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.
Tom
Meshell Ndegeocello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Except the feeling of nothing
The nothing of so close
The nothing of being too close
How it slips away love
How it slips away love
The force that passes through our hearts
Nothing divides one more than us
The child's welfare
The loss of trust
How it slips away love
How you slipped away love
The force that passes through our hearts
And the truth of knowing something's wrong
How it slips away love
How it slips away
How it slips away
Don't let me slip away
In the song "Tom" by Meshell Ndegeocello, the lyrics describe a relationship that is falling apart due to the "feeling of nothing" or a lack of connection between the two individuals. The repetition of "nothing" highlights the emptiness and void that exists in the relationship, despite their closeness.
The force that passes through their hearts could refer to their emotions or feelings towards each other, or perhaps even the physical sensation of a heart beating. The line "nothing divides one more than us" implies that their differences and conflicts are driving them further apart. The mention of the "child's welfare" suggests that there may be a child involved and the relationship breakdown is impacting them as well.
The repeated phrase "how it slips away love" emphasizes the theme of loss and the gradual slipping away of the relationship. The plea in the final lines "don't let me slip away" reveals the desperation of the singer to hold onto the relationship, despite the odds.
Overall, the song "Tom" explores the complexities of love, loss, and the struggle to hold onto a relationship that is slowly slipping away.
Line by Line Meaning
There's nothing between us
There's no tangible thing that separates us
Except the feeling of nothing
The only thing we have is the emptiness of our relationship
The nothing of so close
The emptiness that comes from being so intimately connected
The nothing of being too close
The emptiness that comes from being too involved with each other
How it slips away love
How the relationship is slipping away
How it slips away love
How the relationship is slipping away
The force that passes through our hearts
The powerful feeling that we share
And the truth of knowing something's wrong
The realization that something is not right
Nothing divides one more than us
There's nothing that creates more division between us
The child's welfare
The well-being of our child is at stake
The loss of trust
The damage caused by losing trust in each other
How it slips away love
How the relationship is slipping away
How you slipped away love
How you, specifically, slipped away from the relationship
The force that passes through our hearts
The powerful feeling that we share
And the truth of knowing something's wrong
The realization that something is not right
How it slips away love
How the relationship is slipping away
How it slips away
How the relationship is slowly disappearing
How it slips away
How the relationship is slowly disappearing
Don't let me slip away
Please don't let me become disconnected from the relationship
Contributed by Peyton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joann Waller
Glad to know that so many people still know good music.
Shooting Starz
Love this song
Jeanine Narcisse
I have been rocking this now along with Folie A Duex all night!!! This got me through my funk and helped me Finnish my homework!! Thanks girl!!
jusbe47
Beautiful.
RYSZARD FLAKUS
Beautiful song
Shawn Syms
Beautiful. #cometcametome
Willze Davis
Don't let me slip away.....sigh
texasvice1
Meshell has done a 180 on me. UMMM?
jusbe47
People can't stay the same. I love all her incarnations.