Kravitz plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and sitar. He often plays these instruments on each recorded track, but frequently collaborates with other musicians as well when recording.
His 1989 debut album Let Love Rule was a moderate success. In 1991 he released his second album, Mama Said, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard album charts. In 1993, the album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a Brit Award for best international male artist in 1994. He released the Circus album in 1995, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart on the back of his past achievement. With 5 (1999), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and samplers for the first time. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.
His cover version of The Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000. Kravitz released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album. The single "Again" would earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001. Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 2002. Kravitz's seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. His album, It Is Time For A Love Revolution was released in 2008. He has always edited his albums on Virgin Records America. The lead single from Kravitz’s ninth album, Black and White America, "Stand" was released on June 3, 2011. (Stand Songfacts).
He is the son of Ukrainian-Jewish American NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz, and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as her character Helen Willis on the hit 1970s television sitcom The Jeffersons. Black and White America's title track is an autobiographical look back at his upbringing in New York. (Black and White America Songfacts).
Artist website: www.lennykravitz.com
Guns & Roses
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh, Jay-Z and Lenny Kravitz
And it's a Heavy D production, you bastards
Come on
Ha, hey yo, stop playing man
This is real serious
Ha (it's the Roc) yeah, yo
Let's go
Post Positano, Hov' hanging with Bono
U2 can live like Salvatore Ferragamo
And you, too, can cool out poolside at the Delano
If you, too, flow like you was out of your mind yo
'Cause who knew dude that loved apple pies from McDonald's
Would soon be the boss of the Big Apple, ya know
And who knew dude that played ball for the NBA
Would make a mistake on the who knew estates, throw it away
Who knew that would be his last shot, who drew up that play
They giveth and they taketh, life is cruel that way
But even a broken clock is right at least two times a day
You could have turned guns into roses like two times today
Now here's something you gotta say, two times to Jay
I got my shades on waiting for the sun to shine my way
Got my boom box, suntan lotion waiting for action
They say when you play with skills, good luck could happen
Let's go
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) Let's rock
(C'mon)
Things got too hot so I jumped off in this rap shit
You got it Kris-krossed ain't no turning me backwards
Too many District Attorneys concerned with the actions
Of one individual, he's criminally attached
I turned in all my rap chips I'm earning my bachelors
By dating all the models and actresses
I'm learning all the potholes in every single barrio
Trying not to mess up my axis kid
On the road to the riches through trafficking
Through rapping and whatever's happening
Rocawear, I'm the young black Ralph Lauren
Every time I get out, they pull me right back in
The Michael Corleone of the microphone
The Michelangelo of flow I paint pictures with poems
I gather no moss like a rolling stone
Case the Grim Reaper visits my home, nigga I'm gone c'mon
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) Let's rock
(C'mon)
Life is all about guns and roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Some get left behind and some get chosen
Just like life, guns and roses
Life is all about Guns and Roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Some get left behind and some get chosen
Just like life, guns and roses
Tote more guns then roses, foes is
Visibly shook of the invisible bully (let's go)
Flowers need water to grow, it gotta rain
And in order to experience joy you need pain
Every time a baby is born, somebody's slain
You know the saying, somebody's lose is another's gain
The sun comes out when the water goes down the drain
A rainbow, then the clouds come out we do it again
Everything evens up, you just wait
Even a garbage can gets a steak
You ain't even a garbage can you have faith
But when it turns your way before it turns away
Gotta turn that into something you gotta learn from Jay
You will get return in your investment if attention you pay, let's go
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) It's the Roc
(C'mon) Let's rock
(C'mon)
Life is all about guns and roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Some get left behind and some get chosen
Just like life, guns and roses
Life is all about Guns and Roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Some get left behind and some get chosen
Just like life, guns and roses
Life is all about Guns and Roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Some get left behind and some get chosen
Just like life, guns and roses
Life is all about guns and roses
The lyrics of Lenny Kravitz's song "Guns & Roses" explore the contrast and balance between positive and negative aspects of life. The song begins with a sample from rapper Jay-Z, who talks about living luxuriously after a trip to Italy, before Kravitz's vocals come in. He muses on the unpredictability of life and how unexpected events can lead to success, using examples of people who have risen to power despite their humble beginnings or past failures, and the idea that even a broken clock can be right twice a day. The chorus argues that life is about balancing good and bad, represented as "guns and roses", with some people left behind and others moving ahead.
The second verse is a continuation of Kravitz's thoughts on the unexpectedness of life and the importance of resilience. He talks about his own career trajectory, acknowledging the perils of the industry but also offering a sense of optimism, joking that he's "earning [his] bachelors / By dating all the models and actresses". He weaves in a metaphor about potholes in various neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of navigating difficulties in order to succeed. The final verse pulls together the themes of the song, with Kravitz making observations about the cycle of life, the importance of perseverance, and the idea that good luck comes to those who work hard and pay attention.
Overall, "Guns & Roses" is an uplifting song that encourages listeners to stay true to their goals and work hard in order to achieve them, even in the face of setbacks and unexpected obstacles. Kravitz's lyrics suggest that life is ultimately a balancing act and that success comes from a mixture of good luck and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, it's magic
The collaboration of Jay-Z and Lenny Kravitz is something magical
Post Positano, Hov' hanging with Bono
Jay-Z and Bono can live a luxurious life like Salvatore Ferragamo in Post Positano
And you, too, can cool out poolside at the Delano
Anyone can relax by the pool at the Delano if they play their cards right
'Cause who knew dude that loved apple pies from McDonald's
Who would have guessed that a man who enjoyed McDonald's apple pies would become the boss of the Big Apple?
Who knew dude that played ball for the NBA
Who would have guessed that a basketball player would end up making a mistake and losing everything?
Who knew that would be his last shot, who drew up that play
It's unfortunate that this basketball player's last shot was the one that cost him everything
They giveth and they taketh, life is cruel that way
Life can be unpredictable and unfair, giving you everything one moment and taking it all away the next
But even a broken clock is right at least two times a day
Even when things seem hopeless, there's always a chance for something to go right
You could have turned guns into roses like two times today
You have the power to turn something negative (guns) into something positive (roses), so do it
Things got too hot so I jumped off in this rap shit
Jay-Z turned to rapping when things got too intense for him elsewhere
Too many District Attorneys concerned with the actions
Jay-Z's faced a lot of opposition and scrutiny from authority figures in his career
Of one individual, he's criminally attached
Despite what others say, Jay-Z remains dedicated to his craft and true to himself
Life is all about guns and roses
Life is a combination of good and bad, just like the contrast between guns and roses
Bittersweet like friends and foes is
Friendships and rivalries can be both good and bad depending on the situation
Some get left behind and some get chosen
In life, some people succeed while others are left behind
Tote more guns then roses, foes is
Some people are more focused on negativity than positivity
Visibly shook of the invisible bully
Even when someone seems untouchable, they can still be afraid or intimidated
Flowers need water to grow, it gotta rain
To experience happiness, you first have to endure difficult times
Every time a baby is born, somebody's slain
Life is a never-ending cycle of birth and death
You know the saying, somebody's lose is another's gain
One person's loss could be someone else's opportunity
Even a garbage can gets a steak
Sometimes, even the least expected people can find success and happiness
But when it turns your way before it turns away
When things start going well for you, make the most of it before your luck changes
Gotta turn that into something you gotta learn from Jay
Learn from Jay-Z's success and use it to create your own opportunities
Life is all about guns and roses
Life is never easy - it's full of highs and lows, just like the contrast between guns and roses
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Stamen Music
Written by: John McCrea, Shawn Carter, Dwight Meyers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paela Peterson
on American Woman
There's you some GUITAR!