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.
Let's Do It Again
Leela James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Do it)
Let's do it again
(Do it)
Mmm
(Do it again, do it again)
Gonna do it again
Do it, do it
Let's do it again
(Do it)
Do it again
Sometimes the rain groovin'
When I hear the sound
Like you and me, baby
Gettin' down with the sounds around
Oh, the smell of the mornin' flower
As we pass away the hour
I wanna do it again, do it again
Do it
(Do it)
Let's do it in the mornin'
Sweet breeze in the summer time
Feeling your sweet face
All laid up next to mine
Sweet love in the midnight
Good sleep, come mornin' light
No worries 'bout nothin'
Just gettin' good, just gettin' good
Just gettin' good love
Do it, do it again
Do it again
(Do it)
Do it
Now I like you, lady
So fine with your pretty hair
If you don't mind my compliments
Just diggin' on the clothes you wear
I'm just a man, now don't you fear
I can love you now, I brought you here
I wanna do it again
(Do it)
(Do it, do it)
I wanna do it again
Ooh, oh, ho, hey, do it again
Do it
(Woo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Do it
Like a hammer on a clock
Love began to rock
Give the sister love and pride
Feel good and satisfied
I'm not a girl that could linger
But I feel like a Butterfinger
I wanna do it again
Do it again
Do it, do it
Let's do it in the mornin'
Sweet breeze in the summer time
Feeling your sweet face
All laid up next to mine
Sweet love in the midnight
Good sleep, come mornin' light
No worries 'bout nothin'
Just gettin' good, just gettin' good
Just gettin' good love
Oh, hey, do it again, do it again
Do it again, do it again
Do it
(Woo, hoo, hoo)
Do it, do it
Do it, do it, do it again
Do it again
(Woo, hoo, hoo)
Do it again
Do it again, do it again, do it again
(Woo, hoo, hoo)
Mmm
(Woo, hoo, hoo)
Oh, hey
(Woo, hoo, hoo)
Do it again, do it again
The lyrics to Leela James's song "Let's Do It Again" speaks of a desire to relive a perfect moment with a loved one. The singer describes the feeling of being lost in the moment with her partner, with the sounds and smells around them enhancing their experience. She yearns for the opportunity to experience that feeling again and again with her partner.
The chorus repeats the phrase "do it again" emphasizing the idea of reliving the moment. It expresses the longing for that perfect moment to last forever. The verses go on to describe different scenarios where the couple can enjoy each other's company and make more perfect moments, whether it's in the morning with a sweet summer breeze, or at night when they can have sweet love and good sleep.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and soulful expression of the joy of being in love and wanting to hold onto those special moments forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Do it again, do it
Expressing the desire to repeat a pleasurable experience
Let's do it again
Suggesting to engage in a pleasurable experience again
(Do it)
Reiterating the desire to repeat a pleasurable experience
Mmm
Expressing pleasure or satisfaction
(Do it again, do it again)
Reiterating the desire to repeat a pleasurable experience
Gonna do it again
Intending to repeat a pleasurable experience
Do it, do it
Encouraging to repeat a pleasurable experience
Sometimes the rain groovin'
The rain can produce a rhythmic sound
When I hear the sound
Referring to the sound of music
Like you and me, baby
Referring to the mutual enjoyment of music
Gettin' down with the sounds around
Dancing to the music
Oh, the smell of the mornin' flower
Referring to the pleasant fragrance of flowers in the morning
As we pass away the hour
Enjoying each other's company for a certain amount of time
Let's do it in the mornin'
Suggesting to participate in a pleasurable experience in the morning
Sweet breeze in the summer time
Referring to the pleasant summer weather
Feeling your sweet face
Acknowledging the physical companionship
All laid up next to mine
Referring to lying in bed next to each other
Sweet love in the midnight
Referring to physical intimacy at night
Good sleep, come mornin' light
Referring to the satisfaction after a pleasurable experience
No worries 'bout nothin'
Referring to the lack of stress or anxiety during a pleasurable experience
Just gettin' good, just gettin' good
Referring to the enjoyment of a pleasurable experience
Just gettin' good love
Referring to the enjoyment of physical intimacy
Now I like you, lady
Expressing the attraction towards someone
So fine with your pretty hair
Complimenting someone's appearance
If you don't mind my compliments
Asking for permission to compliment someone
Just diggin' on the clothes you wear
Complimenting someone's fashion
I'm just a man, now don't you fear
Reassuring someone of good intentions
I can love you now, I brought you here
Expressing the intention of being romantically involved with someone
Like a hammer on a clock
Referring to the regularity or rhythm of a pleasurable experience
Love began to rock
Referring to the beginning of physical intimacy
Give the sister love and pride
Referring to the satisfaction and self-esteem gained from physical intimacy
Feel good and satisfied
Referring to the pleasure and contentment after a pleasurable experience
I'm not a girl that could linger
Acknowledging the desire to move on from a pleasurable experience
But I feel like a Butterfinger
Referring to the enjoyable feeling after a pleasurable experience
Oh, hey, do it again, do it again
Expressing the desire to repeat a pleasurable experience
Do it again, do it again
Reiterating the desire to repeat a pleasurable experience
Do it again
Desiring to repeat a pleasurable experience
Contributed by Brody K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.