In 2004, James toured as an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock's album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track "No Tears".
Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled "Music," laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger". In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In June 2009, she appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
James' third album My Soul - her debut release for the Stax label - was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R&B chart at #7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, she stated: "With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me - in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range - while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R&B - because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I'd show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort."
On July 8, 2014, Leela James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album's first two singles, "Say That" feat. Anthony Hamilton and "Fall For You" both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with "Fall For You" reaching #12. Ms. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more.
James' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[6] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017, "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[9] The single "Don't Want You Back" reached number 1 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest charting single ever.
It's Alright
Leela James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To whom it may concern
I guess this is my reward for giving him all my love
With holding nothing, yeah
Nothing could quantify the feelings I had inside
Still he took me for granted
It's all for the good, it's better this way
Well it's alright, it's alright 'coz I tried and I tried
It's alright, it's alright, and I cried and I cried
It's alright, it's alright, but it's alright now
It's alright now, said it's alright
I thought he was infallible, perfect in every way
King to to my kingdom
I put him on a pedestal, never thinking he'd hurt me this way
How could you hurt me this way?
Don't worry about nothing, don't, don't worry 'bout nothing
It's all for the good, it's better this way
It's alright, it's alright 'cause I tried and I tried
It's alright, it's alright, and I cried and I cried
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright now
It's alright now
It's alright 'cause I tried and I tried
And I cried and I cried, it's alright, it's alright
I, still it's alright now, yeah
Don't worry about nothing, don't, don't worry 'bout nothing
It's all for the good, it's better this way
Boy you know I loved you boy I loved you boy
And boy you know you hurt me, you hurt me, you hurt me, boy
But in time, I heal and I want you to know that I said I loved you, boy
And you didn't have to hurt me so bad, said I loved you boy, it's alright
Don't worry about nothing, don't, don't worry 'bout nothing
It's all for the good, it's better this way
'Cause I'm alright, it's alright, it's alright
Oh it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
I tried, it's alright, it's alright
And I cried, it's alright It's alright
And I tried and you didn't have to hurt me so bad
I tried and you didn't have to hurt me so bad
Leela James's song "It's Alright" is an emotionally charged tune about the aftermath of a failed relationship. Leela addresses her ex-significant other, through letters she opens with a "to whom it may concern". She expresses how she feels after giving her all-consuming love that was unappreciated, and how she has been able to overcome the difficult experience.
The song starts with Leela describing her thoughts as to why the relationship fails after all she had given to it. She sings " I guess this is my reward for giving him all my love. With holding nothing yeah, nothing could quantify the feelings I had inside. Still, he took me for granted." She is mystified and heartbroken over how she could end up with what seems like just negative feelings despite all she had given.
Through the chorus, Leela tries to console herself and point out that the relationship failed for the best. She affirms that she still tried her best despite everything; hence she says "It's all right 'cause I tried and I tried. It's okay, and I cried and cried. It's okay, it's okay, but it's alright now. It's okay now, I said it's alright." Leela James concludes the song by accepting that the love she had for her ex-boyfriend had hurt her, but she promises to heal and move on from the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear
To whom it may concern
This song is addressed to nobody in particular, it is just a message intended for anyone who might relate to her experience.
I guess this is my reward for giving him all my love
The song reflects the feeling of betrayal and disappointment when someone you love returns your affection with neglect.
With holding nothing, yeah
Nothing could quantify the feelings I had inside
Still he took me for granted
The singer explains that she loved him without holding anything back because she had strong feelings for him. However, despite her exceptional love, he didn't appreciate her enough.
Don't worry about nothing, don't, don't worry 'bout nothing
It's all for the good, it's better this way
The lyrics subtly express that everything will be okay, and there's no need to worry about anything. Sometimes, things happen for a reason, and getting over the pain is better than holding on to the hurt.
Well it's alright, it's alright 'coz I tried and I tried
It's alright, it's alright, and I cried and I cried
It's alright, it's alright, but it's alright now
It's alright now, said it's alright
The chorus brings out the realization that everything will be alright, even though the singer tried so hard and got hurt a lot. The assurance of 'it's alright' repeatedly indicates that it is the end of the pain.
I thought he was infallible, perfect in every way
King to to my kingdom
I put him on a pedestal, never thinking he'd hurt me this way
How could you hurt me this way?
The singer thought her lover was perfect and flawless, and she placed him on a high level close to royalty. She never expected that he would betray her love by hurting her.
It's alright 'cause I tried and I tried
And I cried and I cried, it's alright, it's alright
I, still it's alright now, yeah
The recurring phrase 'it's alright' in this line hints at the final acceptance of the hurt and the assurance that everything will be okay.
Boy you know I loved you boy I loved you boy
And boy you know you hurt me, you hurt me, you hurt me, boy
But in time, I heal and I want you to know that I said I loved you, boy
And you didn't have to hurt me so bad, said I loved you boy, it's alright
In this verse, the singer explicitly refers to her lover, telling him how much he hurt her. She also assures him that she will eventually heal while directly reminding him that she loved him and didn't deserve to be hurt.
'Cause I'm alright, it's alright, it's alright
Oh it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
I tried, it's alright, it's alright
And I cried, it's alright It's alright
And I tried and you didn't have to hurt me so bad
I tried and you didn't have to hurt me so bad
The final chorus brings a sense of closure, where the singer has fully accepted the pain but reassured herself that everything will be alright. The repetition of 'it's alright' suggests that no matter how bad it was, she is content with the closure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON, KANYE WEST, RENEE NEUFVILLE, ALECHIA CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind