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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Evolution
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No tongue to hurt you
Be angry or lie, no wings to fly
Seek shelter
You'll find in each lifetime
Evolution's end
The bird beneath the sun
The bird beneath the sun
Jesus is coming to tell you
He is not God
State of all the world
Will roll up the heavens within His hand
At evolution's end
The bird beneath the sun
Evolution's ending
The bird beneath the sun
The bird beneath the sun
The bird beneath the sun
Evolution's ending
The bird beneath the sun
Me'Shell Ndegéocello's song Evolution is a contemplative piece that expresses the idea that evolution is an ongoing process that leads to the end of the world, and ultimately to the transcendence of humanity. The opening lines "No eyes, no more tears to cry / No tongue to hurt you / Be angry or lie, no wings to fly / Seek shelter" suggest that the pain and suffering of the world will come to an end in the course of evolution. The idea of seeking shelter suggests that there is a safe place to go during this process of change. The following lines, "You'll find in each lifetime / Evolution's end / Evolution's ending / The bird beneath the sun / The bird beneath the sun", suggest that each individual's life is a step in the process of evolution and that the purpose of each life is to move us closer to the final stage.
The lines "Jesus is coming to tell you / He is not God / State of all the world / Will roll up the heavens within His hand" seem to suggest that the Christian concept of the Second Coming of Christ happens as a precursor to the final stage of evolution. The statement "He is not God" could be interpreted as a reminder that humanity is responsible for our own progress and that we cannot rely on a savior to do it for us. The "State of all the world" and "roll up the heavens within His hand" may suggest that the change brought about by evolution is so great that it will radically transform the world and reality itself.
Overall, Me'Shell Ndegéocello's Evolution is a song that invites listeners to reflect on the nature of change and progress, and on their understanding of humanity's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
No eyes, no more tears to cry
You have experienced so much pain that you have become numb and feel nothing.
No tongue to hurt you
You have become so defenseless that you don't have the ability to hurt anyone anymore.
Be angry or lie, no wings to fly
You are unable to express yourself and are powerless to escape your situation.
Seek shelter
You must find refuge and protection from the outside world.
You'll find in each lifetime
Evolution's end
Evolution's ending
The bird beneath the sun
The bird beneath the sun
We all experience evolution and change, and at the end of each cycle, we will find ourselves in a new place, like a bird under the bright and shining sun.
Jesus is coming to tell you
He is not God
We should listen to the teachings of Jesus, who is not the divine being people have made him out to be, but rather a teacher of empathy and compassion.
State of all the world
Will roll up the heavens within His hand
The state of the world we live in is so distressing that it seems like the universe is collapsing in our hands.
At evolution's end
The bird beneath the sun
Evolution's ending
The bird beneath the sun
As we reach the end of another cycle of transformation, we are like birds basking in the glory of the sun, ready for a new beginning.
The bird beneath the sun
The bird beneath the sun
Evolution's ending
The bird beneath the sun
The image of the bird beneath the sun represents the endless cycle of evolution and change that we all experience.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CLAIRE RODRIGUES, DANYL JOHNSON, OLLIE GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind