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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Come Smoke My Herb
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My voices tell me
Be still
Have faith
Stay clear of the rat race
It's alright
I'm simple like the flowers
And just love
And worry not

About tomorrow

be simple like the flowers
Come smoke my herb
Make your heart like the ocean
Your mind like the clear blue sky
Come smoke my herb
Make your heart like the ocean
Your mind like the clear blue sky
Come smoke my herb

do you believe
Creation desires your devotion
Through murder and death
We squabble over
The pieces of the earth
The true beasts are
Those who believe in creation
Without mother, womb or birth
Be simple like the flowers

come smoke my herb
Make your heart like the ocean
Your mind like the clear blue sky
Come smoke my herb
Make your heart like the ocean
Your mind like the clear blue sky
Come smoke my herb...

clear blue sky
Clear blue sky
Clear blue sky

come smoke my herb
Make your heart like the ocean
Your mind like the clear blue sky

Clear blue sky
Your mind like the clear blue sky.

Overall Meaning

In Me'Shell Ndegéocello's song Come Smoke My Herb, the artist encourages listeners to find peace and simplicity amidst the chaos and turmoil of life. The opening lyrics allude to the artist's inner voices, telling her to stay clear of the rat race and not to worry about tomorrow. The following lines echo this sentiment, urging listeners to be simple like flowers and to not get caught up in the squabbling of the world. Instead, the artist invites us to come smoke her herb, to make our hearts like the ocean and our minds like the clear blue sky.

The song's chorus repeats this invitation to smoke the herb and to find inner peace and clarity. The mention of creation and murder suggests that humans often lose sight of what's truly important, fighting amongst ourselves for resources that ultimately pale in comparison to the natural world. Me'Shell Ndegéocello offers an alternative way of being, one that embraces simplicity, love, and devotion to creation.

Line by Line Meaning

My voices tell me
I have inner voices that guide me

Be still
Remain calm and quiet

Have faith
Believe in something greater than yourself

Stay clear of the rat race
Avoid the competitive and stressful lifestyle of modern society

It's alright
Everything is going to be okay

I'm simple like the flowers
I am content with a simple life, like the beauty of flowers

And just love
I focus on love and compassion

And worry not
I have no worries or fears

About tomorrow
I am not concerned about the future

be simple like the flowers
Continue to remain simple and content like the flowers

Come smoke my herb
Join me in smoking marijuana