As a member of the Five Stairsteps, Burke wrote the group's first minor hit "You Waited Too Long" in 1966, but the group would see their biggest success with the million-selling song "O-o-h Child" in 1970. The group went on to sign with George Harrison's Dark Horse Records in 1975, and had their next hit with the Burke-penned "From Us to You", from their 1976 album 2nd Resurrection. The group disbanded soon after.
Skilled as a guitarist and bassist, Burke continued to work for the Dark Horse label as a session musician, while burgeoning a solo career of his own. In 1977, he released his self-titled debut album, which featured the songs "Keep on Singing", "Shuffle", and "From Me to You".
During this period he contributed instrumentation to songs by a diverse range of artists such as Sly & the Family Stone, Natalie Cole, Billy Preston, Terry Callier, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross, and Gladys Knight.
In 1981, Changes, Burke's best-selling album to date, was released, containing the singles "Hang Tight" and his signature hit "Rising to the Top"—a big success in Chicago. The song has become a popular sampling choice for hip hop artists, having been borrowed by artists such as Big Daddy Kane ("Smooth Operator"), LL Cool J ("Around the Way Girl"), Pete Rock & CL Smooth ("Take You There"), Mary J. Blige ("Love No Limit"), O.C. ("Born 2 Live") and once again by LL Cool J for the song "Paradise", with Amerie, though a lot of these songs have been mistakingly thought to use the bass line from the 1983 song "All Night Long" by the Mary Jane Girls. In 2006, "Rising to The Top" appeared in the soundtrack for the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, on fictional Quiet Storm station Vice City For Lovers.
Burke's next release was the 1982 self-produced You're the Best.
Throughout the '80s and into the '90s, Burke continued his session and production work for artists such as Peabo Bryson, The O'Jays, The Jones Girls and Keith Sweat, and in 1998 released his last album to date Nothin' but Love, containing the hit "Indigenous Love", which was popular in the United Kingdom.
I Get Off On You
Keni Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, baby
And to me you're different as night and day
From all the rest
There's not a lot of things that
That can excite me, ignite me
You're all that and then so
Your lips, your smile, can I reminisce just for a while?
Your eyes, your hair, everything I love, you got it right there
Your soft tone when you speak
Your sexiness down to your feet
[Chorus]
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
Do you get off on me?
Your tenderness
And gentle ways
Love it when you sigh
Make love to me
And you're the one, my wildest dream
Someone like you is all I need
But many things that you posses
Girl, your out front from all the rest
[Chorus]
First of all you're sensitive, very sensitive
And I love that in a woman
You love flowers, you're so cute, so precious to me
Very precious to me
Step, baby, step
Yeah, you're there
You're walk, your talk
Have mercy, mercy on me
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
Do you get off on me?
Baby, baby, baby
I get off on you
I do, I do
In Keni Burke's song "I Get Off On You," the singer expresses his love for someone who is different from others. He believes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to him, the subject of the song is as different as night and day from others. The singer is excited and ignited by this person who possesses qualities that are hard to find in others. He reminisces about the person's lips, smile, eyes, hair, and the sexiness of their entire being. The person's tenderness, gentle ways, and their ability to sigh make love to him. This person is his wildest dream, and he believes that they are all he needs.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I get off on you" multiple times, implying that the singer finds pleasure and excitement in this person's presence. He asks if this person feels the same way about him, reinforcing the idea that their bond is unique.
The singer also refers to the person's sensitivity, love for flowers, and cute nature. He admires their walk and talk, and the mere thought of them excites him. The song ends with the singer repeating the chorus and expressing his love for this person.
Line by Line Meaning
You are different
To me, you are distinct from anyone else in the world
Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, baby
Everyone has their own subjective perception of beauty
And to me you're different as night and day
To me, you are completely different from anything else
From all the rest
You are unique compared to all other people
There's not a lot of things that
There are few things that
That can excite me, ignite me
That can make me excited and passionate
You're all that and then so
You are everything and more
Your lips, your smile, can I reminisce just for a while?
Your lips and smile are so memorable, I can't help but think back on them
Your eyes, your hair, everything I love, you got it right there
Everything that I love about you is right in front of me, in your eyes and hair
Your soft tone when you speak
The gentle sound of your voice when you talk
Your sexiness down to your feet
You are attractive and sexy from head to toe
Baby, baby, baby
An affectionate way of addressing you
I get off on you
I find you exciting and arousing
Do you get off on me?
Do you find me exciting and arousing?
Your tenderness
The quality of being gentle and compassionate
And gentle ways
Your kind and gentle mannerisms
Love it when you sigh
I find it endearing when you sigh
Make love to me
Have a physical intimate experience with me
And you're the one, my wildest dream
You are the person I have always wanted and dreamed of
Someone like you is all I need
Someone who is like you is all I require
But many things that you posses
You have many desirable qualities
Girl, your out front from all the rest
You stand out above all others
First of all you're sensitive, very sensitive
Foremost, you are emotionally attuned and responsive
And I love that in a woman
I find that quality attractive and admirable in a female
You love flowers, you're so cute, so precious to me
You have a fondness for flowers, and to me, you are adorable and valuable
Very precious to me
You are extremely valuable to me
Step, baby, step
Keep moving forward, baby
Yeah, you're there
You have arrived, you are successful
You're walk, your talk
Your manner of walking and speaking
Have mercy, mercy on me
I am overwhelmed by your attractiveness and desirability
I do, I do
I definitely find you exciting and arousing
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY WHITE, JACK PERRY, JACK WESLEY PERRY, JONES) KASHIF (MICHAEL, KASHIF (MICHAEL JONES)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind