Lalah Hathaway is a contemporary R&B/Jazz singer and the daughter of soul l… Read Full Bio ↴Lalah Hathaway is a contemporary R&B/Jazz singer and the daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway. After studying at Berklee, Hathaway signed with Virgin Records and released her self titled debut, Lalah Hathaway, in 1990. The set spawned 4 R&B Hits, including the Top 5 smash Heaven Knows. Her 1994 follow up, A Moment, did less well, and Hathaway parted ways with Virgin. She went on to work with many other established artists, including Take 6, Mary J. Blige and Marcus Miller, writing, producing and doing background vocals.

In 1999 Jazz legend Joe Sample collaborated with Lalah on the album The Song Lives On, which became a staple on both Jazz and Smooth R&B radio, as well as topping the Jazz charts. However, it would not be until 2004 that Lalah Hathaway would resurface with her own project. She had her biggest hit single in years with an inspired cover of the late Luther Vandross' Forever, For Always, For Love, topping the Urban AC Chart and reaching Top 40 on Billboards mainstream R&B chart, a feat repeated by Outrun the Sky, Hathaway's first solo album in a decade, which was released late in the year.

Learning To Swim
Lalah Hathaway Lyrics

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I can't breathe and I can't see in front of me
And I am feeling lost at see without you
And I don't know which way is left and which is right
But I will go out of my mind without you

So I will try to look into your heart
And see the man you claim you are

Just like learning to swim all over again
I have to believe that I can
And I'll give you my heart all over again

Over my head, that's where I seem to always be
And I can't breathe and I can't see without you
You bring me down, I will have known it all along
And I'll sink just like a stone without you

So I will try to look into your heart
And see the brand new man you say you are

Just like learning to swim all over again
I have to believe that I can
And I'll give you my heart all over again

So I've lived this live a thousand years
Somehow I, I can swallow all of my tears
And dive right in with my eyes opened wide

Just like learning to swim all over again
I have to believe that I can
And I'll give you my heart all over again

So I'm learning to swim all over again
I have to believe that I can

And I'll give you my heart all,
Again and again and again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lalah Hathaway's "Learning to Swim" speak of the feelings of vulnerability, uncertainty, and fear that come with the breakdown of a relationship. The singer feels lost and adrift, unable to see or breathe without the presence of her lover, and unsure of her own direction in life. The reference to learning to swim all over again is an analogy for the process of rebuilding a relationship and regaining trust, where the singer has to relearn how to navigate the waters of love and commitment. She expresses a willingness to try and understand her partner's perspective, to see the "man he claims to be," and to give her heart again, despite the risk of sinking like a stone.

Overall, the song conveys a sense of emotional turmoil and the struggle to find hope and strength in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "learning to swim all over again" emphasizes the idea of starting from scratch and underscores the difficulty of rebuilding a broken relationship. The singer acknowledges the pain she has endured, but chooses to keep moving forward, hoping to find a way to heal and start anew.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't breathe and I can't see in front of me
I feel suffocated and lost

And I am feeling lost at sea without you
I feel aimless without you

And I don't know which way is left and which is right
I'm confused and unsure of myself

But I will go out of my mind without you
I can't imagine my life without you

So I will try to look into your heart
I want to understand you better

And see the man you claim you are
I want to believe in you

Just like learning to swim all over again
I have to start over and take a risk

I have to believe that I can
I need faith and confidence

And I'll give you my heart all over again
I'll trust and love you again

Over my head, that's where I seem to always be
I feel overwhelmed and out of control

You bring me down, I will have known it all along
I blame you for my failures and insecurities