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.
I Need Love
Ledisi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you'd never go away
But your gone, and I'm right back where I used to be
Wondering if you really were for me
Love
Why did you have to go away
That was so much love that I gave to you
Is there someone out there with a love that is true
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody to hold me
Tell me that they love me
Never gonna let me go
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody who loves
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Love
I don't think I have much more to give to no one else
Maybe its time for me to be by myself
Because it hurts to much to put my love on the shelf
Love
Its so hard to let it go, when your longing for love
I'll let go and I hope that its true
When its real love it will come back to you
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody to hold me
Tell me that they love me
Never gonna let me go
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody who loves
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
I need
Someone who's
Someone who's
There
There
Somebody there
Someone who cares
For me
I need love
Love
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody to hold me
Tell me that they love me
Never gonna let me go
I need love
Somebody to touch me
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
Somebody who loves
Somebody who wants to be with me only
I need love
The song "I Need Love" by Ledisi expresses the yearning for a genuine, unselfish, and committed love. The lyrics suggest that the persona had once been in a fulfilling relationship, but has now been left feeling empty and questioning if the love they once shared was real. The persona longs for someone to touch them, hold them, and never let them go. They are looking for that one person who will cherish and love them for who they are.
However, the persona is also struggling with the fear of putting their love "on the shelf" again, hinting at past hurt and disappointment. At the same time, they recognize that it's necessary to let go of an unfulfilling relationship to make room for a real one. The chorus repeats the plea for love, emphasizing the depth of the persona's need for an authentic love.
Overall, the song highlights the human desire for love and the pain that comes with failed relationships. The lyrics capture the difficulties of moving on while still hoping for a real, honest love to come your way.
Line by Line Meaning
Love
Addressing the concept of love
You said you'd never go away
Addressing a person/relationship that claimed to be permanent
But your gone, and I'm right back where I used to be
Expressing the feeling of being stuck in a past situation/place
Wondering if you really were for me
Questioning the validity of the relationship
Love
Addressing the concept of love
Why did you have to go away
Expressing disappointment in love leaving
That was so much love that I gave to you
Emphasizing the amount of love given in the relationship
Is there someone out there with a love that is true
Wondering if true love exists somewhere else
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to touch me
Desiring physical affection and connection
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to hold me
Desiring emotional support and intimacy
Tell me that they love me
Desiring verbal affirmation of love
Never gonna let me go
Desiring security in the relationship
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to touch me
Desiring physical affection and connection
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody who loves
Desiring someone who loves genuinely
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Love
Addressing the concept of love
I don't think I have much more to give to no one else
Feeling depleted when it comes to love for others
Maybe its time for me to be by myself
Contemplating the idea of being single
Because it hurts to much to put my love on the shelf
Feeling emotionally hurt by not being able to share love
Love
Addressing the concept of love
Its so hard to let it go, when your longing for love
Acknowledging the difficulty in letting go of longing for love
I'll let go and I hope that its true
Hoping for love to come genuinely
When its real love it will come back to you
Believing in the idea of true love returning
I need
Stating the need for something
Someone who's
Stating the characteristic of the person needed
There
Stating a need for presence
Somebody there
Stating a need for a specific person
Someone who cares
Stating a need for emotional care
For me
Clarifying the recipient of the care
I need love
Stating the need for love
Love
Addressing the concept of love
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to touch me
Desiring physical affection and connection
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to hold me
Desiring emotional support and intimacy
Tell me that they love me
Desiring verbal affirmation of love
Never gonna let me go
Desiring security in the relationship
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody to touch me
Desiring physical affection and connection
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Somebody who loves
Desiring someone who loves genuinely
Somebody who wants to be with me only
Desiring exclusivity and commitment
I need love
Stating the need for love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARVIN HAGGINS, IVAN BARIAS, JOHNNIE II SMITH, LEDISI ANIBADE YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind