Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a stylisation of Meshell Ndegeocello, a pseudonym o… Read Full Bio ↴Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a stylisation of Meshell Ndegeocello, a pseudonym of Michelle Lynn Johnson (b. 29 Aug 1968) is a singer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. She was born Michelle Johnson to Army lieutenant (and saxophonist) father Jacques Johnson and her mother, Helen in Berlin, Germany.

Raised in Washington, D.C., Meshell Suhaila Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegéocello, which means "free like a bird", while still in her teens. She has been hailed in the music press as a redeemer of soul music. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz. She has been nominated for 9 Grammys. She has frequently toured with Lilith Fair.

Ndegeocello honed her chops on the D.C. Go-go circuit in the late 1980s before venturing out as a solo artist. She emerged as a recording artist in 1993 on Maverick Records/Sire Records with her debut, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona. Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Batman and Robin. She has also appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx and The Blind Boys of Alabama, among others. Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's Wild Night, which reached #3 on the Billboard charts.

Her singles If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night), Leviticus: Faggot, and her cover of Bill Withers Who Is He and What Is He To You? have all charted in the Billboard top 20. She sang background vocals on the song I'd Rather be Your Lover by Madonna, on her album Bedtime Stories. She also sang with Chaka Khan on the single Never Miss the Water, as well as providing her typical solid bass skills.

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Andromeda & The Milky Way
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take me down to your river
I wanna get free with you
Take me down,
Take me down
I wanna get free
I wanna get free with you

take me down to your river

I wanna get free with you
Take me down
Take me down.

here I wait for you
All my faith in you
All my Love is for you
It's you I wait for
To be free with you.

take me down to your river
I wanna get free with you
Take me down,
Take me down
I wanna get free
I wanna get free with you

take me down to your river
I wanna get free with you
Take me down
Take me down.

I wanna feel this feeling of Love forever
With you
Forever with you
I wanna give you all my Love
I wanna feel, all your Love
Take me there with you.

take me down to your river
I wanna get free with you
Take me down
Take me down
I wanna get free
I wanna get free with you

take me down to your river
I wanna get free with you
Take me down,
Take me down.

this Love
Is written in the stars
This Love
Is written in the stars
Meant to be
Forever, forever

this Love

Written in the stars
Forever, forever...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Me'Shell Ndegéocello's song "Andromeda & The Milky Way" captures the essence of intimacy and longing. The singer desires to be taken down to her lover's river, to be liberated and to love without any restrains. She waits for her lover with all her faith, and declares her heart is wholly his as she wants to feel his love forever. The song emphasizes how profound their love is, and it is meant to last beyond the present time.

The chorus of the song, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the singer's desire to be free with her lover as they explore their love together. The songwriters cleverly make use of the symbolism of a river, representing the flowing of emotions and passion between the two lovers. The river signifies a gateway to another world, perhaps the world that the lovers share in their emotions and love for each other.

In conclusion, the song is a beautiful melody that captures the intensity of love and two souls yearning to be together, to connect and to share their passion. It is a song that emphasizes the permanence of true love, as symbolized by the stars in the heavens, an everlasting light that shines on our paths.

Line by Line Meaning

Take me down to your river
I want to be with you in your safe and peaceful space

I wanna get free with you
I want to break away from my worries and fears with you

Take me down,
Lead me to where I need to be

I wanna get free
I long to be liberated from my inner struggles

I wanna get free with you
I want to be free alongside you

here I wait for you
I am patiently waiting for you

All my faith in you
I trust and believe in you completely

All my Love is for you
My heart is full of love for you only

It's you I wait for
You are the only one I am waiting for

To be free with you.
I desire to be unburdened with you

I wanna feel this feeling of Love forever
I want to experience this sensation of love for eternity