Keith Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City, to Juanita Thompson, a hairdresser, and Charles Sweat, a factory worker. After Charles Sweat's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five kids by herself. He worked as a night stock boy at Macy's Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at Paine Webber, a brokerage firm. In just four years he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.[2] Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange.[1]
Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.[3] With the help of Jamilah, Sweat was able to hone his craft as a lead singer by performing regionally throughout the tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley.[citation needed]
After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, he sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the independent label, Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only two tunes for Stadium, "Lucky Seven", and "My Mind Is Made Up", which was their third and fourth ever release, but on Stadium's first release, he is credited as co-writer and co-producer of "You Are the One for Me", the last recording ever made by the group GQ. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier.
Later in 1987, Keith Sweat was discovered by Vincent Davis and offered a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was founded in 1983 on the foundations of early Hip-Hop and otherwise best known for releasing Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by Elektra Records from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990. On November 24, 1987, Sweat released his debut solo studio album Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was the song that inaugurated the new jack swing era "I Want Her"[5] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts. Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.
In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[6]
The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Sweat released his fourth album Get Up on It in the summer of 1994, and his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "Twisted" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave. He produced R&B group Dru Hill in 1996.
In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group Ol' Skool and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group Xscape. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997.[7] That album featured "My Body", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (No. 16 Hot 100). Sweat's success on the charts started to diminish in 2000, when he released the album Didn't See Me Coming. None of the singles from the album reached the top forty.
On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, Rebirth. The single "One on One" reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.His 2008 album Just Me included the single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)". Sweat is currently signed to Kedar Records and released his tenth studio album entitled Ridin' Solo on June 22, 2010. The lead single taken from the album is "Test Drive" and featured label-mate Joe. Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of a nationally syndicated radio program based upon the Quiet storm format. The Keith Sweat Hotel (known as The Quiet Storm with Keith Sweat on WBLS in New York City) is syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks.[8]
Sweat is also the host of a nationally syndicated radio show called The Sweat Hotel, which I s produced and distributed to urban adult contemporary and classic soul radio stations across the U.S. by Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc.[9]
Make It Last Forever
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make it last forever (ever)
Don't let our love end (ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, oh)
Let's make it last
(Ooh, oh)
Let's make it last forever and ever
Don't let our love end (oh, don't let love end), mmh
Let me hear you tell me you love me
Let me hear you say you'll never leave me
Ooh, girl, that would make me feel so right
Let me hear you tell me you want me
Let me hear you say you'll never leave me, baby
Until the morning light (I)
Let me tell you how much I love you
Let me tell you that I really need you
Baby, baby, baby, I will make it all right
No one but you, baby
Can make me feel
The way you make me, make me, make me feel
Whoa, oh
Mmh, mmh, mmh
Don't let our love end (don't)
Just make it last forever (oh, make it last)
And ever (forever)
Your touch is wonderful
Your love is so marvelous
Joy, that's what I feel
When I'm with you
Nothing, no one (no one, boy)
Could compare to what we have (oh no, baby)
Love, it feels so good
I'm so glad you're mine
Whoa, oh (ooh, baby)
Make it last forever (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Know that I love it (no, no, no, no, no)
Make it last forever and ever (yeah, yeah)
Ooh, give me kisses (kisses)
Love me (love me), hold me (hold me)
Squeeze me (squeeze me), ooh
Chillin' (chillin'), come on (come on)
I love you (you know I do), baby
Whoa, oh
Mmh, mmh, mmh
Make it last forever and ever (no, no, no, no, no)
Don't let our love end (and ever)
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, (no, don't you let it end)
You got to make it last
Never, never, never let it end
Just make it last forever and ever (ooh, whoa)
I want our love to last a lifetime
(I'd give it up, give it up for you)
Ooh, tell me, tell me you'll always be mine
(I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you)
To make love forever and ever (ooh)
We've got to make it last
Got to make it, got to make it, got to make (oh, oh)
Got to make it, oh, baby
Oh, honey (oh, honey)
I love you (I love you)
Ooh, you're the best thing in the world
The only thing in the world, I love you so
The song "Make It Last Forever" by Keith Sweat is a love ballad that emphasizes the importance of making a relationship last a lifetime. It begins with the chorus, urging the person he loves to make their love last forever and never let it end. The song stresses the need for open communication, with Keith Sweat asking his lover to tell him she loves him and wants him. Throughout the song, Keith Sweat reiterates his love and commitment to his lover, telling her that he needs her, that she is the only one for him, and expressing gratitude for her love. He promises to do whatever it takes to make their relationship work, to make it all right, to never let their love fade.
In summary, "Make It Last Forever" is a desperate plea for a love that endures through the highs and lows of life. Keith Sweat bares his heart and soul to his lover, urging her to never let their love end and commit to a lifetime of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Make it last
Desire to have a long-lasting relationship with the person.
Make it last forever (ever)
Wish to have a love that will last forever and ever without end.
Don't let our love end (ooh, ooh)
Hope that the love between the two will not diminish and instead grow stronger.
Let's make it last (Ooh, oh)
Expressing a mutual desire to preserve the love between the two for a long time.
Let me hear you tell me you love me
Wish to hear from the partner that they love the singer deeply.
Let me hear you say you'll never leave me
Hope to hear from the partner that they will never abandon the singer.
Ooh, girl, that would make me feel so right
Feeling that hearing such reassuring words from the partner would make the singer happy and complete.
Let me hear you tell me you want me
Desire to hear from the partner that they are attracted to the singer and want to be with them.
Let me hear you say you'll never leave me, baby
Hope that the partner will stay loyal and committed to the singer forever.
Until the morning light (I)
Willingness to stay with the partner all night, until morning comes.
Let me tell you how much I love you
The singer wants to express their love for the partner.
Let me tell you that I really need you
The singer wants to express their deep emotional dependence on the partner.
Baby, baby, baby, I will make it all right
The singer promises to do everything to make things right and to love and support the partner.
No one but you, baby
The singer believes that the partner is the only one who can make them feel a certain way.
Can make me feel
Only the partner can elicit the singer's emotions.
The way you make me, make me, make me feel
The partner brings the singer immense happiness and joy, with feelings that are indescribable.
Don't let our love end (don't)
The singer reiterates their hope that the love between the two will be everlasting.
Just make it last forever (oh, make it last)
The singer urges the partner to join forces to keep the love between them lasting forever.
And ever (forever)
An emphatic statement that the singer desires the love between them to last forever and ever.
Your touch is wonderful
The singer praises the partner for their touch, implying that it brings pleasure and ecstasy.
Your love is so marvelous
The singer admires the way the partner loves them, considering it fantastic and extraordinary.
Joy, that's what I feel
The partner brings the singer joy and excitement beyond any other feeling or emotion.
When I'm with you
The source of the singer's happiness is the presence of the partner by their side.
Nothing, no one (no one, boy)
The singer believes that no one and nothing can compare to the love between them and the partner.
Could compare to what we have (oh no, baby)
Suggested that their love is unique and one of a kind.
Love, it feels so good
The singer revels in the happiness and goodness that the love brings them.
I'm so glad you're mine
The singer is fortunate to have the partner in their life and is grateful for their love.
Make it last forever (ooh, ooh, ooh)
The singer repeats the message, hoping the love between them and the partner perseveres.
Know that I love it (no, no, no, no, no)
The singer is certain of their deep feelings for the partner and their desire to keep the love strong.
Ooh, give me kisses (kisses)
The singer wants kisses and affection from the partner.
Love me (love me), hold me (hold me)
The singer wants the partner's love and to be held by them.
Squeeze me (squeeze me), ooh
The singer desires affection from the partner.
Chillin' (chillin'), come on (come on)
The singer wants to relax and enjoy their time with the partner.
I love you (you know I do), baby
The singer expresses their love for the partner.
You got to make it last
The singer believes that both they and the partner must work to keep the love strong.
Never, never, never let it end
The singer stresses that the love between the two should never end.
I want our love to last a lifetime
The singer desires to cultivate a long-lasting love that will endure through time.
(I'd give it up, give it up for you)
The singer would sacrifice everything for the partner.
Ooh, tell me, tell me you'll always be mine
The singer wants assurance from the partner that they will always be together.
(I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you)
The singer proclaims their love for the partner multiple times.
To make love forever and ever (ooh)
The singer desires to keep making love to the partner and to maintain their passion.
We've got to make it last
The singer believes that they must both work to ensure the love between them endures.
Got to make it, got to make it, got to make (oh, oh)
The singer reiterates the urgency of making the love between them last.
Got to make it, oh, baby
The singer believes that they, with the partner's help, must cultivate and preserve their love.
Oh, honey (oh, honey)
A term of endearment for the partner.
I love you (I love you)
The singer expresses their love for the partner.
Ooh, you're the best thing in the world
The partner is the most special and important thing in the singer's life.
The only thing in the world, I love you so
The partner is the only thing the singer loves in the world.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Teddy Riley, Keith Sweat
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind