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)
With You
Marsha Ambrosius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know what I'm feeling
Can't nobody tell me nothing
'Cause I know what I'm doing
'Bout to grab my coat
Put the keys in ignition
Can't tell you how long
I been wishing for this moment to
Uh uh uh, with you
I wanna uh uh uh, with you
When we're on the phone
You're giving me directions
Can't even hold the pen straight
Such anticipation
Hundred miles an hour (hour)
Can I go any faster?
Can't you tell how I've been waiting
How I've been waiting for this moment to
Uh uh uh, with you
I wanna uh uh uh, with you
That I wanna uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh with you
I wanna uh uh uh, with you
In my head I can see it so clearly
Thinking about all the things I wanna do to you babe
Do to you babe
Right now (right now)
Feels like I've been waiting for a lifetime
To find someone that I'll want as much as I want you (as I want you)
Right now
(You know just how much I want you baby)
With you
I wanna uh uh uh with you (oh baby, baby)
Said I wanna uh uh uh with you (you, you, do you)
Uh uh uh with you (you, you, you, you, you, you)
Uh uh uh with you
I wanna uh uh uh with you
I wanna uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh
I wanna uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh
Just let me uh uh uh uh-uh-uh-uh uh uh uh
I wanna uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh
The lyrics to Marsha Ambrosius's song "With You" describe the feeling of being deeply in love and longing to be with someone. The singer conveys that no one can tell her anything about her emotions because she knows exactly what she's feeling. Additionally, she's been waiting for this moment to be with her lover for what seems like a lifetime. The longing is so strong and the anticipation is so high that she can't even hold a pen straight when her lover is giving her directions on the phone. The lyrics convey the urgency and need to be with this special someone.
The second verse turns up the heat, as the singer describes in detail all the things she wants to do to her lover. All of these thoughts are running through her head as she's driving to be with him. The lyrics convey a sense of pure desire and lust, a need so strong that the singer feels like she's been waiting for her entire life to have it fulfilled. The chorus continues to express the urgency and desire to be with this special someone, and the song ends with the singer exclaiming that she wants to be "uh uh uh" with her lover.
Overall, the lyrics to "With You" convey a sense of love, desire, and urgency. The singer is deeply in love with someone and cannot wait to be with them. The lyrics convey the idea that this feeling has been building for a long time, and that being with this person is something the singer has been waiting for their entire life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look at your face
Observing your face makes me understand my emotions better.
I know what I'm feeling
I am aware of my emotions without any confusion or doubt.
Can't nobody tell me nothing
I am confident and certain about my feelings that nobody can argue or challenge.
'Cause I know what I'm doing
Having complete clarity of my emotions enables me to act with confidence and precision.
'Bout to grab my coat
I am getting ready to leave for my destination.
Put the keys in ignition
I start my vehicle to reach my destination.
Can't tell you how long
I cannot express the exact time I have been waiting for this moment.
I been wishing for this moment to
I have been desiring and wanting this moment to arrive for a long time.
Uh uh uh, with you
Expressing my excitement about being with you through a sound.
I wanna uh uh uh, with you
My desire and eagerness to be with you continuously grows.
When we're on the phone
Referring to our telephonic conversations.
You're giving me directions
You are guiding and leading me towards you.
Can't even hold the pen straight
I am so focused on your directions that I cannot even write properly.
Such anticipation
The excitement and eagerness towards meeting you is increasing at an alarming pace.
Hundred miles an hour (hour)
Referring to a high level of rush and speeding towards the destination.
Can I go any faster?
Questioning myself that whether I can increase my pace or not.
Can't you tell how I've been waiting
Asking the other person if they can realize the extent of time I have been desiring this moment.
That I wanna uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh with you
Repeating my fervor and ardent feelings to be with you.
In my head I can see it so clearly
Mentioning that I have a clear vision of being with you in my mind.
Thinking about all the things I wanna do to you babe
Imagining and fantasizing about experiences with you.
Right now (right now)
Emphasizing the present moment of immense thoughts and feelings for you.
Feels like I've been waiting for a lifetime
Expressing that the wait feels never-ending and excruciating.
To find someone that I'll want as much as I want you (as I want you)
Mentioning the rarity and exclusivity of my feelings towards you.
(You know just how much I want you baby)
Acknowledging that the other person is also aware of my immense desires for them.
With you
Stating the presence of the other person magnifies my life experiences.
I wanna uh uh uh with you (oh baby, baby)
Reiterating my sentiments to spend time with you.
Said I wanna uh uh uh with you (you, you, do you)
Affirming my emotions and repeating my desires for you.
Uh uh uh with you (you, you, you, you, you, you)
Stating that being with you brings happiness and joy to my life.
I wanna uh uh uh with you
Restating my intentions and eagerness to be with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Marsha Ambrosius, Alicia Augello-Cook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind