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
Thinking Of You
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And tell me mama
Would you live your life the same
Or come back and rearrange?
Tell me mama how is freedom?
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
Tell me mama
Are the colors deeper shades?
And tell me mama
Are there great big brass parades?
Does the sun shine night and day?
Tell me mama no more sleeping
Tell me mama no more weeping
I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be, yeah
Hey mama, hey mama, mama
No, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Hey
Tell me mama is it just the way they say?
Tell me mama
And tell me mama are you missing me the way
That I'm missing you today?
Tell me mama can you hear me?
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
Thinking of you
In this heartfelt ballad, Lenny Kravitz is reaching out to his mother, asking her questions about life and reflecting on all the things she wanted him to be. He wants to know if her life has changed for the better and if she would live it the same way again, or if she would make changes if given the chance. He asks about freedom and the colors of the world, wanting to know if life is as bright and full of possibilities as his mother once dreamed it would be.
Kravitz assures his mother that he hears her and is trying to be the person she wanted him to be. He is thinking of her and all the things she hoped he would achieve, trying his best to fulfill her dreams for him. He wonders if she can hear him, feeling a connection beyond what can be expressed in words.
However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that Kravitz is not physically with his mother, as he questions if things are really the way they are said to be, longing for their reunion and questioning if she misses him as much as he misses her. The song ends on a melancholy note, with Kravitz still thinking of his mother and all the things she wanted him to be, trying his best to fulfill her hopes even in her absence.
Overall, "Thinking Of You" is a touching tribute to a mother-son relationship, reflecting on the hope, love, and longing that connects them even when they are apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me mama is your life a better change?
Lenny Kravitz wants to know if his mother's life has improved since he has made changes in his own life.
And tell me mama Would you live your life the same Or come back and rearrange?
Lenny Kravitz is asking his mother if she would have lived her life differently or rearranged her life if she had the opportunity to do so.
Tell me mama how is freedom?
Lenny Kravitz is inquiring about his mother's experience with freedom.
Oh I'm thinking of you And all the things that you wanted me to be And I'm trying now
Lenny Kravitz is thinking about his mother and trying to be the person she wanted him to be.
Tell me mama Are the colors deeper shades?
Lenny Kravitz wants to know if his mother is experiencing the world differently and if the colors are more vibrant.
And tell me mama Are there great big brass parades? Does the sun shine night and day?
Lenny Kravitz is asking his mother if there are any exciting events happening and if the sun shines constantly.
Tell me mama no more sleeping Tell me mama no more weeping
Lenny Kravitz is telling his mother that he doesn't want her to sleep or cry anymore, implying that he wants her to be happy.
Hey mama, hey mama, mama No, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Oh no, no, no, no, no Hey
These repeating lines are likely a bridge in the song, not conveying a particular message. It's simply the performer addressing his mother.
Tell me mama is it just the way they say? And tell me mama are you missing me the way That I'm missing you today?
Lenny Kravitz wants to know if what he hears about his mother is true and if she misses him as much as he misses her.
Tell me mama can you hear me?
Lenny Kravitz is asking his mother if she can hear him, perhaps indicating distance or a lack of communication.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Lenny Kravitz, Lysa Trenier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jackie Jones
My mother loved Lenny Kravitz and this song. She passed away from Covid in May 2021. Rest in peace to all the beautiful mother's we've lost. 💐
Sauvageonne
My condolences Jackie. May she rest in bliss and joy.
davide mosciaro
God bless you and your mommy, that now, from the heaven, is watching you...and she is proud about the woman that you're become.
Shan Slade
I lost my mama to COVID on May 17, 2021. My life will never be the same. I am so sorry for your loss
Sauvageonne
@Shan Slade May she rest in peace and may you always feel her presence, even when your 5 senses make you feel she's not around. ❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹
Evgenia Merkureva
@Shan Slade ,примите мои соболезнования .🙏🙏🙏
Monie Ol Skool
This song strikes your soul! You can feel Lenny’s emotion, and how much he loved and cherished his mother. My sincerest condolences to everybody who’s lost their dear Mother! Thank God that I still have my Mom, and I always loved this song, because of how much it reminds me of the intense love I feel for my Mom as well. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you for this song, Lenny! Rest In Peace to Roxie Roker!
Katisha Dogisha
Such a beautiful song my condolences to all those who have lost their mommas there’s no pain like it
Conspiraciones y +
The moment I most fear in my life, losing my mom, I just know realized that I need to do more things for her while she is here
What a song man, a masterpiece
Mario Guzman
This song helped me a lot. I lost my mom at 13 and I hated the world but when this song came out it soothed my soul. Thank you Mr. Kravitz. God bless you always.