Jonathan's first single broke down racial barriers, becoming the first song by a black artist to be played by white radio stations in South Africa. Because Jive was headquartered in England, Jonathan decided to move there to focus on his recording career. His commitment to his craft paid off with his self-titled debut album, which received a Grammy nomination for the pop hit "Lies."
Jonathan's ability to blend his roots in African music with western pop sensibilities would be a trademark of many albums to follow, though never more refined than in his latest release.
For example, the first single from Jonathan is a rendition of the folk-rock classic "Fire and Rain." Butler breathes new life into this classic, infusing the vocals with intensity, as subtle as it is powerful. The musical arrangement is lively and soulful, indicative of his roots in World music. "Fire and Rain" is already garnering accolades from top radio programmers. Lori Lewis, program director for WSMJ in Baltimore states, "It literally gave me a lump in my throat. I walked into the studio and introduced it live on air. Vocals this great are really rare."
Factual
Jonathan Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could you be the one I've been waitin' for?
The love of my life I've been lookin' for
Only wantin' you more and more
Could you be?
Is this a dream or is it real?
Calling through the endless space of time
Could you be?
Maybe it's factual
But then again maybe it's actual, oh
Could you be the face that I always see
Starin' in the mirror back at me?
Livin' in the garden of my mind
Could you be?
Could you be the voice whispering in my ear
Soft and gentle words that I love to hear?
How can I be sure when it fades away?
Could you be? Oh
Maybe it's factual
(Maybe, maybe just)
But then again maybe it's actual
(Actual but then again)
Maybe it's factual
(Factual but then again)
But then again maybe it's actual
(Actual, yeah)
Come on, come on, oh
Could you be the face that I always see
Starin' in the mirror back at me?
Livin' in the garden of my mind
Could you be?
Could you be the voice whispering in my ear
Soft and gentle words that I love to hear?
How can I be sure when it fades away?
Could you be? Oh
Maybe it's factual
(Factual but then again)
But then again maybe it's actual
(Actual)
Maybe it's factual
(Factual, baby)
But then again maybe it's actual
(But then again maybe, just maybe)
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh
Yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on
But then again maybe it's factual
(Factual, baby, baby)
But then again maybe it's actual
(Actual)
Maybe it's factual
(Factual, factual, factual)
But then again maybe it's actual
(But then again, but then again, but then again)
Maybe it's factual
Maybe it's factual
The lyrics to Jonathan Butler's song "Factual" seem to be about an overwhelming feeling of love and longing for someone. The singer repeatedly asks the question "Could you be?" referring to the person he's been waiting for, the love of his life that he's been searching for. There's a sense of uncertainty and doubt in the lyrics as he wonders if this person is just a figment of his imagination, a dream or a mirage, or if they're really out there somewhere. He questions whether the feelings are factual, real and based on something tangible, or just a figment of his imagination.
The lyrics touch on the idea of self-reflection and the image of the person he loves staring back at him in the mirror, living in the garden of his mind. There's also a reference to a voice whispering soft, gentle words in his ear, which he loves to hear, but he's not sure if it's real or just his mind playing tricks on him. The song repeats the phrase "Maybe it's factual, but then again maybe it's actual," emphasizing the uncertainty of the feelings and the question of whether they're real or imagined.
Overall, the song explores the idea of longing and uncertainty, but with a sense of hope and possibility that the love he's searching for could be real.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you be the one I've been waitin' for?
Asking the person if they're the one he's been waiting for all his life
The love of my life I've been lookin' for
He has been looking for someone to be the love of his life
Only wantin' you more and more
His desire for that person keeps growing and increasing
Could you be?
Asking the person if he/she is the special one he's been waiting for
Is this a dream or is it real?
Questioning the reality of the situation, if it's really happening or not
Something 'bout the way that it makes me feel
There is a certain feeling that he's experiencing that is unique and special
Calling through the endless space of time
Feeling like their connection transcends time and space
Maybe it's factual
There's a possibility that it's true
But then again maybe it's actual, oh
There is also a possibility that it's real
Could you be the face that I always see
Questioning if this person is the one that he always imagines, his ideal partner
Starin' in the mirror back at me?
Wondering if he sees this person's face every time he looks at himself in the mirror
Livin' in the garden of my mind
Thinking about this person constantly and being preoccupied with the thought of them
Could you be?
Repeating the question if this person is really the one he's been waiting for
Could you be the voice whispering in my ear
Asking if this person is the one who gives him gentle words of love and support
Soft and gentle words that I love to hear?
Referring to words of affirmation and love that he cherishes
How can I be sure when it fades away?
Feeling uncertain about the relationship when the special moments and feelings start to disappear
Maybe it's factual
There's still a chance that it's true
But then again maybe it's actual
There's still a possibility that it's real
Come on, come on, oh
Expression of excitement or urgency
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh
Expression of excitement or approval
Yeah, yeah
Expression of agreement or approval
Contributed by Joshua S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.