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."
Lost to Love
Jonathan Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost to love
Lost to love
My my babe
I don't wanna waste
Your precious time
So if I keep talking baby
Cause I got a heart disease
That only you can cure
So cast you magic on the water baby
And make this ocean pure oh
When ever I sensed danger
In the company of strangers
I have to find the courage enough to go
I gotta put myself together
Rise above the stormy weather
We defined this parting pleasure
Cause baby don't you know
I've been lost to love
I've been lost to love
Oh yeah lost to love
Baby my my baby it's been much too long
Baby I've been searching
For a sympathetic soul
To fill my world with healing yes
To make this good man whole
But still I won't surrender
Cause my heart still remembers
The memory so tender love would greet
So I ain't accepting never
Cause if it takes forever
I'll put it back together
And again my heart would sing
Lost to love
I've been lost in love baby
Lost to love
My my baby it's been much too long oh yes
So I ain't accepting never
Cause if it takes forever
I'll put it back together
And again my heart would sing
Lost to love (Lost in love)
Lost to love
Lost to love (Lost in love)
My my baby
Lost to love
My my baby
Lost to love (Have been lost have been lost have been lost in love)
Lost to love
My my baby it's been much too long
In this song, Jonathan Butler is expressing his desire to be with his love, whom he describes as being the cure for his heart disease. He recognizes that he has been lost to love before and that it has been much too long since he has found that feeling again. He talks about searching for a sympathetic soul to heal him, but still remembers the tenderness of love and is willing to put his heart back together, even if it takes forever. He has been in dangerous situations and had to find the courage to leave, but knows that with his love by his side, he can rise above any stormy weather.
The lyrics of the song suggest that love is the ultimate cure for Jonathan Butler's heart disease. Love has the power to heal and make you whole again. He expresses his desire to be with his love and to fill his world with healing. The song highlights the importance of having someone to love and be loved in return, and the emotional pain that comes with losing that love. It's a reminder that while love can cause us heartache, it's worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost to love
The singer is conveying his state of being in love and how it has overtaken him.
Lost to love
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes how consumed the singer is by love.
Lost to love
My my babe
The artist is addressing his significant other affectionately.
I don't wanna waste
The artist is considerate of his significant other's time and doesn't want to waste it.
Your precious time
The singer views his significant other's time as valuable and worthy of respect.
So if I keep talking baby
The singer wants his significant other to understand his feelings and is willing to express them through dialogue.
You can know my mind
The artist wants his significant other to understand his thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
Cause I got a heart disease
The artist is using figurative language to convey the pain and longing he feels due to his love for his significant other.
That only you can cure
The artist believes that his significant other is the only one who can make him feel whole again.
So cast you magic on the water baby
The singer is using an extended metaphor, comparing his love to a body of water and his significant other to magic that can purify it.
And make this ocean pure oh
The artist wants his significant other to purify his love and make it whole again.
When ever I sensed danger
The singer feels vulnerable and uneasy around strangers.
In the company of strangers
The singer feels uncomfortable around people he doesn't know.
I have to find the courage enough to go
The singer recognizes that sometimes he has to remove himself from uncomfortable situations in order to feel safe and secure.
I gotta put myself together
The artist wants to overcome his insecurity and strengthen himself emotionally.
Rise above the stormy weather
The artist wants to overcome the difficulties he's facing and emerge stronger.
We defined this parting pleasure
The singer and his significant other have endured previous separations, but the singer wants to overcome them to find happiness again.
Cause baby don't you know
The singer wants to appeal to his significant other's feelings in order to win them back.
I've been lost to love
The artist reiterates being lost in love and how it has consumed him.
Oh yeah lost to love
Baby my my baby it's been much too long
The artist and his significant other have been separated for an extended period of time and the artist is expressing his desire to reunite.
Baby I've been searching
The singer has been looking for a way to fill the void of his significant other's absence.
For a sympathetic soul
The artist desires someone who will understand and support him emotionally.
To fill my world with healing yes
The singer wants to find someone who will make him feel whole again.
To make this good man whole
The singer believes he is a decent person and deserves to feel complete.
But still I won't surrender
The singer is determined not to give up on his relationship.
Cause my heart still remembers
The artist's love for his significant other is still strong, even in their absence.
The memory so tender love would greet
The artist recalls the fond memories he and his significant other shared.
So I ain't accepting never
The singer refuses to accept that their relationship is doomed to fail.
Cause if it takes forever
The singer is willing to put in as much time as it takes to repair their relationship.
I'll put it back together
The artist is confident that he can mend their relationship if given the chance.
And again my heart would sing
If his relationship is repaired, the artist will feel joyful and complete again.
Lost to love (Lost in love)
The artist reiterates his feelings of being lost in love.
Lost to love
Lost to love (Lost in love)
My my baby
The singer is addressing his significant other affectionately.
Lost to love
My my baby
Lost to love (Have been lost have been lost have been lost in love)
The repetition of this line emphasizes how thoroughly consumed the artist is by love.
Lost to love
My my baby it's been much too long
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN KENNETH BUTLER, CAIRNS 'LULU' KENNEDY, BILLY LAWRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind