Early career:
Mario Winans was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina but grew up in Detroit. He is a member of gospel music's most notable family, the Winans, being the son of Marvin Winans and Vickie Winans. He is also the nephew of gospel singers BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans.
Winans started out learning music in school learning piano, keyboards, and drums. His mother Vicki Winans bought him a roomful of recording equipment, and he learnt the function of every piece of equipment. He started producing gospel groups straight out of high school and soon accumulated credits for Fred Hammond, The Anointed, and the Clark Sisters as well as various Winans family member albums.
In the mid-1990's, he signed a production deal with Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records. His breakthrough came with credits on the tracks "I Can't Sleep Baby" and "You Remind Me Of Something" on R. Kelly's R. Kelly album in 1995. Work with Pebbles and 98 Degrees soon followed.
Winans released his debut album Story of my Heart on Motown in 1997. While the song "Don't Know" reached the U.S. R&B top 50, the album failed to chart.
Soon after, Winans teamed up with P. Diddy and his Bad Boy roster. His first work with Bad Boy was playing drums on "Come With Me" in 1998 by Diddy and Jimmy Page, based on the classic Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir" from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.
Over the past few years, Winans has racked a sizeable list of production credits for Bad Boy artists including Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, Loon, Black Rob, and 112. He has also worked with notable artists outside Bad Boy including Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Tamia, and Brian McKnight.
Winans co-wrote the 2-part song "I Need a Girl" with P. Diddy and appeared on the "Pt. 2" version with Loon, Ginuwine, and Diddy, which became a hit recording in 2002. He also produced the Bad Boy remix compilation We Invented The Remix in 2002.
Solo Success:
Winans recorded his second album Hurt No More in 2001, 2002, and 2003 in between his busy schedule working with other artists. The album is based on stories of love and betrayal.
The first single "I Don't Wanna Know" was based on a sample of the Fugees' 1996 hit single "Ready Or Not", which itself was based on a slowed-down sample of the instrumental track "Boadicea" by Enya from her 1987 self-titled album. Enya and her representatives became annoyed since Winans did not seek her approval for the sample, as he was unaware that the Fugees sample he had used had itself been a sample. So, a compromise was reached to credit the single as "Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy and Enya". [1]. The song features a rap by P. Diddy and radio programmers and club DJs started playing the track when it started appearing on mixtapes. The song was released as the single in early 2004 and became a worldwide hit going to #1 in Germany and on the rhythmic top 40 radio chart in the United States; to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart, and on the world internet download charts; and to #3 on a composite world R&B chart (based on the R&B charts in the U.S., UK, Germany, France, and Australia) and on both the Australian and Norwegian singles charts. It also reached the top ten on a composite European singles chart.
Hurt No More was released on April 20, 2004 in the U.S. and, by early June 2004, had reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #2 on the Billboard 200, and #3 on the UK's album chart.
The album's second single, "Never Really Was", used a sample of the orchestrated beginning of Madonna's 1986 hit, "Papa Don't Preach", as its background music. However, the song failed to chart in America.
Love Man
Mario Winans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been on my mind for a while
All I need is a minute of your time
Please
Just listen to me baby
It wont take long
(Its not a hyped up player line?)
Just a minute, let me take your coat off
Me and you on the (telephone?)
Girl there's something 'bout your sexy body
Gotta know what it does to me
If you even give me half a chance
I'll turn around and give you all of me
Just think
You and I (think about it baby)
In Love
Forever and ever
I think like this can be so beautiful
Don't you think? (think about it baby)
All you have to do (all you have to do)
Is one simple thing (oh)
Let me be your love man
(that's right baby)
I'll do what you ask of me
(I'll do anything you want baby)
Let me be your helping hand (oh let me be)
Come on let me be (let me be)
Let me be (let me be)
Let me be your love man (oh baby)
I'll do what you ask of me
(I'll do anything you want)
Let me lend a helping hand (just let me be)
Come on let me be (let me be)
Let me be
I was thinking just the other day
When I saw you, I wouldn't say
Now I'm here I won't bite my tongue
Till you know where I'm coming from
Now I'm a man who likes to be in love
Girl it's you that I'm dreaming of
Won't you think it once or twice
(Well I said I'd look in your eyes?)
Here we are again (think about it baby)
You and I
Together
It's such a wonderful feeling baby
Now remember this
This could all be true (think about it baby)
All you have to do (all you have to do)
Is one simple thing (just let me be your)
Let me be your love man (come on baby)
I'll do what you ask of me (I'll do anything)
Let me be your helping hand
Come on let me be (let me be)
Let me be (let me be)
Let me be your love man (I'll do anything)
I'll do what you ask of me (I'll do anything you want)
Let me lend a helping hand (oh let me be)
Come on let me be (jus' let me be)
Let me be (let me be)
Let me be your love man (if you let me be that man)
I'll do what you ask of me (I'll do anything)
Let me lend a helping hand
Come on let me be (oh)
Let me be (let me be)
The song "Love Man" by Mario Winans is a romantic R&B ballad that expresses the artist's desire to be the love man for his special someone. The lyrics begin with the artist expressing his desire to share something with his partner that has been on his mind for a while. He then tells her that it won’t take long and asks her to give him a minute of her time to listen. He proceeds to assure her that he isn’t using any hyped-up player lines and tells her how much her sexy body affects him, and if given half a chance, he will give her all of him.
In the chorus, Winans again emphasizes his desire to be his partner's love man, offering to do whatever she wants if she allows him to be the one. In verse two, he tells his partner about how watching her made him desire to express his feelings to her without hesitation. He then emphasizes his desire for love and affection, and asks his partner to consider him as a suitable partner for a long-term relationship.
Overall, "Love Man" is a typical romantic love song filled with passion and desire. The artist tries to convince his partner to let him be in control of the relationship, promising to do whatever it takes to make her happy.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something I want to share with you
The singer has something important to say to the listener
It's been on my mind for a while
The singer has been thinking about this for some time
All I need is a minute of your time
The singer just needs a brief moment to express themselves
Please
The artist is asking for the listener's attention
Just listen to me baby
The artist wants the listener to hear them out
It wont take long
The singer assures the listener that it won't be a long conversation
(Its not a hyped up player line?)
The singer wants to clarify that they're not playing games or being insincere
I'm just telling you what's on my mind
The artist is being honest and direct about their thoughts and feelings
Just a minute, let me take your coat off
The artist is offering to help the listener with a small gesture
Me and you on the (telephone?)
It's unclear what the artist means by this line, possibly referencing a phone conversation
Girl there's something 'bout your sexy body
The singer is attracted to the listener's physical appearance
Gotta know what it does to me
The artist wants to express how the listener's appearance affects them
If you even give me half a chance
The singer is hoping the listener will consider their proposition
I'll turn around and give you all of me
The singer is willing to be fully committed to the listener
Just think
The singer wants the listener to consider a hypothetical situation
You and I (think about it baby)
The artist is imagining a romantic relationship between themselves and the listener
In Love
The artist is hoping for a romantic connection
Forever and ever
The singer wants a long-lasting relationship
I think like this can be so beautiful
The singer believes that the potential relationship could be wonderful
Don't you think? (think about it baby)
The artist is asking the listener to consider their proposition
All you have to do (all you have to do)
The artist wants to simplify the process for the listener
Is one simple thing (oh)
The artist believes that the listener just needs to accept their offer
Let me be your love man
The singer wants to be the listener's romantic partner
(that's right baby)
The artist is reinforcing their own statement
I'll do what you ask of me
The singer is willing to do anything to make the listener happy
(I'll do anything you want baby)
The singer is emphasizing their willingness to please the listener
Let me be your helping hand
The singer is offering to help the listener through life's challenges
Come on let me be (let me be)
The artist is urging the listener to accept their offer
I was thinking just the other day
The artist has been considering their feelings about the listener
When I saw you, I wouldn't say
The singer was too shy to express their feelings before
Now I'm here I won't bite my tongue
The singer is ready to speak their mind now that they have an opportunity to do so
Till you know where I'm coming from
The artist wants the listener to understand their perspective
Now I'm a man who likes to be in love
The artist is expressing their desire for a romantic relationship
Girl it's you that I'm dreaming of
The artist is fantasizing about a relationship with the listener
Won't you think it once or twice
The singer is hoping the listener will consider the possibility of a relationship
(Well I said I'd look in your eyes?)
The artist seems to be asking a question or seeking confirmation
Here we are again (think about it baby)
The singer is returning to their proposition and urging the listener to consider it
Together
The singer is highlighting the potential for a shared experience
It's such a wonderful feeling baby
The singer is expressing enthusiasm for the possibility of a relationship
Now remember this
The artist is reminding the listener of their previous statements
This could all be true (think about it baby)
The artist wants the listener to consider the potential benefits of a relationship
Let me lend a helping hand (oh let me be)
The singer is offering to help the listener through life's challenges
Come on let me be (let me be)
The singer is urging the listener to accept their offer
(if you let me be that man)
The artist is asking for the chance to be the listener's romantic partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARIO WINANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind