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)
How Much More
Marsha Ambrosius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can I take?
How much more
Can I take?
How much?
How do you fucking know?
Let's not get brand new now, nah
You and I both know, you know I got, I have to taste the bottom of that
That's where I belong, that's what I'm saying
That's that shit that make you, that make you say "ooh shit, ooh shit"
Fuck it
Let's have an "ooh shit" contest
And on the tees you went in, I'mma go back to Avalon
And you gonna be like "ooh, shit"
The song "How Much More" by Marsha Ambrosius is a soulful track that explores the singer's emotions and inner turmoil. The lyrics begin with the question "How much more can I take?" which sets the mood of the song as one of pain and struggle. The repetition of the line emphasizes the desperation of the singer's situation as they are trying to cope with overwhelming emotions.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to be addressing someone, possibly a partner or a friend, who is questioning their behavior. The line "How do you fucking know?" suggests that the singer is feeling defensive and frustrated with the other person's lack of understanding. The lines "Let's not get brand new now, nah" and "You and I both know, you know I got, I have to taste the bottom of that" suggest that the singer is aware of their own self-destructive tendencies but feels powerless to change them.
The line "That's where I belong, that's what I'm saying" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the singer feels trapped in their own cycle of pain and addiction. The subsequent lines "That's that shit that make you, that make you say 'ooh shit, ooh shit'" and "Fuck it, let's have an 'ooh shit' contest" suggest that the singer is almost taunting the other person, daring them to judge or criticize them. The final line "And you gonna be like 'ooh, shit'" seems to suggest that the other person will eventually understand and empathize with the singer's struggles.
Overall, "How Much More" is a powerful and emotional song that delves into the complexities of addiction and mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
How much more
Expressing the singer's exhaustion with their current situation
Can I take?
Questioning how much more of the current situation the singer can handle
How much?
Asking for clarification or justification for why the current situation should continue
How do you fucking know?
Demanding proof or evidence for the continuation of the current situation
Let's not get brand new now, nah
Challenging the validity or authenticity of the other person's perspective
If there's one thing that you and-
Acknowledging a shared experience or understanding with the other person
You and I both know, you know I got, I have to taste the bottom of that
Admitting to a desire to experience the worst or lowest point of the current situation
That's where I belong, that's what I'm saying
Asserting that the artist feels most comfortable or at home in the current negative situation
That's that shit that make you, that make you say "ooh shit, ooh shit"
Describing the thrill or excitement that comes from experiencing the worst part of the situation
Fuck it
Expressing a willingness to accept or embrace the negative situation
Let's have an "ooh shit" contest
Proposing a competition to see who can handle the most unpleasant aspects of the current situation
And on the tees you went in, I'mma go back to Avalon
Describing a divergence in the way the artist and the other person handle the current situation
And you gonna be like "ooh, shit"
Predicting the other person's reaction to the singer's willingness to embrace the negative situation
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARCOS PALACIOS, ERNEST CLARK, KEVIN RANDOLPH, MARSHA AMBROSIUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind