In 2009, Ledisi released her fourth album Turn Me Loose , which earned her a couple more Grammy nominations.
Ledisi's fifth album, Pieces Of Me, was released on June 14, 2011 debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200, her first entry on the top 10 of the album chart.
She and her band are from a new breed of modern soul singers (that fall into the New Organic Soul movement in the U.K.) that do not bow to the formulated 'pop' format that permeates the national charts of the U.K. and the U.S.A.
Her mother sang in an R & B band and opened her daughter's ears to classical music, then to jazz and gospel.
‘My mother is an inspiration to me because she was an R & B singer when I was growing up, and I'd watch her perform in the park by our house. I grew up on Earth, Wind and Fire. Tina Turner is my favorite’.
As a teenager Ledisi first sang in a friend’s band, but soon realised she'd have to form her own if she was going to get the creative freedom she desired.
She formed the group Anibade.
The band consisted of:
Sundra Manning (keyboards)
Cedrickke Dennis (guitar)
Nelson Braxton (bass)
Wayne Braxton (saxophone)
and Tommy Bradford on (drums)
Anibade means ‘my mother is great’ in Yoruba and also happens to be Ledisi's middle name.
The band the group performed at several nightspots including Bruno's, The Black Cat, and Rasselas, in the San Francisco area before, successfully, getting a local radio station, KMEL, to play the single ‘Take Time’, without any major label distribution.
Ledisi said, ‘We took it to other labels to try and get a deal, but we found that they didn't get it 'cause it wasn't already out there. We got frustrated with that.’
Ledisi is said to be recording a jazz record with bassist Marcus Shelby on Noir Records.
That album was due in early 2000, although the set has not yet surfaced.
Her first solo album ‘Soulsinger’, was, however, released in 2000, to critical acclaim.
The album addressed several personal issues, none more so than the track ‘Papa Loved To Love Me’, a harrowing tale of a father sexually abusing his daughter.
The track is uncomfortably close to home.
Ledisi said ‘My family heard it, though, and they said, 'Wow, you went and told everything!'. I know it's giving something away about myself, but it's a part of me. That's why people relate to a story like that.’
Eric Benét and Rahsaan Patterson recently attended her groups' concerts and they have opened for Eric Benet, D’Angelo and Angie Stone.
A second album entitled 'Feeling Orange And Sometimes Blue' was released in early 2002.
Ledisi travelled to London's Jazz Cafe in March 2003 for more gigs following a successful concert at Subterranea in the autumn of 2002.
She was supported by the Braxton Brothers along with several other performers.
Coffee
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like I like my coffee
It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job
Just like I like my coffee
Serve it to me tall, strong and dark.
Just like I like my coffee
That’s the way I like my man, that’s how ya gotta love me
That’s the way I like my coffee
It’s like the way you wake me up, like Folgers in my cup
You get me all excited, I’m thinkin’ bout how you do your
Slow steady serve, the flavor I prefer
Go back to where we were, I always remember
Way you brew your love, I can’t get enough
I think that I’m in love, baby let me get a refill
Stimulate my mind, ya keep me on my grind
I’m so glad you’re mine, I think that I’m addicted
Gotta serve it to me, hot
Just like I like my coffee
It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job
Just like I like my coffee
Serve it to me tall, strong and dark.
Just like I like my coffee
That’s the way I like my man, that’s how ya gotta love me
That’s the way I like my coffee
You see it on my face, my heart about to race
I’m tryna keep the peace, make me wanna get a taste of
That dark premium, right on the spot
Good to the last drop, how you keep it hot
Is a mystery, but it’s right for me
I need it in the mornin’, early crack of dawn and
Gets me goin’, so keep it flowin’
And make no mistake, no debate, need that coffee break
Gotta serve it to me, hot
Just like I like my coffee
It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job
Just like I like my coffee
Serve it to me tall, strong and dark.
Just like I like my coffee
That’s the way I like my man, that’s how ya gotta love me
That’s the way I like my coffee
Oh, Oh, just keep it brewing
Sooner or later I’ma need that fix
You know, just what you’re doin’
Liking brown sugar all up in my mix
First round, at the table, put it down
on the counter, yeah, it’s goin’ down
Like that black, as a matter of fact
I keep it clean, but you know what I mean!
Gotta serve it to me, hot
Just like I like my coffee
It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job
Just like I like my coffee
Serve it to me tall, strong and dark.
Just like I like my coffee
That’s the way I like my man, that’s how ya gotta love me
That’s the way I like my coffee
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Send it to me like I like, yeah.
Baby! Just like I like my coffee. Oh!
The song "Coffee" by Ledisi is a playful comparison between her addiction to coffee and her desire for her man. She sings about needing her coffee to keep her going and addicted to her man in the same way. The first set of lyrics "Gotta serve it to me, hot/Just like I like my coffee/It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job/Just like I like my coffee" establishes the importance of the hot beverage in her daily routine. She wants it tall, strong, and dark, just like how she likes her man. The second set of lyrics "It’s like the way you wake me up, like Folgers in my cup/ You get me all excited, I’m thinkin’ bout how you do your/Slow steady serve, the flavor I prefer/Go back to where we were, I always remember" equates the experience of her man waking her up to the sensation of drinking her favourite coffee. The lyrics "Way you brew your love, I can’t get enough/I think that I’m in love, baby let me get a refill" use coffee as a metaphor for their love, saying that she never wants it to run out.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that the parallels between the two things are more than just surface-level. "Gets me goin’, so keep it flowin’/And make no mistake, no debate, need that coffee break" sounds like she's talking about needing a caffeine boost, but is actually talking about the boost her man gives her in their relationship. The comparison gets even more direct in the bridge, which says "Liking brown sugar all up in my mix/First round, at the table, put it down/on the counter, yeah, it’s goin’ down/Like that black, as a matter of fact/I keep it clean, but you know what I mean!" This implies that Ledisi believes her man is like the brown sugar, and just as essential as the coffee itself.
Overall, "Coffee" is a lighthearted and fun song that uses coffee as a metaphor for love, passion, and addiction. Ledisi's smooth vocals and playful lyrics create a catchy, upbeat tune that has become a fan favourite.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta serve it to me, hot
I want my love given to me with enthusiasm and passion.
Just like I like my coffee
I prefer my love given with the same heat and energy as I like in my coffee.
It’s keepin’ me from sleepin’ on my job
I need love to keep me going and motivated.
Serve it to me tall, strong and dark.
I want my love to be strong and powerful, with a deep and intense connection.
That’s the way I like my man, that’s how ya gotta love me
I want the love of my partner to emulate the same qualities as my preference for coffee.
It’s like the way you wake me up, like Folgers in my cup
Being loved by my partner makes me feel energized and awake, just like the caffeine in coffee.
You get me all excited, I’m thinkin’ bout how you do your
The passion and love that my partner offers me motivates and excites me.
Slow steady serve, the flavor I prefer
I want to be loved with a patient, consistent pace that sparks joy.
Go back to where we were, I always remember
I cherish and appreciate the fond memories of our love together.
Way you brew your love, I can’t get enough
I crave and desire the way my partner expresses their love for me.
I think that I’m in love, baby let me get a refill
I desire more love from my partner because I feel like I am falling in love.
Stimulate my mind, ya keep me on my grind
My partner's love motivates me and keeps me focused on my goals.
I’m so glad you’re mine, I think that I’m addicted
I am in love with my partner and can't get enough of their love.
You see it on my face, my heart about to race
My partner's love excites me and causes my heart to beat faster with anticipation.
I’m tryna keep the peace, make me wanna get a taste of
I try to maintain a level of composure, but my desire for my partner's love grows stronger with each passing moment.
That dark premium, right on the spot
I want my partner's love to be high-quality and immediately present in my life.
Good to the last drop, how you keep it hot
My partner's love is fully satisfying and constantly exciting, just like a fresh cup of coffee.
Is a mystery, but it’s right for me
The way my partner expresses their love is a unique and special mystery, but it feels perfect for me.
I need it in the mornin’, early crack of dawn and
I crave my partner's love as soon as I wake up in the morning.
Gets me goin’, so keep it flowin’
My partner's love energizes me and keeps me moving forward, so I desire more of it.
And make no mistake, no debate, need that coffee break
I want and need a break from the stressors of life, but my desire for my partner's love never wanes.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Send it to me like I like, yeah.
I eagerly anticipate and desire my partner's love to be given to me exactly how I like and need it.
Baby! Just like I like my coffee. Oh!
I want my partner to love me exactly how I desire, just like my preference for coffee.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KOSHAH E. DANIELS, KEIR GIST, ROBERT JAMES, CLIFF LIGHTY, BALEWA MUHAMMAD, FABIEN NAHOUNOU, GROVER, JR. WASHINGTON, LEDISI YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind