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.
I to You
Leona Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even if you didn't ask,
I would never say a word about it.
Now I stay home with the kids,
Everyday cleaning up where you live,
Even though I'm educated
'Cause you are great, you are big,
For free, for free
You are love, you are sin,
You'll always be everything, everything,
To me, to me
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Don't tell me, don't kill me now.
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Just keep me, and I won't make a sound.
Wouldn't tell anyone about your fears,
'Bout your friends, 'bout the life that I miss
'Cause to me you are the greatest.
I would run, I would jump, I would fall,
Just to make sure baby's got it all,
But to them I can't explain it.
You are great, you are big
And I don't mind giving in, giving in
For free, for free.
You are love, you are sin
You'll always be everything, everything
To me, to me.
Oh,
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Don't tell me, don't kill me now.
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Just keep me, and I won't make a sound.
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Just kiss me as you lay me down,
What am I to you?
What am I to you?
Don't tell me, don't kill me now.
Don't kill me now.
The lyrics of Leona Lewis's song "I to You" depict a woman who is deeply in love with her partner, but also feels undervalued and taken for granted in the relationship. The first verse acknowledges the challenges of their love, describing it as having a "stench" that the singer would never speak of. Despite her education, the singer has resigned herself to being a stay-at-home parent, cleaning up after her partner and their children. This suggests that the singer has given up a great deal for this relationship and has yet to receive appreciation in return. The chorus repeats the question "What am I to you?" which implies that the singer is unsure of her place in the relationship and seeks validation from her partner.
The second verse describes the singer's willingness to sacrifice herself for her partner, even if it means running, jumping, or falling. Additionally, the singer is reluctant to share her feelings with others, opting instead to keep her partner's secrets and protect their image. Again, this suggests a power imbalance in the relationship that may be contributing to the singer's feelings of insecurity and disillusionment.
The repeated refrain of "What am I to you?" is both a plea for acknowledgment and a lament about feeling invisible and unimportant in the singer's relationship. The final lines, "just kiss me as you lay me down, don't tell me, don't kill me now" could suggest a resignation to the singer's situation or a plea for her partner not to abandon or harm her emotionally.
In conclusion, "I to You" is a poignant exploration of a relationship's power dynamics and a plea for recognition and validation from a partner who has taken the singer for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Our love had a stench,
Our relationship was toxic and unpleasant.
Even if you didn't ask,
I wouldn't have told you about my negative feelings towards our relationship without prompting.
I would never say a word about it.
I kept my true feelings to myself.
Now I stay home with the kids,
I'm at home taking care of our children.
Everyday cleaning up where you live,
I'm responsible for the household chores.
Even though I'm educated
Despite my level of education, I put my career aspirations on hold to prioritize family responsibilities.
'Cause you are great, you are big,
I give in to you because you are powerful and important.
And I don't mind giving in, giving in,
I'm willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our relationship.
For free, for free
I do it willingly without expecting anything in return.
You are love, you are sin,
Our relationship is both good and bad for me.
You'll always be everything, everything,
You mean the world to me regardless of the relationship's flaws.
To me, to me
That's how I feel about you specifically.
What am I to you?
I'm questioning my worth and status to you.
Don't tell me, don't kill me now.
I'm afraid of the harsh reality of your answer.
Just keep me, and I won't make a sound.
I'll endure and stay with you quietly regardless of the answer.
Wouldn't tell anyone about your fears,
I keep your secrets safe and protect you.
'Bout your friends, 'bout the life that I miss
I wouldn't complain or express my feelings about the things I sacrificed for our relationship.
'Cause to me you are the greatest.
Despite everything, you still mean the world to me.
I would run, I would jump, I would fall,
I would do anything to ensure that you're happy.
Just to make sure baby's got it all,
I prioritize your needs above my own.
But to them I can't explain it.
I can't justify my actions to anyone else.
Just kiss me as you lay me down,
I seek comfort and affection from you.
Don't tell me, don't kill me now.
I'm scared of the truth and what it might do to me.
Don't kill me now.
Please don't hurt me with the answer to my question.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS CROWHURST, EMELI SANDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Runway Coach
I'm still under the impression her first line says something different.
I have always sung:
"I will help hide the stash
even if you didn't ask.
I will never say a word about it.
And I will stay home with the kids
everyday cleaning up where you live
even tho I'm educated..."
I never heard stench. Stench and ask don't even rhyme.
Jessica Jaco
Como amo esta canción ❤❤
MARLI SILVEIRA
Amo essa musica💘😍
Dia T
beautiful song....can't stop listening to it.
MARLI SILVEIRA
Essa leona é linda como a música ❤😍amo essa música
Elena G
A M A Z I N G song! A friend of mine showed this to me and it's been on replay ever since!! Love it!
P Andrews
Voice of an angel with an amazing vocal range. Sublime
Richardson 1215
Why am I just now hearing this song? Gosh I wish her songs would get out there more. I always stumble across a new song by Leona that really isn't that new. I kind of like it. Lol It's like a surprise song.
Jay Black
Have you heard Power?
Xilef2991
This has to become a single. It is by far the best song on the album!!!!
Yotes Mad
Je viens de découvrir, très bonne chanson, à écouter d'urgence.