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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Soul on Ice
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics
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The overwhelming popularity of seeing, better off being, and looking white
My brothers attempt to defy the white man's law and his system of values
Defiles his white woman, but my mum, Master's in the slave house again
Visions of her virginal white beautyÂ
Dancin' in your head
Your soul's on ice
Brother brotherÂ
Are you suffering from a social infection mis-directionÂ
Excuse me does the white woman go better with the brooks Brothers suit?
I have psychotic dreamsÂ
Your jism in a white chalk line
You let my sister go by
Used to be customary to bow one's eyes at the sight of a white face konks and fade
Creams sad passion deferred dreams I am a reflection of you
Black and blue pure as the tears of coal-colored children crying for acceptanceÂ
You can't run from yourselfÂ
She's just an illusion
Black love anthems play behind white-skinned affectionÂ
New Birth stereophonic Spanish fly let her cry.
But you no longer burn for the motherland brown skin
You want blond-haired, blue-eyed soulÂ
Snow white passion without the hot combÂ
The lyrics to "Soul On Ice" by Me'Shell Ndegéocello are commentary on the damaging impact that the white racist standard of beauty has had on the Black community. Ndegéocello articulates how the perception of whiteness as being superior has caused many Black individuals, especially men, to eschew their natural desires and instead prioritize white women and experiences. She mentions how this can lead to self-hatred and internal oppression, causing one's soul to be frozen or trapped. The line "visions of her virginal white beauty dancing in your head" illustrates this point. Many Black men have been socialized to see white women as the height of feminine beauty and desirability, resulting in a sense of self-alienation and the feeling of being stuck in limbo.
Ndegéocello's lyrics also touch on the way that racist ideology has affected concepts of gender and power dynamics, as she addresses how some Black men act out against "the white man's law and his system of values" by defiling white women. She juxtaposes this against the image of her mother, who is a "Master's in the slave house again." This line speaks to the way that Black women were systemically oppressed and forced to labor for white families, highlighting the interplay of race, gender, and power. Overall, Ndegéocello's lyrics deconstruct the myth of the "white savior" and challenge the notion that white people and culture are superior.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been indoctrinated and convinced by the white racist standard of beauty
We have been taught and influenced to believe that the standard of beauty is only acceptable if it is white and racist.
The overwhelming popularity of seeing, better off being, and looking white
People tend to believe that looking, being, and living as a white person is more favorable than any other race.
My brothers attempt to defy the white man's law and his system of values
My male siblings are trying to oppose the values and regulations that were created by the white race.
Defiles his white woman, but my mum, Master's in the slave house again
If my brothers are intimate with white women, they are considered to be violating them. However, my mother is still a slave who is under the control of the master.
Visions of her virginal white beauty, Dancin' in your head
You have a dream of a white woman's pure and untouched beauty constantly on your mind.
Your soul's on ice
Your emotions are trapped and cold, incapable of showing any warmth or feeling.
Brother brother, Are you suffering from a social infection mis-direction
My sibling, are you affected by a misleading social illness?
Excuse me does the white woman go better with the brooks Brothers suit?
Is it an essential requirement to wear Brooks Brothers clothing if you are with a white woman?
I have psychotic dreams
I suffer from hallucinations and delusional thoughts.
Your jism in a white chalk line, You let my sister go by
You have left your semen on a line with white chalk, but you have disregarded the safety of my female sibling.
Used to be customary to bow one's eyes at the sight of a white face konks and fade
In the past, it was a norm to show respect and humility towards white people but such experiences have faded over time.
Creams sad passion deferred dreams I am a reflection of you
Cremes, sadness, and passions can be traced back to unfulfilled longings and I am a reflection of you.
Black and blue pure as the tears of coal-colored children crying for acceptance
I am bruised and battered just like the coal-colored children who cry for acceptance and approval.
You can't run from yourself, She's just an illusion
You are unable to run away from your inner self and the white woman you seek is nothing but a mirage.
Black love anthems play behind white-skinned affection
Songs of black love play behind white people's show of affection.
New Birth stereophonic Spanish fly let her cry
The start of a new birth could bring about the use of the Spanish fly in stereo sound and could result in tears.
But you no longer burn for the motherland brown skin
You no longer have any strong passion or attachment to your homeland or your own kind who are brown-skinned.
You want blond-haired, blue-eyed soul, Snow white passion without the hot comb
All you desire is a fair-skinned person with naturally straight hair and believe that you will find true passion with them without needing to straighten their hair.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind