
Let us be together tonight
Together
As a couple
It feels so good
It is really pleasurable
To know your love will be there
The assurance of your love being there
For me
For me alone
And only me
Exclusively for me
Scratch my friends' opinions
Disregard my friends' views
I'm not blind I see
I am not oblivious, I understand
All they want to do
Their intention is
Is get you away from me
To take you away from me
But now I have you
But now that I have you
Totally
Completely
(Let's spend the night)
Let us spend the night together
With someone who cares
Be with someone who loves and cares for you
When I wake up
In the morning when I wake
With you by my side
With you next to me
Roll on over won't you
Just turn over towards me
I feel so alive
It makes me feel very alive
(Let's spend the night)
Spend the night with me
Close together
In close proximity
It feels so good
It is so pleasurable
To know you're there
To know you are with me
[not sure of this line]
Unknown
Yes to know that you'll be there
Yes, to know that you will be there
It feels so good
It is so pleasurable
Yeah, yeah
Affirmation
I don't have to worry
I do not need to worry
Cause it feels
Because it feels
Will be there for me
That you will be there for me
When I roll over, yeah
When I turn over, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Affirmation
Just be there
Just stay here with me
Let's spend the night
Let us spend the night together
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carissacollins707
I remember this album and it will forever be apart of me. My son's father was a big fan back in 1990, he introduced me to Johnny's music. My baby was born in 1991. Although we didn't work out, I'm forever grateful that I enjoyed this music then and even more now.❣️
@JeremyWatkinsASUphilosophy
This is such an underrated song.
@ethelstevenslove2957
Agree........
@bomaddox4771
I know I'm quite off topic but does anybody know a good site to watch newly released movies online?
@turnercorey2839
@Bo Maddox flixportal =)
@bomaddox4771
@Turner Corey thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) Appreciate it!
@turnercorey2839
@Bo Maddox Happy to help :)
@shavonewest1112
This song is beauty amplified!
@tyeishaking9018
Love this song
@iluvrachellef
BEST ALBUM OF 1990!!!!