Maxwell capitalized on his breakthrough with the MTV Unplugged EP, taken from his live MTV performance. It attracted attention and acclaim outside the R&B community with the left-field cover choices "This Woman's Work" (by Kate Bush) and "Closer" (by Nine Inch Nails). Additionally, the 'MTV Unplugged' version of "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" earned him another Grammy nomination (for Best Male Pop Vocal). Anticipation for his second full-length album was high, and when Embrya was released in 1998, it entered the charts at number three. Reviews were more mixed this time around, with some critics charging that Maxwell's ambition had crossed the line into indulgence; still, the record duplicated its predecessor's platinum sales.
Maxwell adopted his middle name as his stage moniker, keeping his real identity a closely guarded secret out of concern for his family's privacy. Born of Puerto Rican and black Caribbean stock, Maxwell suffered the loss of his father (in a plane crash) when he was just three years old. The experience made him a deeply religious child, and he first began singing in his Baptist church. Still, he didn't really get serious about music until age 17, when he began writing his own songs using a cheap Casio keyboard given to him by a friend. Initially influenced by early-'80s urban R&B, and drawing his greatest inspiration from the concept of the R&B auteur (looking to artists like Marvin Gaye, Prince, Stevie Wonder). He progressed rapidly, and by 1991 he was performing on the New York club scene, despite ridicule from classmates who couldn't imagine the shy, awkward teenager doing anything of the sort. After making a name for himself, he signed a recording contract with Columbia in 1994.
In 1999, Maxwell scored his biggest hit to date with the single "Fortunate," an R. Kelly composition he recorded for the soundtrack of the film Life; it was a mammoth success, ranking as the number one R&B hit of the year in Billboard magazine. Later that year, he also cut two songs for the soundtrack of The Best Man.
In August 2001, Maxwell returned with his third full-length album, Now, which was touted as a return to the more straightforwardly romantic atmosphere of his debut. It entered the album charts at number one and quickly launched a hit single in "Lifetime." ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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... He eventually got a record deal with Columbia Records in 1994 when he was 21 years old. His loss of his father at the age of three had a great impact on him as a person and as an artist. Maxwell played keyboard in church during his youth; however, he was not aware of his vocal talent during adolescence. His vocal ability was later discovered during a romantic affair which inspired the music for his first music release "Urban Hang Suite." Maxwell was heavily inspired by the work of artists such as Marvin Gaye, Prince, Sade, and lastly Anita Baker who he gives credit to "teaching him how to sing."
After taking several years off, Maxwell released his latest album BLACKsummers'night on July 7, 2009. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Albums Top 200 chart, his second album to receive that ranking. Maxwell said his reason for leaving the music industry for such a long period was "to just take time off. The music industry has so much competition and there was no rush for me.
The follow-up to BLACKsummers'night and the second installment in a planned trilogy, blackSUMMERS'night, is set to be released late 2012 but the exact date is unknown.
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The name "Maxwell" also appears to be used by a hip hop beat producer from Oldenburg, Germany.
This Womans Work
Maxwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll stand outside
This woman's work
This woman's world
Ooooh it's hard on a man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the Father
I know you've got a lot of strength left
I know you've got a little life in you yet
I know you've got a lot of strength left
I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
All the things we should've said that I never said
All the things we should have done that we never did
All the things we should have given but I didn't
Oh darling make it go
Make it go away
Give me these moments
Give them back to me
Give me that little kiss
Give me your talking hands
(I know you have a little life in you yet)
Give me your hand baby
(I know you have a lot of strength left)
Give me your pretty hand
(I know you have a little life in you yet)
Ooh you have a lot of strength
(I know you have a lot of strength left)
My loved child
(I know you have a little life in you yet)
Whatever you need baby
(I know you have a lot of strength left)
Give me your hand
(I know you have a little life in you yet)
Give me your hand
(I know you have a lot of strength left)
Oh I should be crying but I just can't let it go
I should be hoping but I can't stop
Thinking and thinking and thinking
Of all the things we should've said that we never said
And all the things we should have done that we never did
All the things that you wanted from me
All the things that you needed from me
All the things I should have given but I didn't
Oh darling make it go
Just make it go away
The lyrics of "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell are a heartfelt portrayal of a man's emotional struggles as he watches his partner go through childbirth. The opening lines "Pray God you can cope, I'll stand outside" show the man's helplessness and desperation as he waits outside the delivery room, hoping his partner will make it through safely. The song talks about the difficulty of being a man in this situation and points out that now his part is over, and it is time for the crafts of the father to start. This line indicates that while the man may have done all he could, ultimately, it is a woman's work to give birth and bring new life into the world.
In the second part of the song, the lyrics change, and the focus shifts to the woman. The lyrics "I know you've got a little life in you left, I know you've got a lot of strength left" are words of encouragement and support for his partner. The man acknowledges the woman's strength and resilience and encourages her to keep going, reminding her that she has a lot of life and strength left within her. He then reflects on the things they could have done better before the baby's arrival and wishes they could have done more.
Overall, "This Woman's Work" is an emotionally charged and poignant song about the beauty and struggle of childbirth, the bond between partners, and the need to support each other in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Pray God you can cope
May God give you the strength to handle this situation
I'll stand outside
I'll be there for you, providing emotional support from outside of the situation
This woman's work
The responsibilities, struggles, and hard work of being a woman in this world
This woman's world
The experiences, achievements, and challenges that are unique to women
Ooooh it's hard on a man
It's difficult for a man to fully grasp the depth and complexity of what a woman goes through
Now his part is over
The man's role in this specific situation is finished
Now starts the craft of the Father
Now we must trust in a higher power, as the situation is out of our hands
I know you've got a little life in you left
I know you still have some fight and energy left in you
I know you've got a lot of strength left
I know you still have a lot of power and resilience left in you
I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be emotional and upset, but I am holding back my tears and emotions
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
I should be optimistic, but my mind is consumed with negative thoughts and worries
All the things we should've said that I never said
I regret not speaking up and expressing my thoughts and feelings in the past
All the things we should have done that we never did
I regret not taking action and doing things differently in the past
All the things we should have given but I didn't
I regret not being more giving and supportive in the past
Oh darling make it go
Please find a way to make this situation disappear and go away
Give me these moments
Allow me to cherish and hold onto these precious moments with you
Give them back to me
Let me relive and experience these moments again
Give me that little kiss
Give me a small and intimate gesture of affection
Give me your talking hands
Allow us to communicate and connect through our hands and touch
(I know you have a little life in you yet) Give me your hand baby
I know you still have some energy and spirit left, give me your hand so I can help and support you
(I know you have a lot of strength left) Give me your pretty hand
I know you are strong and beautiful, give me your hand to show me your strength and beauty
Ooh you have a lot of strength
You possess a great deal of power and resilience
(I know you have a lot of strength left) My loved child
My beloved, I know you still have a lot of strength and love to give
(I know you have a little life in you yet) Whatever you need baby
I know you still have some spirit and energy in you, whatever you need I am here for you
(I know you have a lot of strength left) Give me your hand
I know you are powerful and resilient, give me your hand to show me your strength
(I know you have a little life in you yet) Give me your hand
I know you still have some energy and spirit left, give me your hand so I can help and support you
Oh I should be crying but I just can't let it go
I should be emotional and upset, but I am holding back my tears and emotions and can't move on
Thinking and thinking and thinking
Being consumed and overwhelmed with thoughts and worries
All the things we should've said that we never said
I regret not speaking up and expressing my thoughts and feelings in the past
And all the things we should have done that we never did
I regret not taking action and doing things differently in the past
All the things that you wanted from me
All the things that you desired and needed from me in our relationship
All the things that you needed from me
All the things that you required and depended on from me in our relationship
All the things I should have given but I didn't
I regret not being more giving and supportive in the past
Just make it go away
Please find a way to make this situation disappear and go away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RandallHollis
Who here in 2024
@howtosueyoursocialworker
always have this on forever....
@ajdagons
💯💯
@maggyskrywer2470
I am -2024
@PreciousNdlovu336
🔥🫶🏼
@spiritualrising5122
Right here!❤
@waynerollin1892
A womans work is never done. I commend you ladies for being so strong in this cruel world. Much love. ❤ What would we do without you?
@traceyc9953
Thank U KING❤️🙏!!
@sakitoby1581
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💪💪 Same to you, sir. Good men often don't feel appreciated...but they ARE.
@MrWho007
A woman's work is never done, that's why they don't get paid as much, slackers 😂