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.
In The Morning
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your flight left yet?
Pshh, I'm half way there
I can't wait to see you
So tell me have you left yet, damn
I'm running late to the airport
Every time we do this
All I see is you kissing me
Last time shut my eyes
Plane goes higher, higher
Hotel's booked all I have to do is get my key
I can't wait to have you walk up and hold on me, yeah
I've never felt this way before
But in the morning
When you're gone
I must wait and be strong
And have faith
You'll return
In my arms
Hope you miss your flight
Hope you miss your flight
Casablanca has always been my dream
I heard that it's absolutely radiant in spring
In the garden drinking shots of Hennesy
Calm my nerves, it's been way too long for me
Finally we're driving in a far out dream
Nothing seems even real or close for me
Afternoon sun showers change the way I see
I've never felt this way before
But in the morning
When you're gone
I must wait and be strong
And have faith
You'll return
In my arms
Hope you miss your flight
Hope you miss your flight
But in the morning
When you're gone
I must wait and be strong
And have faith
You'll return
In my arms
Hope you miss your flight
Hope you miss your flight
It's okay, it's okay
(It's okay)
It's okay, it's okay
But in the morning
When you're gone
I must wait and be strong
And have faith
You'll return
In my arms
Hope you miss your flight
Hope you miss your flight
Kelis's song "In The Morning" is a tale of longing and hope regarding a lover who is returning after a long time away. The lyrics speak to the excitement of the singer as she anticipates being reunited with her lover, despite some trepidation about the unknowns of their future. The song opens with a phone conversation between the singer and her lover, who is en route to her.
The opening lines, "Hey baby what you doing? Your flight left yet? Pshh, I'm halfway there, I can't wait to see you. So tell me, have you left yet, damn?" immediately give a sense of someone who is restless and eager to be reunited with their lover. The singer is running late to the airport and contemplates whether she should go through with the reunion or not, but ultimately, she imagines a blissful scene where her lover is kissing her as their plane ascends.
The rest of the song describes their time together, reveling in the experience of being in a beautiful place and being in love. However, even as the singer enjoys the present moment, she can't help but feel anxious about what will happen when her lover leaves in the morning. She hopes that her lover will miss their flight and stay with her, but ultimately she knows that she must wait and be strong until their next reunion.
Overall, "In The Morning" is a beautiful, evocative song that captures the feelings of longing, passion, and vulnerability that come with being in love. The song's themes of hope and anticipation, despite the uncertainty of the future, are universal and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby what you doing?
Kelis asks her partner what he is doing.
Your flight left yet?
Kelis inquires whether her partner's flight departed.
Pshh, I'm half way there
Kelis declares she is halfway to her destination.
I can't wait to see you
Kelis is excited to reunite with her partner.
So tell me have you left yet, damn
Kelis is anxious to know whether her partner has left yet.
I'm running late to the airport
Kelis is behind schedule to catch her flight.
Every time we do this
Kelis has done this before with her partner.
In my mind saying should I go through with this?
Kelis debates whether she should go forward with the trip.
All I see is you kissing me
Kelis imagines the moment she will kiss her partner.
Last time shut my eyes
Kelis closed her eyes during takeoff on her previous flight.
Plane goes higher, higher
The plane ascends higher into the sky.
Hotel's booked all I have to do is get my key
Kelis has already reserved a hotel room and must only retrieve the key.
I can't wait to have you walk up and hold on me, yeah
Kelis excitedly anticipates reuniting with and embracing her partner.
I've never felt this way before
Kelis has never experienced this level of emotion before.
But in the morning
When you're gone
I must wait and be strong
And have faith
You'll return
In my arms
Hope you miss your flight
Hope you miss your flight
Kelis expresses her longing for her partner's return and hopes he misses his flight, so they can spend more time together.
Casablanca has always been my dream
Kelis has always dreamt of visiting Casablanca.
I heard that it's absolutely radiant in spring
Kelis is aware of how stunning Casablanca is during springtime.
In the garden drinking shots of Hennesy
Calm my nerves, it's been way too long for me
Kelis drinks Hennessy to calm her nerves, as it has been a while since she last saw her partner.
Finally we're driving in a far out dream
Nothing seems even real or close for me
Afternoon sun showers change the way I see
Kelis and her partner are driving to their destination, and she feels like she's in a dream world that is far away from reality.
It's okay, it's okay
(It's okay)
It's okay, it's okay
Kelis reassures herself that everything will be okay.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: DONALD R. WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind