Michelle Lynn Johnson officially changed her professional name from Me'Shel… Read Full Bio ↴Michelle Lynn Johnson officially changed her professional name from Me'Shell NdegéOcello to simply Meshell Ndegeocello, with the release of her 2001 album, "Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape".

Meshell Ndegeocello (b. August 29, 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 Suihailia Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegeocello, 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.

Satisfy
Meshell Ndegeocello Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Only you
Can satisfy me
X4

The rays of the sun reap me body
I'm naked in your world
Come walk me through the garden
And fill me with your love

I've searched my whole life
For the reasons that we cry
Find solace in your embrace
Just one kiss and I close my eyes

Only you
Can satisfy me
X4

Alone I am never
I am but one of many
And you've come so that I may see
Freedomness is my belief
I hold out my hand to touch heaven
Tear out my grieving heart
But you come and fill it with love

Only you
Can satisfy me
X4

Only you

Can satisfy me
X4

Overall Meaning

In Meshell Ndegeocello's song "Satisfy", the singer discusses the idea that true satisfaction can only come from one person. The repeated refrain "only you can satisfy me" emphasizes this longing for a specific individual. The singer describes being naked in their lover's world and walking through a garden with them, finding solace in their embrace and being able to close their eyes with just one kiss. The lyrics suggest that this specific person is the missing puzzle piece in the singer's life, fulfilling a need that they have been searching for their whole life.

The second verse of the song introduces the idea that the singer is only one of many, but this specific person has come into their life to bring them freedom, which they now believe in. The singer holds out their hand to touch heaven and rip out their grieving heart, but the love they receive from this person is able to fill the void. The lyrics suggest that this person is the only one who can truly satisfy them and bring them the happiness they have been searching for.

Line by Line Meaning

The rays of the sun reap me body
I am basking in the sun's warmth and it feels good

I'm naked in your world
I am vulnerable and exposed to you

Come walk me through the garden
Lead me on the path of life

And fill me with your love
Bring me happiness and comfort

I've searched my whole life
I have been on a journey to find peace and happiness

For the reasons that we cry
Questioning why we experience sadness and pain

Find solace in your embrace
I feel comfort and peace when I am with you

Just one kiss and I close my eyes
Your love is all-encompassing and can transport me to another place

Alone I am never
I am not alone because of the connections and relationships I have with others

I am but one of many
I am part of a larger community in the world

And you've come so that I may see
You have come into my life to give me a new perspective