Lemar was born in London to Nigerian (Igbo) parents, and was raised in Tottenham, London, listening to Soul Music and R&B. He used to sing at home with his brothers and sister, pretending to be The Jacksons. He was seventeen when he had his first concert at the Junior Jam at the Temple in Tottenham supporting Usher. He gave up an opportunity to study pharmacy at the Cardiff University to pursue a musical career. Lemar had some success supporting various artists such as Destiny's Child, Total, Uncle Sam and Usher Raymond on their UK club tours and after some years, managed to secure a recording contract with BMG. Following this, he released his debut single "Got Me Saying Ooh" in 2001. Unfortunately his record deal with BMG fell through in less than a year due to restructuring at the record label. He had to eventually take a job working as an accounts manager at NatWest in Enfield, north London.
Lemar's second single "Dance (With U)" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in early 2003. His first album Dedicated was released late in 2003 with additional singles "50/50" and "Another Day" also achieving chart success in the UK. Lemar won a BRIT Award for "Best Urban Act" in 2004. Following the success of the album, he commenced his first headlining tour of the UK.
On the 12th of November 2004 Lemar guested on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and performed a cover of U2's song "Vertigo". He has also performed for Prince Charles' Prince's Trust.
4 September 2006 saw Lemar return with his eighth single, entitled "It's Not That Easy", which became his sixth UK top ten hit. A week later his new album The Truth About Love was released, which saw guest appearances from Styles P from The L.O.X., Mica Paris and Joss Stone. The album became Lemar's highest charting album to date, peaking at number three on the UK Albums Chart.
Lemar's 4th studio album "The Reason" is set for release on November 24th 2008. While the first single of the album will be called "If She Knew" released on 10th November 2008. Also the video has been released too.
Lemar featured on Sway's first single "Saturday Night Hustle" from the album The Signature LP. Lemar's fourth studio album "The Reason" was released on 24 November 2008, entering the UK Albums Chart at No. 41. Lead single "If She Knew" was released on 10 November 2008, and peaked on the UK Singles Chart at No. 14.
Lemar performed his new single “The Way Love Goes” on the BBC1 show “So You Think You Can Dance” on Saturday 9th January. The single was released on Valentine’s Day. "The Way Love Goes" first entered the UK Singles Chart on 21, February 2010. The single has so far managed to peak at #8, his first Top 10 single since "It's Not That Easy" in 2006. It became Lemar's seventh Top 10 single and made the Top 10 without making the BBC Radio 1 or BBC Radio 2 playlists.
It was followed on March 8 by his much anticipated album, 'The Hits', which - as well as including 10 hit singles from his four studio albums - also features four new tracks. In addtiton to 'The Way Love Goes', these include a duet with Britain's chart-topping pop/R&B boy-band JLS on a re-recording of Lemar's own 2003 ballad 'What About Love'.
The Letter
Lemar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't got no time to take no fast train
All the lonely days are gone
And I'm coming home my baby just wrote me a letter
I don't care how much I gotta spend
I'm a find my way, find my way home again
All the lonely days are gone
Well she wrote me a letter, said she couldn't live without me no more, oh
Listen tell me mister, don't you hear me wailing for my baby once more
Anyway yeah
I don't care how much I gotta spend
I'm a find my way, find my way home again
Yeah, the lonely days are gone, I'm going home
'Cause my Baby she wrote me a letter, wrote me a letter
Well she wrote me a letter, said she could not live without me no more, oh
Listen tell me mister, don't you hear me wailing for my baby once more
Anyway yeah
Give me a ticket for an airplane
I ain't got no time to take a fast train
Oh, the lonely days are gone,
And I'm going home, my baby she wrote me a letter, hey yeah
My baby, she wrote me a letter
Somebody get me a ticket
Somebody get me a ticket, hey
My baby she wrote me, my baby she did
My baby she wrote me, my baby she did
She told me she loved me, ohbaby she did
She told me she needed me, oh baby she did
Huh huh, hoh hoh, yeah
Oh
Huh huh, hoh hoh, yeah
The song "The Letter" by Lemar is a soulful expression of the excitement and anticipation of returning home to his lover after receiving a letter. The singer expresses a profound willingness to do whatever it takes, even if it means spending a lot of money, to be reunited with his lover. The line "I ain't got no time to take no fast train" shows that he is in a hurry to get home and nothing is going to stop him. The singer's joy and relief is mirrored in the line "All the lonely days are gone", indicating how being away from his love made him lonely and miserable.
The second verse is where the significance of the letter is mentioned. The singer's partner expressed in the letter how she could not live without him and asked him to come back. The repetition of "my baby she wrote me" highlights how crucial the letter is in encouraging the singer to go back home. The chorus then repeats, celebrating the joy of having received the letter and the eagerness to return home.
Overall, Lemar's "The Letter" captures the essence of rekindling a relationship through a letter, and the desire to come back to what you love. The song has an upbeat rhythm and melody that complements the joyful and hopeful message of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me a ticket for an airplane
I need to get on a plane to go home to my loving potential, I don't have time to wait for a train.
I ain't got no time to take no fast train
I'm in a hurry, I can't wait for a train.
All the lonely days are gone
I've been feeling lonely but now that I have received a letter from my beloved, the loneliness has vanished.
And I'm coming home my baby just wrote me a letter
I'm going home because my beloved has written me a heartfelt letter expressing their love for me.
I don't care how much I gotta spend
I don't mind spending a lot of money to get back home to my beloved.
I'm a find my way, find my way home again
I will do whatever it takes to get back home to my beloved.
Well she wrote me a letter, said she couldn't live without me no more, oh
My beloved has written me a letter expressing their deep love and dependence on me.
Listen tell me mister, don't you hear me wailing for my baby once more
I'm pleading with anyone who can listen to help bring me back to my beloved whom I am missing terribly.
Yeah, the lonely days are gone, I'm going home
Since I've received the letter from my beloved, the loneliness and separation are gone and I'm heading home.
'Cause my Baby she wrote me a letter, wrote me a letter
The reason I'm going home is that my beloved has written me a letter and it's given me hope and joy.
She told me she loved me, oh baby she did
In her letter, my beloved expressed her love for me.
She told me she needed me, oh baby she did
In her letter, my beloved expressed her need for me in her life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marcus Deon Allen, Melvin Joe Sparkman, Shaffer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sierradelta07
Lemar really doesn't get the attention he deserves. Great voice and such a good back catalogue. Top version of an old classic.
@karenmay9396
Please keep releasing this quality music Lemar. My whole family has been supporting you and your music since I was little. I am now 18 and still play all your albums from the past to the present. Continue to stay true to yourself and don't sell out! You are one of the few artists left that still carry a certain standard and integrity both vocally and professionally.
@Jamreeve5589
Yesssss, he's back once again! What a voice!
@pitchouneone9074
The best British voice and artist ever !!!! Go go people !!!! Lemar need more view !!!!!!!! #IcomefromBelgium
@komzs232
Its good to have you back man..... missed the real music.
@jacksonsmagic
The box tops hit souled up by the uks best soul man!
@djdiffy
Glad that you've come back to soul because that is your home! I'm excited! Yeeee!!!
@r4h4al
so is this the best song of all time
@clairegreen3421
I love love love Lemar. His voice is amazing. I could literally listen to him all day every day he just makes me melt 😊
@panfilobayeme7504
wellcome back lemar... good job!