Kelis (born Kelis Rogers on August 21, 1979), is known simply by her first … Read Full Bio ↴Kelis (born Kelis Rogers on August 21, 1979), is known simply by her first name Kelis (pronounced Kuh-lees). Her name is an amalgamation of her parents' first names, her black father Kenneth and Chinese-Puerto Rican mother Eveliss. Growing up in Middle Class Harlem, New York Kelis' childhood was not a deprived one. But she was not without problems, after her parents realised they could not cope with her unruly behavior (Kelis shaved all her hair off at age 13, soon afterwards dyeing the regrowth the colors of the rainbow), Kelis moved out of the family home, continuing her private education.

After a short spell working as a model, 5'10" Kelis began appearing on songs by Neptunes produced rappers such as 'Got Your Money' by the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard. Soon afterwards, she released her debut album, Kaleidoscope in 1999 of which the first single was 'Caught Out There,' a song based on the time she caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and she beat him. The video feautures Kelis leading a pack of angry women down the street screaming 'I hate you so much right now!'. The album was released in USA, Europe and Asia, but did not find much audience in the USA. Not a great success, it only sold 249,000 copies to date.

After finding her largest audience in Europe, Kelis released her second album titled Wanderland (2001) in Europe only, which like her first album did not fare well. It only sold 80,000 copies and was entirely produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) again, similarly to her debut. Only one single was released 'Young Fresh N New'.

In 2003 Kelis finally found fame in her country with the single 'Milkshake,' which was a massive success in Europe, Asia and USA, and she began dating rapper Nas (born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones). The single was from the album 'Tasty' which did not feature the Neptunes as heavily as her previous albums. Singles included the popular Dallas Austin produced 'Trick Me' and 'Millionaire', a collaboration with OutKast's Andre 3000. 'In Public's duet with Nas was the fourth single from the album, becoming a top twenty hit in the U.K. without a video.

In 2006, Kelis presented a new album to her fans, entitled Kelis Was Here, which was originally to be called 'The Puppeteer' which was released on 22 August but was due Fall 2005. No Neptunes tracks appeared on this album, but Kelis used other producers such as Max Martin, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas) and Raphael Saadiq. Singles are the huge 'Bossy', 'Blindfold Me', and 'Lil Star'. Kelis wrote more of the material on this album than she did for Tasty, and carries off the sci-fi, electronica sounds so often considered Neptunes material without them. This is most evident on the brilliant 'Trilogy'. Kelis has said she wants to make her mark with this album, as it will be the last 'album like this' she will make.

In October 2007, Kelis was dumped by Jive Records, for poor sales of Kelis Was Here but a new album is in the pipeline. The Hits - a greatest hits collection - was released in March 2008, including tracks where she was a featured artist, eg, Got Your Money by Ol' Dirty Bastard , N.E.R.D's Truth or Dare, and Richard X's Finest Dreams.

Kelis then signed to Interscope Records, and released her fifth studio album entitled Flesh Tone in May 2010. The David Guetta-produced Acapella preceded the LP in February of that year. Other singles released from the album include '4th of July (Fireworks)', 'Scream' and 'Brave'. The following year, Kelis appeared on Calvin Harris' 'Bounce'.

In the beginning of 2010, Kelis received a letter by animal rights organization PETA, in which she was informed about the cruelty that comes along with the production of fur coats. She pointed out that the organization seems to have little concern about the treatment of people of color and that she will continue wearing fur and eating meat.

Songfacts reported that 'Distance', the planned first single from Kelis’ sixth studio album received its first play during the June 30, 2012 show of The Beatnik Mix on London's Reprezent 107.3FM. At the time, the album was set to be house/dance-inspired, but sessions with TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek led to it taking a soul-like direction.

Kelis completed her sixth album in April 2013, and her new label Ninja Tune confirmed details regarding the album in January the following year, 'Jerk Ribs' served as the lead single for the album; the track had however been previously released as a free download the previous year.
Food was released in April 2014 to critical acclaim. Kelis also appeared for the first time at the annual South by Southwest festival, both performing and serving meals to attendees from her food truck.

Cobbler
KELIS Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you walk in the door
You smell just like the sun
Give you everything you want
'Cause baby you're the one
Your bright eyes on your face
I gotta stop I'm runnin' late
But it's time I tell my friends
Being with you just feels so great

Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway
Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway

You're the best I've ever done
Like a winner like I won. I couldn't love you more
If I tried I'd go for tons. I used to say I run
But for this I know I'll stay
'Cause for real it's the look on your face
Every time you say my name

(Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday)
(Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway
Getaway)
Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway
Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway

You make me hit notes that I never sing
(She never sings) (Sings these notes)

Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway

Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kelis's song Cobbler represent a feeling of euphoria and excitement that the singer experiences when they are with their significant other. The song describes the feeling of being in love as if it were a holiday or a getaway from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life. The singer expresses that they will go to great lengths to make their loved one happy, even if it means sacrificing other parts of their life. The line "You smell just like the sun" paints a vivid picture of the sensory experience that comes with being close to the object of the singer's affection.

The repetition of the phrase "Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday" reinforces the idea that being with this person is a special and unique experience that brings joy to the singer's life. There's also a sense of appreciation for the person's qualities, as the singer claims that their partner is the best they've ever been with, and that being with them just feels good. The line "You make me hit notes that I never sing" suggests that being with this person brings out a new side of the singer, and that they feel comfortable expressing themselves in ways they never thought possible before.

Overall, the lyrics to Cobbler paint a picture of a joyful, carefree romance that is a welcome escape from the stresses of everyday life. There's a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the person who brings this feeling to the singer's life, and a sense of excitement for all the new experiences that being with this person might bring.

Line by Line Meaning

When you walk in the door
As soon as you enter the room,

You smell just like the sun
You radiate sunshine and warmth,

Give you everything you want
You deserve only the best,

'Cause baby you're the one
You are the only one for me,

Your bright eyes on your face
Your eyes are lively and full of light,

I gotta stop I'm runnin' late
I need to pause, even if I'm in a rush,

But it's time I tell my friends
I need to let my friends know,

Being with you just feels so great
It's an amazing feeling to be with you,

You're the best I've ever done
I've never been in a better relationship,

Like a winner like I won.
I feel like a champion,

I couldn't love you more
My love for you is boundless,

If I tried I'd go for tons.
Even if I tried, I couldn't love you enough,

I used to say I run
I used to be afraid of commitment,

But for this I know I'll stay
I'm willing to stay committed to you,

'Cause for real it's the look on your face
Your expression of love is authentic,

Every time you say my name
Every time you utter my name,

You make me hit notes that I never sing
You make me feel and express things that I never have,

Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
Lately, being with you feels like being on vacation,

Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway
Being in your arms is like escaping to a relaxing place,

Ooh lately, you got this feeling like a holiday
These days, being with you is like taking a break,

Ooh baby, here in your arms is like a getaway
Being embraced by you is like a refreshing escape.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID ANDREW SITEK, KELIS ROGERS, TODD SIMON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS