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)
Streets of London
Marsha Ambrosius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodbye (goodbye)
On these streets of London
Many come, meant many go
But my heart will stay forever
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Streets of London never let me go
It's pretty on the outside
Great sky reminds me of you
I'm waiting on the sunshine
So blue
I remember when we first fell in love
Yeah, clouds above
Let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
Let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
You see pretty on the inside
I cried over you
I'm waiting on my sunshine, I do
Gotta tell you how much I miss you so
Yeah, clouds above
Just let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
Could you let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
On these streets of London is the place that I call home
Where the strong only survive
Where you're making on your own
On these streets of London many come, meant many go
But my heart will stay forever
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Streets of London (never let me go)
On these streets of London is the place that I call home
Where the strong only survive
Where you're making on your own
On these streets of London many come, meant many go
But my heart will stay forever
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Streets of London never let me go
I remember how we used to be
When every day was summer
My momma said that I could work the beat
Anything I wanna, daydreaming
Is my reality
Chase the clouds above
And make it rain, make it rain, no oh oh
I'ma make it rain, make it rain, no oh oh
I wanna go home, I wanna go home
I wanna go home
Home is where the heart is
Where's my heart? (Where's my heart? Where's my heart?)
The song "Streets of London" by Marsha Ambrosius is a melancholic tune about the struggles of life in the big city. The first few lines of the song introduce the recurring theme of people coming and going, with the singer saying "Hello, goodbye" to the many faces she encounters on the streets of London. Despite the transience of life in the city, the singer's heart remains rooted there and she vows never to let go. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the streets of London will never let her go, serving as a poignant reminder that the city has a hold on her that can never be broken.
The verses are more introspective, with the singer reflecting on the beauty and the pain of life in London. She describes the city as "pretty on the outside" and is reminded of a special someone by the "great sky." But she also speaks of waiting for sunshine, implying that there are dark times as well. The line "I cried over you" suggests a sense of loss or heartbreak, but the singer remains determined to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello (hello)
Greeting to the listener
Goodbye (goodbye)
Farewell to the listener
On these streets of London
Referring to the physical environment in which the singer currently exists
Many come, meant many go
People are transient in this location
But my heart will stay forever
The artist's emotional attachment to this place is strong
Don't you know?
Challenging the listener in a rhetorical question to consider the singer's feelings
Streets of London never let me go
This place has a strong hold on the singer
It's pretty on the outside
Referring to the appearance of the physical environment
Great sky reminds me of you
The artist associates the physical environment with memories of a specific person
I'm waiting on the sunshine
The artist is waiting for a positive change or event
So blue
Referring to the emotional state of the singer
I remember when we first fell in love
The artist recalls a past romantic relationship
Yeah, clouds above
Referring to the natural environment and weather conditions
Let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
Accepting the inevitability of negative events or feelings without rushing to change them
You see pretty on the inside
Referring to the emotional or internal state of a person rather than their appearance
I cried over you
Referring to the artist's emotional reaction to the end of a past romantic relationship
Gotta tell you how much I miss you so
Expressing the artist's emotional longing for another person
Just let it rain, let it rain, no hurry
Accepting the inevitability of negative events or feelings without rushing to change them (repeated)
On these streets of London is the place that I call home
Referring to the place where the singer feels a sense of belonging
Where the strong only survive
Referring to the challenges of living in this environment
Where you're making on your own
Referring to the need to be self-reliant in this environment
I remember how we used to be
Recalling a past state of being or relationship
When every day was summer
Referring to a time of happiness and positivity
My momma said that I could work the beat
Referring to familial or societal expectations or advice
Anything I wanna, daydreaming
Expressing a desire for freedom and dreaming
Is my reality
Referring to the singer's perception of the world
And make it rain, make it rain, no oh oh
Accepting the inevitability of negative events or feelings without rushing to change them (repeated)
I'ma make it rain, make it rain, no oh oh
Expressing a sense of determination despite negative circumstances
I wanna go home, I wanna go home
Expressing a desire for comfort and familiarity
Home is where the heart is
Referring to the idea that one's true home is where one feels emotionally attached
Where's my heart? (Where's my heart? Where's my heart?)
Questioning the location or state of the singer's emotional attachment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARSHA AMBROSIUS, RONALD TYLER COLSON, JAMEEL ROBERTS, ANDREW WANSEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind