Hailing from Liverpool, England, fans first got a taste of Marsha’s talent as the singing half of the duo Floetry. Their 2000 debut Floetic produced signature singles like “Say Yes" and "Getting Late" as well as four Grammy nods. Following the 2005 release of their second studio album, Flo’Ology, the ladies veered creatively and personally. While the split was difficult, Marsha continued to build a name for herself as a songwriter and producer, creating “Butterflies” for the late Michael Jackson and other hits for artists such as Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx and Nas. She’s been nominated for a total of six Grammys and has been honored by BMI as their Songwriter of the Year.
Over the years, Marsha has stayed relevant as an artist via touring, writing/producing and mixtapes like 2007’s Neo Soul is Dead, 2008’s Yours Truly and 2010’s Yours Sincerely. She also appeared as a featured artist on projects from Patti Labelle, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others. Eventually, Marsha signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records however a much-buzzed about solo debut never materialized due to creative glitches. Equipped with plenty of her own talent, she found herself being given songs from producers that were “great but not songs that made sense in relation to each other.” Marsha calls her sound “honest and consistent” and it was important for her to make an album with an overall cohesive sound. She explains, “I think with an album everything has to make sense, like ‘Where is this story going?’”
But that wasn’t the only situation posing a challenge for Marsha. A basketball player since childhood, when her music career took off, her diet remained the same as when she was regularly active. Constantly on the road touring and promoting wasn’t conducive to a healthy diet and resulted in her gaining 70 pounds in just one year. She finally got serious about her health and lost the weight safely and slowly over about a two-year period.
Now at a strong place mentally and physically, Marsha’s ready to present her sound to the world. The first single, “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player),” is an anthem that women and men can relate to. Marsha explains, “It’s the reality of a bad break up. We wanna be decent human beings and say the right thing, you know, ‘I wish you well.’ But this is ‘Everything that could go wrong for him I want it to because my ego is bruised and I’m acting out.’” There’ve been many songs written about heartbreak, but Marsha’s approach to “Hope She Cheats on You” gets in your face rather than plays the victim.
LATE NIGHTS & EARLY MORNINGS is destined to be a classic, as Marsha offers a candid glimpse of her life and perspectives as a woman. Inspired by musical icons like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Prince, she concedes there is an overall male influence in her songwriting, such as the assertive sentiments heard on hits like “Say Yes.” She explains, “My pen and my point of view has a certain aggression to it because I’ve listened to a lot of male influenced music, which I think makes me one of the most outspoken writers out here. Sometimes as a woman you don’t wanna say what’s on your mind for fear of being judged. But why wouldn’t I say it like that if that’s how I felt?” Musical peers recruited to contribute to the project include Alicia Keys, a reunion with Dre and Vidal (producers of “Say Yes”), Just Blaze and Focus.
While her success in the industry is already solidified, Marsha knows it’s never easy to win over fans as a solo artist. Fortunately, she says, “It’s like being thrown in the deep end. ‘Okay I have to swim? Oh well.’ I’ve taken that attitude and it’s carried me forward.”
(from MarshaAmbrosius.com)
Cold War
Marsha Ambrosius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold war we're fighting
And did you even care? (Care)
Oh-oh, you wanna start this cold war
Love is a war zone we're standing in the middle
Yes we are baby
With no one to save us
Guess you keep your guard up hoping I climb over
And I do, baby with time I do
Cause we're both too stubborn to say we're hurting
So we stay, when it's probably best to walk away
This is a cold war, we're fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold war we're fighting
And did you even care? (Care)
Oh-oh, you wanna start this cold war
Boy I loved you then, you hate me now
Why can't we stand our ground?
You say it's me, but I blame you for who we are right now
One thing about you is you don't think I love you,
But I do, thats nothing new
Cause we're both too stubborn to say we're hurting
So we stay, when it's ṗrobably best to walk away
This is a cold war, we're fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold, cold war we're fighting
And did you even care that
Oh-oh, you wanna start this cold war
I'm banging on the walls,
I'm going through withdraws
You got my head spinning like a coaster
I'm throwing out your clothes
I'm changing all the codes
I'm about to send you right back to your mother's
I think I'm running out
I've been having doubts
I wanna leave you but you make me stay
Said you can't have this hold of me
This is a cold war, we're fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold, cold war we're fighting
And did you even care that
Oh-oh, you wanna start this cold war
Marsha Ambrosius's song "Cold War" is about a relationship in which the love has faded away, and the couple is now engaged in a cold war where neither one of them wants to surrender. The lyrics suggest that love is a warzone, and they are standing in the middle of it. Both parties are too stubborn to say that they are hurting, and so they continue to stay in the relationship, even though it would be best for them to walk away. The song captures the sense of desperation and frustration that comes from a relationship in which both parties are fighting for something that no longer exists.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics: "This is a cold war, we're fighting / And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying." The use of the term "cold war" suggests that the couple is engaged in a battle of wills, rather than a physical battle. However, the stakes are just as high as they would be in a war. The second verse describes the couple's inability to communicate their true feelings. They are both too guarded to let down their defenses, even though doing so might help to salvage their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a cold war, we're fighting
Love is a battle we're locked in
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
Neither of us is willing to give in, only leading to the destruction of our love
This is a cold war we're fighting
Our love is a bitter battle
And did you even care? (Care)
Did you even have any concern?
Oh-oh, you wanna start this cold war
You intend to spark this love battle
Love is a war zone we're standing in the middle
We're in between a battlefield of a love that's falling apart
You draw your weapon as I'm loading guard my missile
We're both ready to attack and defend ourselves
With no one to save us
We lack anyone to rescue us from this destructive love
Guess you keep your guard up hoping I climb over
You keep your defense high hoping I make the first move to reconcile
And I do, baby with time I do
I eventually try to reconcile after enough time has passed
Cause we're both too stubborn to say we're hurting
We're too proud to admit that this love battle is causing us pain
So we stay, when it's probably best to walk away
We continue to fight for a love that's dying instead of admitting it's time to move on
Boy I loved you then, you hate me now
I used to love you but now you despise me
Why can't we stand our ground?
Why can't we hold onto the love we once had?
You say it's me, but I blame you for who we are right now
You blame me for our current state, but I hold you responsible
One thing about you is you don't think I love you,
You doubt if I still love you
But I do, thats nothing new
But the truth is that I still do love you
I'm banging on the walls, I'm going through withdraws
I feel trapped and addicted to this love, making me feel desperate
You got my head spinning like a coaster
You have me confused and disoriented
I'm throwing out your clothes
I'm discarding any memories of you that I have left
I'm changing all the codes
I'm changing everything, trying to distance myself from you
I'm about to send you right back to your mother's
I'm considering ending this relationship by sending you back to where you came from
I think I'm running out, I've been having doubts
I'm losing faith in our love, starting to question our future together
I wanna leave you but you make me stay
I want to end things, but I can't find the courage to leave
Said you can't have this hold of me
I'm asserting my independence, claiming that you can't control me anymore
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: MARSHA AMBROSIUS, THOMAS WESLEY PENTZ, SEAN DAVID FENTON, CLEMENT PICARD, MAXIME MARIE LAURENT PICARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marian Davenport
This is a cold war we’re fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold war we’re fighting
And if you even cared at all
You wouldn't start this cold war
Love is a war zone, We’re standing in the middle
Yes we are baby
You draw your weapon as I’m loading up my missile
With no one to save us
Guess you keep your guard up, hoping I climb over
And I do, baby with time I do
Cause we’re both too stubborn to say we’re hurting
So we stay, when it’s probably best to walk away
This is a cold war, we’re fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold, cold war we’re fighting
And if you even cared at all
You wouldn't start this cold war
I loved you then, you hate me now
Why can’t we stand our ground?
You say it’s me, but I blame you for who we are right now
One thing about you is you don’t think I love you
But I do, That's nothing new
Cause we’re both too stubborn to say we’re hurting
So we stay, when it’s probably best to walk away
This is a cold war, we’re fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold, cold war we’re fighting
And if you even cared at all
You wouldn't start this cold war
I’m banging on the walls,
I’m going through withdrawls
You got my head spinning like a coaster
I’m throwing out your clothes
I’m changing all the codes
I’m about to send you right back to your mother’s
I think I’m running out
I’ve been having doubts
I wanna leave you but you make me stay
Said you can’t have this hold over me
This is a cold, cold war we’re fighting
And neither one of us wants to surrender, love is slowly dying
This is a cold war we’re fighting
And if you even cared at all
You wouldn't start this cold war
Nandipha Lungelo
She has a voice of gold
Jamal Selby
agreed i wish she was my momma to sing me to sleep
DizzeeLex91
Im just glad there are still artists out there who still give us something to think about. You are one of the many great artists who still does that with their music. Been a fan since the Floetry days.
Khulile Myeza
This woman is a musical genius totally her best work since Far Away
Redbone 88
I love this chic always have when she was with the other chic in “Floetry” it was something about her! This song still gives me chills in 2020
LaShon Earl
rights but what i dont get is how did the cops know exactly where to go?
jasy page
Marsha is a very passionate artist, an u have to b deep to understand sum of her music, this song is not about putting down the BLACK MAN, the song is about her steppn in n a time of turmoil an doing nething she had to do to help provide for them, even if it meant facing jail time, she wasnt tryna set him up, thatz totally taking it all the way sideways, her music is to the point, no filters, along with her voice, she is n a league of her own, i luv this song an i luv her, her music is so deep, it can b felt n tha soul an thatz wusup, keep it up Marsha, Im a true fan
D. Ferrell
Facts!
jasy page
Interesting, I think at some point everybody has did a lil imagining to get there, but I definitely would of picked up on that comment she made cuz I understand her
Reggie Dallas
I feel u