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.
the way
Meshell Ndegeocello Lyrics
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so that he could see the evils of the world
Perchance blindness is but a dark tought overcome by the light
Maybe Judas was the better man, and Mary made a virgin just to save face
I too am so ashamed on bended knees
Prayin' to my pretty white jesus
The light
The light is so blinding
Am I not to question
Your father condemn me
Your words are used to enslave me
Hear my prayers
My sweet Jesus
I heard that you can save me
Brother John Paul convinced himself of his wisdom to judge, to forgive, to condemn
Mother Mary full of Grace, I'm so confused by her pale white face
God so loved the world he gave his only son
But many mothers bear children martyrs of greed bitter love
While the so called chosen make war
So many suffer in the name of God
Their fate is a closed door
They say you're the way
The light
The light is so blinding
Am I not to question
Your father condemn me
Your words are used to enslave me
Hear my prayers
My sweet Jesus
I heard that you can save me
The way
So blinding
Condemn
Hear my prayers
Na na na hey
Na na na hey
Na na na hey
They say you're the way
The light
The light is so blinding
Am I not to question my love
Your father condemn me
Your words are used to enslave me
Have you forsaken me?
They say you're the way
The light
The light is so blinding
Tell me why
Your words enslaved those before me
Have you forsaken me?
My sweet Jesus
I heard that you could save me
My sweet Jesus
I heard that you could save me
My sweet savior save me
I heard that you could save me
Jesus
Ndegeocello’s "The Way" reveals her spiritual unease and struggle while reflecting on the complexities of Christian doctrine. The lyrics suggest that there is a contradiction between the concept of Jesus as the savior of humanity, who leads the way to salvation and the fact that people continue to suffer in his name. Ndegeocello draws on biblical characters such as Judas and Mary to question the morality of the scriptures and the ability of religion to provide salvation for marginalized and suffering people. She asks her "pretty white Jesus" to save her but also questions whether he has forsaken her.
The lyrics encompass a variety of theological themes, including the conflict between free will and predestination, hypocrisy, the challenge of faith, and the pitfalls of blind trust. Christianity is portrayed as a source of suffering and enslavement, yet also as a path to redemption. The song's title, "The Way," can be interpreted as a reference to finding a clear path towards salvation or simply to finding one's way in life through the difficulties of spiritual introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus cured the blind man
Perhaps blindness is a metaphor for a lack of awareness of the evils of the world and Jesus helped him see them.
Perchance blindness is but a dark tought overcome by the light
Maybe the man was just blinded by his own thoughts, but with the help of Jesus, he overcame them and saw the truth.
Maybe Judas was the better man, and Mary made a virgin just to save face
There may be different interpretations of Biblical stories, and perhaps Judas and Mary's roles are not as they are commonly understood.
I too am so ashamed on bended knees
The artist feels a deep sense of shame and humility before Jesus.
Prayin' to my pretty white jesus
The artist is acknowledging the traditional image of Jesus as a white man, but also questioning why this image persists.
They say you're the way
The light
The light is so blinding
Jesus is often described as the path to salvation and enlightenment, but this path can seem overwhelming and intense.
Am I not to question
Your father condemn me
Your words are used to enslave me
The singer is questioning the authority of Jesus and the Bible, and feeling oppressed by their teachings.
Hear my prayers
My sweet Jesus
I heard that you can save me
Despite their doubts and questions, the artist is still seeking salvation and redemption from Jesus.
Brother John Paul convinced himself of his wisdom to judge, to forgive, to condemn
The artist is criticizing the hypocrisy and arrogance of some religious leaders who claim the power to judge and condemn others.
Mother Mary full of Grace, I'm so confused by her pale white face
The artist is questioning the representation of Mary as a white woman and feeling conflicted about her image and role in religion.
God so loved the world he gave his only son
But many mothers bear children martyrs of greed bitter love
While the so called chosen make war
So many suffer in the name of God
The singer is criticizing the violence and cruelty that has been done in the name of religion, despite the message of love and compassion in the Bible.
Their fate is a closed door
The artist is expressing a sense of hopelessness and despair about the fate of those who have suffered because of religion.
Tell me why
Your words enslaved those before me
The singer is challenging Jesus to explain why his teachings have been used to justify oppression and injustice in the past.
Have you forsaken me?
The singer is feeling abandoned and betrayed by Jesus, despite their attempts to seek salvation.
Writer(s): Meshell Ndegeocello
Contributed by Nathaniel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.