Her first hit for Atlantic was the Billboard R&B top ten single "Come Share My Love". She followed that with a remake of Glenn Miller's 1940 tune "Imagination". Her success continued with two more top ten singles, "Baby Be Mine" and "That's What Love Is". The latter was a duet with hit-making R&B crooner Gerald Levert, and was the result of the creative union Howard formed with Levert. The pair later became romantically involved, and that romance spawned one of Howard's biggest hits, "Love Under New Management". The song was written during their brief love affair, but was released after their romance had dissolved.
In 1992 Howard portrayed Billie Holiday in Spike Lee's Malcolm X , followed by a featured role in John Singleton's Poetic Justice with pop icon Janet Jackson. Howard recorded two more albums during the 1990s "Miki Sings Billie" (1993) and "Can't Count Me Out" (1996) In 2001, the album "Three Wishes" was released on the Peak label. The album peake dat #60 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #25 on the Independent Albums chart. The song "Nobody" received radio airplay. The album received a Grammy nomination for "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album" at the 2002 Grammy Awards. In 2006, Miki's album "Pillow Talk - Miki Sings the R&B Classics" was issued on the Shanachie label. The "Pillow Talk" album peaked at # 60 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Howard is currently working on regenerating her career after taking some time out to raise her children. She undertook a world tour with Roy Ayers and the Jazz Allstars. In June 2008, she released her ninth studio album, Private Collection. The album was released on her own her legally owned new independent label, Branicka Records. On November 1, 2010, "Unsung: Miki Howard" was televised on TV One. In February 2011. Miki Howard continues to tour and record.
Now Or Never
Miki Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't give you any more than honesty
I must read like an old love letter
Little girl, it's now or never
We've had some time to learn the rules
I'm so bad at wearing other peoples shoes
I really thought that we could be together
And like a candle burning
Both ends are melted all through
My hourglass is turning
I can't live this life without you
And I don't care if they say
I'm off my head
Cause baby when it's now or never
It's now or never
We both know, you called my phone to speak
But I was freakin' so I turned the other cheek
I know now I was less than clever
Little girl, it's now or never
If you could read my troubled mind
If only you could feel my heart beat overtime
I'd make it known on this earth forever
I want you and it's now or never, it's now or never
And like a candle burning
Both ends are melted all through
My hourglass is turning
I can't live this life without you
And I don't care if they say
I'm off my head
Cause baby when it's now or never
It's now or never, it's now or never
I'm not off my head
I'm not off my head
I'm not off my head
I'm not off my head
In Miki Howard's song "Now or Never," she is singing to a girl who is running away from her. The singer admits she can't offer much more than honesty, but she wishes they could be together. The song's chorus implores the girl that it is time to decide if they want to be together or not, as it's now or never. The tension in the relationship is evident when the singer admits that she ignored a phone call because she was freaked out. She wishes that the other person could read her mind and feel her heart beating in over time so that she could make it known that she wants to be with her, "now or never."
The song's message and lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever experienced a romantic relationship's ups and downs. Many people feel like they have to make a decision about their relationships at some point, and this can be especially true when one person is ready to move to the next phase of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl, you're runnin' away from me
The person is trying to communicate with a girl who seems to be avoiding them.
I can't give you any more than honesty
The person can promise nothing other than honesty.
I must read like an old love letter
The person feels like an outdated representation of love and affection.
Little girl, it's now or never
The person is urging the girl to take action quickly as time is running out.
We've had some time to learn the rules
Both parties have been in the relationship for some time, and could have learned how to manage it better.
I'm so bad at wearing other peoples shoes
The person admits having difficulty empathizing with the girl's situation.
I really thought that we could be together
The person had initial optimism about the relationship.
And that's why, its now or never, it's now or never
The person believes that the current moment is the final opportunity to be together.
And like a candle burning
The relationship is finite and nearing its end.
Both ends are melted all through
The relationship has been going on for a while and both parties are worn out.
My hourglass is turning
Time is running out for the relationship.
I can't live this life without you
The person believes they cannot be happy without the girl.
And I don't care if they say
The person is not concerned about external opinions.
I'm off my head
Others may consider the person irrational or crazy.
Cause baby when it's now or never
The person believes that this moment is critical.
We both know, you called my phone to speak
The girl has tried to communicate with the person before.
But I was freakin' so I turned the other cheek
The person was too overwhelmed to respond properly in that moment.
I know now I was less than clever
The person has realized they could have handled things better.
If you could read my troubled mind
The person has thoughts and feelings they are struggling to express outright.
If only you could feel my heart beat overtime
The person's emotions are intense and consuming.
I'd make it known on this earth forever
The person is willing to make their feelings known publicly and permanently.
I want you and it's now or never, it's now or never
The person is proposing one final chance to be together before it's too late.
I'm not off my head
The person is reasserting their own rationality and sanity.
I'm not off my head
The person is still expressing their sanity.
I'm not off my head
The person is still expressing their sanity.
I'm not off my head
The person is still expressing their sanity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mozella Harris
on Release Me
You do not have the correct lyrics to this song