Lewis has become a multi-platinum selling artist and three time Grammy Award nominee. She was proclaimed 'Top New Artist' by Billboard magazine in 2008. Her two albums Spirit and Echo, released in 2007 and 2009 respectively, have collectively sold in excess of 10 million copies worldwide and topped the charts in numerous countries. Lewis's debut tour, The Labyrinth, took place in 2010. As of December 2012, Lewis has sold 28 million records worldwide. Her third album Glassheart was released 12 October 2012. It was preceded by the single "Collide", which became her seventh top-five hit in the UK. With the release of Hurt: The EP and "Trouble", Lewis has had nine top-ten hits in the UK.
Lewis' debut single A Moment Like This became the fastest selling UK single after being downloaded over 50,000 times within thirty minutes of its release. Her second single, Bleeding Love, reached number one positions in over thirty singles charts around the world. In November 2008 she set a record in the UK for the fastest selling download-only release with her cover version of the Snow Patrol song Run which sold 69,244 copies in two days. Lewis's debut tour, The Labyrinth, started in 2010.
Lewis was born in the London Borough of Islington, to Aural Josiah "Joe" Lewis of Afro-Guyanese descent, and Maria Lewis of Welsh, Italian and Irish descent. Her parents enrolled her at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, and from there she attended the Italia Conti Academy and the BRIT School, where she learned to play instruments such as the guitar and piano, in the hope of becoming a singer-songwriter. Lewis wrote her first full-length song at the age of 12. She initially trained in opera, but went on to singing jazz and blues, eventually leading to popular music, citing Minnie Riperton, Eva Cassidy and Stevie Wonder as her main influences. After leaving the BRIT School at 17, she took a number of jobs to fund studio time, recording a demo album called Twilight. The album, almost exclusively comprising her own compositions, was recorded under Spiral Music, a production company based in Fulham. "I tried to secure a record deal by doing things my own way. I worked very hard but I never managed to land a contract", said Lewis. Other demos were recorded under licence from UEG Entertainment, later included on an album called Best Kept Secret. However, none of Lewis's demos were released and she considered taking a hiatus from her music career to attend university until her boyfriend persuaded her to enter The X Factor which subsequently severed her connections with UEG.
Songfacts says that Collide, the first single from Leona Lewis's third album finds her taking a more dance pop route than on her previous material. She said, "I'm excited for people to see a different side to my music. I'm a fan of so many different genres and styles. For me this song has all the great ingredients of a summer anthem." The song got its first play on Scott Mills' Radio One show on July 15, 2011 and will be released on September 4, 2011.
Lewis' third studio album, Glassheart, is due for release in 2012.
Breathe
Leona Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Afraid of losing
It's like I'm not in control
I'm watching myself fall down
Thinking you won't be around
You know you got my heart unlocked
And even if I want to run
I can't go
Go, go
I don't wanna go, go
Got nowhere to go, go
I don't wanna go, go
I can't breathe
Without you I get weak
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
Maybe I make believe
You're not different
But you got me in love
Don't wanna be alone again
I cannot function without you here
My indecisions and all my fears
Get higher higher day by day
Higher higher
But I can't go
Go
I don't wanna go, go
Gotta let it go, go
I don't wanna go, go
I get weak
Without you I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
Oh, It's just not fair that
I'm lost in your warmth
That I just can't breathe
Just can't breathe
I'm coming up, coming up for a breath
Coming up, coming up for a breath
Coming up, coming up for a breath
Coming up, coming up for a breath
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
And I can't breathe
Without you near me
And I can't breathe
And I can't live without you, I can't
The lyrics of Leona Lewis's song "Breathe" depict a feeling of helplessness and dependency on a romantic partner. The singer is aware that they have given up their agency and control in the relationship, feeling trapped and unable to imagine life without their significant other. The phrase "you got my heart on lock" suggests that the partner has significant power over the singer's emotions and wellbeing.
The chorus repeats the idea that the singer "can't breathe" without their partner. This phrase could be interpreted literally, describing the physical sensation of anxiety and panic that can come with dependency on another person. However, it is more likely that the metaphorical meaning is intended - that the singer feels suffocated or stifled without the presence of their partner. The line "maybe I make believe, you're no different" hints that the singer has struggled with relationships in the past and fears being alone again.
The bridge ("It's just not fair...") continues to emphasize the theme of dependency, with the singer feeling trapped and powerless in their love. However, the final lines suggest that they are beginning to make changes and break free, "coming up for a breath." Overall, the song conveys the complicated emotions that can come with attachment and the difficulty of breaking free from a toxic dynamic.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I fighting, afraid of losing?
I feel an internal conflict and fear that I may lose something important to me.
It’s like I’m not in control.
I feel powerless and unable to control the situation.
I’m watching myself, I’ll die thinking you won’t be around.
I am worried that I will be alone and this thought terrifies me.
You know you got my heart on lock, and even if I were to run, I can’t go.
You have control of my heart, and even though I may consider leaving, I cannot bring myself to do so.
Without you I get weak, and I can’t breathe, and I can’t breathe.
I feel vulnerable without you and feel like I cannot live without your presence.
Maybe I make believe, you’re no different, but you got me in love.
I may pretend that you are not special, but I cannot deny my love for you.
Don’t wanna be alone again, I cannot function, without you here.
Being alone without you makes me feel like I am unable to function properly.
It’s just not fair that, I’m lost in your love that I just can’t breathe, just can’t breathe.
It feels unfair that my love for you has left me feeling breathless and entranced.
I’m coming up, coming up for a breath(x4).
I am trying to regain control and come up for a breath of fresh air in this suffocating situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cheryline Lim, Gavriel Aminov, Keith Ross, Leona Lewis, Lundon Knighton, Michael Malih, Uriel Kadouch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind